Acts 10 14

Acts 10:14 kjv

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Acts 10:14 nkjv

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

Acts 10:14 niv

"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

Acts 10:14 esv

But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."

Acts 10:14 nlt

"No, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. "

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 14 Meaning

Acts 10:14 reveals Peter's immediate and emphatic refusal to comply with a divine command he perceives as a direct violation of Mosaic dietary laws. His statement underscores his lifelong adherence to the distinction between "clean" and "unclean" foods, a fundamental aspect of Jewish identity and religious purity. This verse encapsulates the profound conflict between deeply ingrained tradition and God's unfolding revelation, setting the stage for a pivotal shift in the understanding of purity and the scope of the Gospel message beyond ethnic boundaries.

Acts 10 14 Context

Acts chapter 10 marks a pivotal moment in the spread of the Gospel, signifying its transition from being predominantly Jewish to encompassing Gentiles. The chapter opens with Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, receiving a vision instructing him to send for Peter. Concurrently, Peter experiences a profound vision while waiting for food on a rooftop in Joppa. The vision depicts a sheet descending from heaven, filled with various "unclean" animals. A voice commands Peter to "kill and eat." Peter's immediate response in verse 14, deeply rooted in his Jewish identity and lifelong observance of the Law of Moses, highlights the immense barrier that God intended to overcome. Historically and culturally, the Jewish people meticulously observed dietary laws (kashrut) as a sign of their covenant with God, distinguishing them from the "unclean" Gentile nations. To consume prohibited foods was an abomination, signifying defilement and a break from their distinct identity. This refusal by Peter sets up the direct divine clarification that will redefine "clean" not only in terms of food but ultimately in terms of people, thereby opening the door for Gentile inclusion into the church without requiring adherence to the full Mosaic Law.

Acts 10 14 Word analysis

• But Peter said,: Highlights Peter's active, direct verbal response, emphasizing his strong personal conviction in this moment of crisis.

• 'No, Lord;:

  • No (οὐχί, ouchi): This is an emphatic negative, signifying a strong and unequivocal refusal. It's not a mere "I won't," but a firm "Absolutely not!"
  • Lord (Κύριε, Kyrie): Peter acknowledges the speaker's authority as "Lord" (referring to Christ or God), creating an immediate tension between perceived divine command and deeply ingrained personal conviction and scriptural interpretation. He knows who is speaking, yet cannot reconcile the command with his understanding of righteousness.

• for I have never eaten anything:

  • for (ὅτι, hoti): Introduces the reason for his emphatic refusal.
  • never (οὐδέποτε, oudepote): Emphasizes the absolute consistency of his lifelong adherence to the Mosaic dietary laws. It signals that this isn't a lapse but a deeply entrenched pattern of faithfulness to the Law, foundational to his Jewish identity.
  • eaten (ἔφαγον, ephagon, aorist of ἐσθίω, esthio): Simple past tense, signifying the concrete act.

• unholy and unclean.': This phrase uses two distinct Greek terms which were central to Jewish purity laws:

  • unholy (κοινόν, koinon): Refers to something common, profaned, or not consecrated/set apart. In Jewish context, it described anything that was not ritually pure or dedicated to God, often implying ceremonial defilement. It’s what could make a person ceremonially impure, perhaps through contact, thus becoming unfit for worship. This concept could also encompass things permitted for non-Jews, making them "common" in distinction from holy, separated Jewish life.
  • unclean (ἀκάθαρτον, akatharton): This term directly corresponds to the Hebrew tame' and specifically refers to objects or animals prohibited by the Mosaic Law (e.g., in Lev 11 and Deut 14) due to their inherent nature. It signifies ritual impurity as prescribed by the Torah, making something fundamentally forbidden for consumption or touch. The pairing of koinon and akatharton emphasizes the breadth and depth of Peter's adherence to the Law, covering both general profanity and specific Mosaic prohibitions.

• 'No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything': This word-group highlights Peter's fervent commitment to his religious identity as a Law-abiding Jew. It is a declaration of his personal purity and obedience to God as he has always understood it. His faith in "Lord" is present, but it's initially overruled by what he perceives as a violation of long-standing divine statutes.

• 'unholy and unclean': This phrase summarizes the very essence of Jewish ritual and moral purity, serving as a boundary between the sacred and profane, and fundamentally, between Jew and Gentile. It expresses the deeply internalized ethical and spiritual framework that governed Peter's life, a framework now being challenged by God's new revelation.

Acts 10 14 Bonus section

• The three-fold repetition of the vision (Acts 10:16) underscores God's insistence and Peter's anticipated difficulty in accepting such a profound departure from deeply held tradition. God foresaw Peter's struggle and ensured the message was unambiguous.
• Peter’s internal conflict here beautifully prefigures his later moment of understanding in Acts 10:28 when he connects the food vision to people: "God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean." This journey from specific food laws to universal human inclusion reveals the interpretive boundary of God's initial teaching in the Old Covenant, now expanded in the New.
• This passage demonstrates the dynamic nature of God's revelation and how previous understandings can be fulfilled or transformed in new covenants, requiring believers to remain open to God's progressive will rather than clinging rigidly to outdated interpretations.

Acts 10 14 Commentary

Peter's defiant "No, Lord" is not a mark of disrespect but a deeply religious response, highlighting the tension between prior divine instruction (the Law of Moses) and a new, unfolding revelation from God. His unwavering adherence to "unholy and unclean" distinctions—terms foundational to Jewish identity—demonstrates the immense psychological and theological barrier that early Jewish believers faced. God’s repeated command, despite Peter’s sincere objection, underlines the necessity for a radical paradigm shift. This was more than just about food; it was about breaking down centuries of ritual separation that mirrored, and sometimes became, ethnic and social prejudice. Peter’s initial refusal thus sets the stage for God's dramatic redefinition of purity, not merely external food consumption, but extending to the full inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant family through Christ, without the prerequisite of Mosaic Law observance. This scene marks the beginning of the end of the strict Jew-Gentile divide within the nascent church.