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What Did the Unclean Animals Represent? (Acts 10:9-15)<\/strong><\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What did the sheet containing the unclean animals, which the Apostle Peter saw descending from heaven in Acts 10:9-15, symbolize?<\/p>\n Answer:<\/strong> Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n Acts 10:9-15<\/strong> 10 He became very hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance.<\/p>\n 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners,<\/p>\n 12 containing all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds.<\/p>\n 13 Then a voice came to him, \u2018Get up, Peter, kill and eat.\u2019<\/p>\n 14 But Peter said, \u2018By no means, Lord; I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.\u2019<\/p>\n 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, \u2018Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In this vision, the unclean animals represented Gentile people<\/strong>, who were originally considered unclean in God\u2019s sight and could not inherit His promises or participate in His service.<\/p>\n Through this vision, God was showing Peter that the Gentiles were no longer unclean and that he should not hesitate to bring them the Gospel.<\/p>\n In short, the unclean animals symbolized unclean people from the Gentiles<\/strong>. But how can we be sure? Let\u2019s look at Acts 10:14-15 and 10:28.<\/p>\n Acts 10:14-15<\/strong> \u00a0<\/p>\n Acts 10:28<\/strong> Clearly, Peter received a revelation from the Holy Spirit: the unclean animals represented people whom the Jews had considered unclean before God\u2014that is, the Gentiles, including Cornelius and his household.<\/p>\n This shows that in God\u2019s grace, there is no favoritism. No one is excluded, whether Jew or Gentile.<\/p>\n Galatians 3:28<\/strong> It\u2019s also worth noting that the animals themselves were now considered clean. In the New Covenant, there is no longer a prohibition against eating animals that were once forbidden in the Old Covenant. They were only symbolic of people. In short, the animals represented humanity, not literal impurity.<\/p>\n May the Lord help us understand this truth.<\/p>\n Share this good news generously with others.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\u201cOn the following day, as they were traveling and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray around noon.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cBut Peter said, \u2018By no means, Lord; I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.\u2019
15 Again, a voice spoke to him, \u2018Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\u201cHe said to them, \u2018You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\u201cThere is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n