Peter's understanding of Torah was challenged when God began to prepare him for his initial venture into non-Jewish territory. In Acts chapter 10 we read of his seeing a vision of a collection of unclean animals along with a voice, which he understood to be God, saying "Kill and eat" (Act 10:9ff). Peter's response was "Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
Peter believed that the food laws of the Sinai Covenant were still in force. But the Lord told him, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times.
While Peter was wondering what the vision meant, some messengers of a non-Jewish military leader named Cornelius were looking for him. Cornelius had been instructed by God to send for Peter. When Peter heard of these messengers, the Spirit of God directed him to go with them.
As it turned out Peter went to Cornelius' house. As he spoke to them about Yeshua, to the astonishment of the Jewish Believers who had accompanied Peter, Cornelius's household believed, received the Holy Spirit, and were immersed in the name of Yeshua the Messiah.
It appears that the main application of Peter's vision of the unclean animals made clean had to do with people, not food. God was opening the way to bring the good news of Yeshua to non-Jews. However note the response of the Jewish Believers in Jerusalem upon Peter's return: "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them" (Acts 11:3).
Peter's contact with non-Jews was immediately associated with food. It seems that in order to truly engage non-Jews, table fellowship would naturally be involved.
Some may think that since Cornelius was known as a "God-fearer" – a non-Jew who was attracted to the God of Israel and his ways, but not willing to convert to Judaism – he may have already embrace biblical food laws. But if that was the case, then why didn't Peter say so? Also why was the vision about unclean animals, if food really wasn't an issue.
The Jewish people of that day (as well as many today) followed a stricter standard regarding food than what the Sinai Covenant prescribed. Some may think that this is what was being confronted by God through Peter, but again, this doesn't seem to go along with what we encounter in the text.
The New Covenant writings nowhere encourage non-Jews to follow the Sinai food regulations. That being the case, the Jewish Believers would have great difficulty associating with non-Jews unless they recognized that God – just like in the vision – had made all foods clean.
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