Acts 10 11

Acts 10:11 kjv

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Acts 10:11 nkjv

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.

Acts 10:11 niv

He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

Acts 10:11 esv

and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

Acts 10:11 nlt

He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 11 Meaning

The verse describes a vast, thick white sheet or blanket descending from heaven. This object is likened to fine linen, a high-quality fabric. It contains all kinds of creatures, described as "four-footed" and "wild animals" of the earth, along with "crawling things" and "birds of the air." This divine manifestation signifies God's introduction of a new covenant and His cleansing of all things.

Acts 10 11 Context

Peter, a key apostle, was praying on a rooftop in Joppa. During his prayer, he experienced a trance, a divinely induced vision. This vision was instrumental in changing his understanding of God's covenant, moving it beyond the Jewish people to include Gentiles (non-Jews). The sheet descending with all sorts of creatures symbolized that God considered all things clean, thereby abolishing the ceremonial dietary laws that previously separated Jews and Gentiles. This was a pivotal moment that prepared Peter to go to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and preach the Gospel to him and his household, leading to their conversion and the inclusion of Gentiles in the early Church.

Acts 10 11 Word Analysis

• Behold (ἴδε - ide): An interjection used to call attention to something important, dramatic, or noteworthy. It signals a significant revelation is about to occur.

• a great sheet (σκηνὴ μεγάλη - skēnē megale): "Skēnē" can refer to a tent, dwelling, or even the tabernacle. Here it likely denotes a large fabric, similar to a sail or curtain. The "greatness" emphasizes the vastness and importance of what it represents.

• knit together (συντετελεσμένον - syn tetelesmenon): This participle signifies completion or perfection. It suggests something that is fully formed, whole, and lacking nothing.

• at four corners (εἰς τὰ τέσσαρα γωνίας - eis ta tessara gōnias): This indicates the sheet was suspended or spread out by four points, covering a wide area. It is a visual metaphor for God's universal scope.

• all manner of beasts (πᾶν κτῆνος – pan ktēnos): "Pan" means all, every, or whole. "Ktēnos" refers to domestic animals or cattle, but in this context, broadened by the following classifications.

• four-footed beasts (τετράποδα – tetrapoda): Creatures that walk on four legs, a clear category within the animal kingdom.

• wild beasts (ἑρπετὰ τῆς γῆς – herpetā tēs gēs): "Herpetā" are creeping or crawling things. Coupled with "tēs gēs" (of the earth), it encompasses reptiles, small mammals, and any ground-dwelling creature not strictly domesticated. This broadens the inclusion beyond just cattle.

• and creeping things (καὶ ἑρπετά – kai herpetā): Repeats the concept of crawling things, possibly emphasizing the lowliest or most despised creatures according to prevailing perceptions.

• and fowls of the air (καὶ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ – kai peteina tou ouranou): "Peteina" refers to flying creatures, specifically birds. "Tou ouranou" means of the heaven. This completes the categorization of animals.

• Group Analysis (The Sheet and its Contents): The combined imagery of the "great sheet" containing "all manner of beasts, four-footed beasts, wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air" powerfully communicates the abolition of ritualistic purity laws. These animals were specifically categorized in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11) as either clean or unclean. Their presence together in a sheet signifies that, in God's sight, all distinctions based on these laws were being removed. This is further underscored by the "four corners," suggesting completeness and universality.

Acts 10 11 Bonus Section

The imagery of the sheet itself evokes the portability of God's presence, similar to the tent of meeting or the ark of the covenant. However, here it signifies the inhabitation of God's Spirit within all believers, regardless of ethnic background. The term "knit together" could suggest Christ’s completed work on the cross, bringing together separated peoples and creating one new man (Ephesians 2:15). The entire scene is orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, who guides Peter's understanding and action.

Acts 10 11 Commentary

This vision is profoundly symbolic, directly challenging the rigid Jewish understanding of clean and unclean. The sheet, containing all creature types, reveals God’s new order where such distinctions, primarily related to diet and ceremonial defilement, no longer applied. This means that through Christ, God declares all humanity, Jew and Gentile alike, fit for His presence and service. The vision prepares Peter to see Gentiles not as defiled but as acceptable to God, mirroring God’s expansive love and the universal scope of the Gospel.