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

Peter's declaration that he cannot eat what is common or unclean signifies his initial adherence to the Mosaic dietary laws, which strictly distinguished between clean and unclean foods. This statement reveals his deeply ingrained Jewish upbringing and his understanding of God's commands given at Sinai.

Acts 10 14 Context

This verse occurs in Acts chapter 10, a pivotal moment in the early church. Peter, a leading apostle among the Jewish Christians, is visiting the home of Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion. This encounter is the first significant instance of Gentiles being brought into the Christian fold through Peter's ministry, fulfilling Jesus' commission to be witnesses to "the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The vision Peter experiences immediately before this statement, involving a sheet filled with various animals, clean and unclean, is crucial context. God uses this vision to challenge Peter's deeply ingrained understanding of Jewish law concerning food and, by extension, the perceived separation between Jews and Gentiles.

Acts 10 14 Word Analysis

• "But" (de - δὲ): A conjunction, here signifying a contrast or continuation of thought from what was just stated or experienced.
• "Peter" (Petros - Πέτρος): The Greek name for Simon Peter, one of the twelve apostles.
• "said" (eipen - εἶπεν): Aorist indicative active verb, meaning "he said" or "spoke."
• "Never" (mēpote - μη póτε): A prohibitory particle, indicating a strong negative command or plea. It expresses a strong "not ever" or "far be it from me."
• "Lord" (kyrie - κύριε): A term of address showing respect or acknowledging authority. Here, it's a polite and perhaps even a slightly shocked address to the divine voice he perceived in his vision.
• "for" (gar - γάρ): A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation.
• "I" (egō - ἐγώ): The first-person singular pronoun.
• "have never" (ō de - ὣ δὲ): This construction with the perfect tense often indicates a past action with continuing results. The force here is "never hitherto" or "in no way up to this point."
• "eaten" (ēdomai - ἐδήδομαι): The perfect passive infinitive of the verb "to eat."

Words Group Analysis

• "mēpote kyrie" (Never, Lord): This phrase encapsulates Peter's ingrained reverence for God's Law, particularly the dietary laws which defined Jewish identity and separation from Gentiles. It highlights his earnest adherence to tradition and his initial resistance to the radical inclusivity implied by the vision.

Acts 10 14 Bonus Section

This verse is foundational to understanding the breaking down of the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile within the body of Christ. Peter’s reluctance stems from the Law of Moses, specifically Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, which meticulously detailed distinctions between clean and unclean creatures. This religious boundary reinforced social and ethnic divisions. The vision of the sheet coming down from heaven, filled with animals God declares clean, coupled with Peter’s refusal and God's repeated instruction, moves Peter from a literal interpretation of dietary laws to a symbolic understanding of God's overarching plan for universal salvation through Christ. It is a lesson in spiritual discernment that transcends ritualistic observance.

Acts 10 14 Commentary

Peter's initial response reveals the profound impact of the Mosaic Law on Jewish identity and religious practice. The Law, given through Moses, not only dictated a relationship with God but also shaped daily life, including what could and could not be eaten. These distinctions were intended to set Israel apart as a holy nation. Peter’s statement, "Never, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean," is not a sign of defiance against God but an honest expression of his lifelong observance of these sacred commandments. God is about to teach Peter that these outward distinctions, while divinely ordained, do not reflect an inward spiritual separation or hierarchy, especially concerning the gospel's reach to all nations. The divine clarification will pivot from food laws to the radical cleansing of the heart through faith, signifying that God’s covenant is expanding.