Does Peter’s vision in Acts 10 indicate that all unclean meats are now clean?
In the opening verses of Acts 10, a Roman centurion named Cornelius is visited by an angel who instructs him to send some men to Joppa to retrieve Peter, who will instruct him in regard to salvation. (Keep in mind that Cornelius and the men he is sending are all Gentiles.)
Cornelius ends up sending three Gentile men to find Peter. As they set out, it’s lunch time for Peter, who is waiting on the roof of the house while his food is being prepared. During this time, Peter receives a vision from the Lord:
“Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.” Acts 10:10–16
Keep in mind that this is a vison. It is not unheard of for God to use symbols or metaphorical illustrations in dreams and visions to communicate a greater lesson—and that is exactly what is happening here. This vision is not about food. It’s about people.
Nowhere in this passage, outside of the vision, do we have any indication that the vision was meant to reverse or cancel the food laws that God gave earlier on in the Bible. We need not go very far before we find the meaning of the vision Peter received (emphasis supplied throughout):
“Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate…. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.’” Acts 10:17, 19–20
Notice that Acts 10:16 indicates that the message delivered to Peter was repeated three times, and that Acts 10:19 reveals that three men were seeking Peter. Also, we see the same command from the Holy Spirit, saying to Peter, “Arise.” At some point between the time he left his house and the time he met with Cornelius, God gave Peter the meaning of the vision:
“Then he said to them, ‘You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.’” Acts 10:28
There you have it! This vision had nothing to do with food, but was given to show Peter that God’s plan was to send the gospel to the Gentiles. No man is common or unclean to God!