There Is More Fish In The Sea

Acts 10:12–16 (NKJV)

12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

We continue our study of Peter’s vision in the middle of his resistance to reject the food which is offered by the Tanner called Simon. Simon was obviously a generous and kind man who has been changed by the gospel through the evangelization of Peter and possibly Philip; and now has continued to offer his hospitality to Peter for many days. Our previous study recognized that Peter was traveling with some members of the circumcision and was fasting with them to avoid eating with the Hellenist Jews and Gentiles. We find Peter receiving a vision from the Lord during his ecstasy in the resistance of his personal desire to accept the offering of the Tanner. Most likely the Tanner did not know or understand the dietary implications that were placed upon Peter. The Tanner was most likely sharing the secrets of his trade and the stewardship of the resources that God provides for the use of his trade during Peter’s stay. Peter is fighting to come to grips with what is acceptable and unacceptable worship before God as Christ has now made all things new ‘in Simon the Tanner’ through the Lord's sacrifice (2Cor.5:17).

The Tanner was not offering an unclean animal as the pure and undefiled symbol of atonement in the worship of Yahweh (which the law did, indeed, forbid); but he was, however, merely attempting to serve a satisfactory meal in hospitality for a new found friend. The vision was a warning not to commit the same sin that the priests of Israel were committing during Malachi’s prophesying, which was the failure to discern between acceptable offerings and unacceptable offerings. We also discovered that the vision was not a new revelation, but a more defined “reminder” of an old revelation. The offering of thanksgiving is now permitted for such so-called unclean foods; because the holy, undefiled, and satisfactory offering has now been made, once and for all; through the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of the cross, the prescribed animal sacrifices are no longer obligated for the mode or form of worship in the presence of God. They are no longer a commandment to press upon “any” believer in Jesus Christ, even the children of Israel upon whom was the covenant. They have no barring or merit in anyway; except to be used in remembrance of Christ as a tutor of the definition of His atonement. They are only to be used as symbols and illustrations to lead and teach us the atonement of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said it like this: Galatians 4:21 (NKJV) 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? And the author of Hebrews put it like this: Hebrews 7:11–13 (NKJV) 11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

We also discovered that the vision was tied to four beginnings or four ruling authorities that are being established as churches by the Holy Spirit. Two questions should have been answered regarding Cornelius and the Tanner. How does the 'declaration' of God regarding food make Cornelius and the Tanner holy? In what way does Cornelius's time spent studying the Old Scriptures and in prayer seeking wisdom from God have to do with Peter's vision? The opening of the heavens and the descension of the sail is a condescension of God to Peter to accept the Gentiles ‘in the Beloved.’ Peter is called to kill his resistance and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. The prayers of the Gentiles have opened the heavens and the blessings are descending upon Peter to give assuring revelation for him to accept Gentiles on the basis of faith apart from dietary laws that once divided the nations from the bread of Israel (Matt.15:26). Jesus had already declared all foods as clean, but Peter needed reminded through the power of the Holy Spirit that he, too, was permitted to eat with the Gentiles for the sake of missions and the gospel. This vision was not the justifying factor for Cornelius nor was it a new revelation. The Genesis account already witnesses that all things that God has made are ‘good,’ but it was only to the Jews that God has made a ‘holy’ distinction. Therefore, it is my understanding that Cornelius already discovered this and was questioning God through prayer why he was not permitted into the fellowship on the basis of foods and circumcision. God is opening up the heavens to Peter because Cornelius was giving his alms to the poor saints of Caesarea in the name of Yahweh, who was the proper sacrifice prescribed by God according to Malachi.

In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

In it (the vision of the sail vessel) begins [acceptance] of some of every four-footed animal of the earth, the wild beasts, the creepers, and the birds of the sky. We start with the understanding that the animals were in the sail vessel, but the pronoun (it) is more of a reference to the entire vision. The following context gives the definition of the Greek verb hyperche (begins) within the Greek verb thyson (kill) which signifies an acceptable offering. Peter is now to discern unclean verses clean sacrifices based on the Name to which the sacrifice is offered; not based on the animal which is offered. It is also important to note that Luke is giving the summary of Peter's account of this vision. All the specific details of the vision may not be included in this record and we only have what is necessary to discern the intentions of the vision. Therefore this verse is only a summarized addition to what Luke has already described in the previous verses to give the vision more clarity. It is clearer now that the vision was a sail vessel that contained some of ‘every kind’ of animal of the earth, like a fisherman would draw in a catch in his nets, through the Greek indication of the verb hyperche (begins), which is also tied to the previous verse of the Greek noun archais (beginnings) (Jn.21:6). The four beginners (rulers) of the previous context are who let down this vision from their dominions in the heavenly places; as Christ operates as the pulley of Mediation for their offerings of thanksgiving (Eph.1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10). Therefore the vision was let down by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and their prayers in Him to cleanse these four new born sons of God. Fish are not mentioned being in the vessel because it is assumed that all of the earth is now fishable.

1 Timothy 4:1–5 (NKJV)

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

The various kinds of animals in the sail vessel also reflect that God is throwing out the nets of salvation to the Gentiles because the Jews would not take the bait of the Gospel. This was by divine design within the Mosaic law of God to bring the Gentiles to salvation. The Jews’ failure to discern their own law paved the way for Christ to become the sacrifice of the ‘chosen’ Gentiles; and now that the blessing of the administration of the Spirit has been given to the Gentile church, the Jews can only now be provoked to jealousy to search these things out in the covenant that they delight in (Rom.10:19), which remains still to offer Yahweh as the spotless sacrifice (Isa.53). But a new covenant has come to the Gentiles for a new administration until God grants Israel the repentance to be His chosen administration of grace again (Jer.31:31).

Zechariah 2:10–13 (NKJV)

10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”

However, for now and forever, we can rejoice that the Jews have rejected Christ so that Gentiles can be drawn in for salvation. The church of Christ is now the chosen means by which the Name of God is administrated to the world, which was first born out of the mother church in Jerusalem, making her the daughter of Zion. Heaven and earth are made one through the mouthpiece of the churches of God acting as the widows of heaven, who proclaim the words of God and offer intercession for sinners (Rom.10:17; Jn.10:9).

And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

A different rendering of this verse may give us more understanding into the intent of the voice. My translation goes like this: And there came to be a voice against him, “Arise, Peter; sacrifice and eat.” It is clear that it was not an internal voice that spoke to Peter because everything in him was against partaking with the Tanner. And after observing the vision the voice came to him. The Greek preposition pros (to) can also carry the English meaning of against. Therefore, this voice came against Peter’s impulse to deny his 'good and pure' inclinations and reject the offerings of the Tanner. Because the voice said, “Arise,” we know that Peter was laid low upon his knees looking toward the heavens as the vision appeared to him.

The Greek verb thyson (kill) is almost always used in connection to the slaughter of the animals around the sacrificial system of worship. I believe Luke uses it here, in this way, not to associate the animal so much with the sacrificial system, but as to what goes into the preparation of the meal. The Tanner obviously didn’t get his meat at a butcher shop or a grocery store. It was a sacrifice for the Tanner each time he prepared a meal. A lot of work went into preparing the food for service. It wasn’t precut and made ready to put in the oven or the grill. The animal had to be slaughtered and its blood drained out before it could be ready for cooking. Therefore, it was a sacrifice of the Tanner’s time, labor, and possibly the hunt to offer this meal in hospitality. The voice is not only referencing the Tanner’s sacrifice but to call Peter to sacrifice his prejudices regarding the food. Peter had already laid aside his partialities regarding people, but was in deep distress over consuming the food and sinning against his conscience.

But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

Peter recognizes that the voice is of the truth but continues to resist the truth. He identifies the voice with the Lord in saying, “Not now, Lord!” It is as if he thinks he knows better than the Lord. The Lord is saying that Peter is ready and the time is right, but Peter responds with, “Not now, and not ever!” No wonder Peter was in an ecstasy over this obligation to condescend to the Gentiles. As Peter observed the life of this man, while staying many days with him in his home, the only thing that he could find fault with was the food that was offered. And what Peter needs to come to grips with is that the kingdom of God does not consist in eating and drinking, but in the fellowship and joy of the Holy Spirit, which is a righteousness and peace apart from the Mosaic feasts (Rom.14:17). The whole point of coming together for the Mosaic feasts was to talk and consider the atonement that God had provided Israel and in bringing them out of slavery, but over the years it became a dead ceremony and a ritualistic burden without the joy of its purpose and intentions. The sacrifices and offerings were designated to signify their atonement and forgiveness of sins; but it became a big business to the Levitical corruption of the priests, who were not satisfied with the Lord being their inheritance and casted off the depth of the sacrifices; otherwise they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory (1Cor.2:8;Deut.18:1,2).

Peter was able to have fellowship with the Tanner in the Lord; therefore the vision is not so much a rebuke to Peter’s sinful inclinations to separate on the basis of trade or status, but on the dietary implications of the Hebrew Law. The Lord wants to end this as a separation between the Jews and the Gentiles and make the peoples one blood through the Lord Jesus Christ. All men bleed red in battle, which should remind them that all have sinned, and the wars of the flesh will not cease (James 4:1-6) until men come together in the one Man Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, . . . It is clear that this vision has nothing to do with men but with food, yet through Peter’s pondering of what this vision meant to him, extends to eliminate the prejudices of men who judge others less than themselves based on tradition and culture. The Jews observed the Gentiles as animals, who were unclean and unholy to be included in the treasuries of the knowledge of God because they perceived themselves superior based on their heritage and that God had chosen them above the nations to be his holy people. This, however, was true; but it was only half the truth. The Jews perceived themselves superior on the basis of their keeping of the law and in the sacrifices they offered, not on the basis of who their God is above all men. Therefore the vision is to eliminate that wall of separation that acted as the stumbling block to the Jews not being able to accept the Gentiles as true worshipers of God (Jn.4:21-24).

And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

The Greek noun phone (voice) is of the feminine gender which indicates that the voice was not the actual Lord’s voice, but was coming to him from the Word of Truth or the Word of God. Therefore, the voice is not identified in bodily form, but was indeed conformed to the truth and was not of Peter’s own person. My personal rendering reads: Now again the voice came against him a second time, "That which God has cleansed you must not call common." During Peter’s resistance he is obviously beside himself with what has been revealed to him thus far; between what he remembers of his discipleship with the Lord, and what he is studying from the Old Scriptures. Therefore, this voice can only be what he perceives in his mind of what God has already said in the person of Jesus Christ (Heb.1:12). This is Peter’s memory interacting with the vision from heaven.

This is revelation to us in the sense of an accurate account of Peter’s history, but not in the sense of giving us new teaching concerning God’s character, nature, or commandments. In fact, it is a reiteration of emphasis to Peter alone not to call common what God has made clean. In other words, God has never made the animals unclean to the Gentiles but only to the Jews. Therefore, it is for Peter alone to remember his mission and enjoy his freedom (Jn.8:36). Further down in our context (vs.28) Peter reveals to Cornelius what God showed him. Therefore, the vision was for him to accept all men on the basis of faith in God; not on the basis of the custom of his countrymen. Peter also declared that his ‘perception’ was ‘in truth,’ which was that God shows no partiality to those who fear God’s Name in every nation that works righteousness (vs.34, 35). Our personal application here is not to fall under the same ‘pattern’ of sin that Israel was made after (Rom.11:19-25) and is therefore not a new commandment but a reiteration of an old one (Zech.7:10).

This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

My personal rendering is as follows: Now this previously occurred, being the third time, which the vessel was taken into heaven again. Because the Greek verb egeneto (occurred) is an aorist indicative, it follows that ‘this’ vision had previously transpired for Peter in relation to two other separate events. Apparently, the vision had not changed with each occasion, but now Peter has begun to interact with the understanding of the entire vision. It is clear to me that Luke is not talking about the voice being taken into heaven for a third time but the vision of the sail vessel itself. It is not clear as to the time frame of these three occasions of the vision, but we know that Peter was among the Tanner for several days. Therefore, this could be the third occasion on which Peter finally throws himself at the Lord as to the meaning of the vision. I personally don’t believe that these were simultaneous occurrences of the same vision, but that the same vision was stretched out over a period of time on separate occasions. It may even be possible that this occurred two other times since he departed Jerusalem on his journey through the plains of Sharon. Nevertheless this was the third and final occurrence to warn Peter of making the work of God ineffectual with Jewish prejudices. Peter is to cast his nets where the fish are taking the bait and the bait has come to the Gentiles.

John 21:1–19 (NKJV)

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

This was the last memory that Peter had with the Lord before His ascension into Heaven. Therefore, the vision came to Peter while working to recall the presence of the Lord in his prayer time; meanwhile the Lord was also working on Peter to change those patterns of false presumptions that were passed down through the fathers. And just as Peter had to be reminded to feed and care for the Lord’s sheep, pressing deep into the wounds of Peter’s betrayal; the Lord presses into Peter three more times with the conviction to follow the Lord wherever He leads, even if it means eating with the Gentiles and enjoying all that God has made palatable. The vision is therefore a reminder to remain ‘in the pattern of’ repentance to life as opposed to ‘the pattern of’ the sin of his fathers’ misuse of the customs by which they were becoming in the image of the animals that they slaughtered and making twofold sons of hell (Matt.23:15).