Peter’s Vision; Acts 10:9 – 23 – Part 3

Church History: He was ordered by a voice from heaven to make use of this plenty and variety which God had sent him: "Rise, Peter, kill and eat: without putting any difference between clean and unclean, take which thou hast most mind to." The distinction of meats which the law made was intended to put a difference between Jew and Gentile, that it might be difficult to them to dine and sup with a Gentile, because they would have that set before them which they were not allowed to eat; and now the taking off of that prohibition was a plain allowance to converse with the Gentiles, and to be free and familiar with them. Now they might fare as they fared, and therefore might eat with them, and be fellow-commoners with them. He stuck to his principles, and would by no means give in, though he was hungry. Temptations to eat forbidden fruit must not be parleyed with, but peremptorily rejected; we must startle at the thought of it: Not so, Lord. The reason he gives is, "For I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean; until know I have kept my integrity in this matter, and will still keep it."
God, by a second voice from heaven, proclaimed the repeal of the law in this case: “What God hath cleansed, that call thou not common”. He that made the law might alter it when he pleased, and reduce the matter to its first state. God had, for reasons suited to the Old-Testament dispensation, restrained the Jews from eating such and such meats, to which, while that dispensation lasted, they were obliged in conscience to submit; but he has now, for reasons suited to the New-Testament dispensation, taken off that restraint, and set the matter aside. He has cleansed that which was before polluted to us, and we ought to make use of, and stand fast in, the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and not call that common or unclean which God has now declared clean.
Peter is directed by the Spirit to go along with Cornelius's messengers. He is told, before any of the servants could come up to tell him, that three men below want to speak with him. and he must arise from his musings, stop thinking of the vision, and go down to them. He is ordered to go along with the messengers to Cornelius, though he was a Gentile, doubting nothing. He must not only go, but go cheerfully, without reluctance or hesitation, or any scruple concerning the lawfulness of it; not doubting whether he might go, no, nor whether he ought to go; for it was his duty. He then went down and received them as his guests.