Acts 10 16

Acts 10:16 kjv

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Acts 10:16 nkjv

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

Acts 10:16 niv

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

Acts 10:16 esv

This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Acts 10:16 nlt

The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 16 Meaning

This verse serves as the powerful conclusion to Peter’s vision, where the sheet containing various animals, both clean and unclean, was presented to him. The repetition "three times" emphasizes the undeniable divine authority and certainty of the message God was conveying: ceremonial distinctions concerning food and, by extension, people (Jew and Gentile) are redefined in the New Covenant. Its final ascent back to heaven confirms the revelation’s divine origin and its complete communication.

Acts 10 16 Context

This verse marks the climax of a profound vision given to Peter, designed to overturn centuries of deeply ingrained Jewish customs and understandings of purity. Historically, the Mosaic Law delineated specific dietary restrictions (Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14) that not only set Israel apart but also functioned as a barrier to fellowship with Gentiles, who were considered "unclean" by Jewish standards due to their food and customs. Peter, a devout Jew, explicitly resisted the divine command to eat, stating he had "never eaten anything common or unclean" (Acts 10:14). This vision occurred precisely as God was preparing Peter to encounter Cornelius, a Roman centurion and Gentile, to open the door for Gentile inclusion into the early Christian community without first converting to Judaism. The vision’s thrice-repeated nature was crucial for Peter to grasp the radical paradigm shift God was orchestrating, challenging not just dietary laws but the fundamental separation between people groups in God's eyes.

Acts 10 16 Word analysis

• τοῦτο (touto) – This: Refers directly to the entirety of the vision: the descending sheet, the voice, the command, and Peter's refusal. It encapsulates the complete divine revelation.
• ἐγένετο (egeneto) – happened: A common biblical term meaning "came to pass" or "occurred." It signifies an event unfolding in real time, implying divine orchestration rather than mere chance.
• ἐπὶ τρίς (epi tris) – three times: This numeric detail is crucial. In Scripture, three-fold repetition often emphasizes certainty, completion, and divine confirmation. It ensured Peter could not dismiss the vision as a fleeting dream or an anomaly, establishing its unquestionable authority and urgency. It solidifies the message in the recipient's mind.
• καὶ (kai) – and: A conjunction smoothly connecting the confirmation of the event to its conclusion.
• εὐθὺς (euthys) – immediately (not in all manuscripts of 10:16 but in some others like 10:17 variants for Peter pondering the vision): While not explicitly in the most standard texts for 10:16, if it were present (e.g., "immediately the sheet was taken"), it would underscore the swift and direct divine action. (Sticking to majority text: this word is not here, so ignore for the core analysis of v.16).
• ἀνελήφθη (aneléphthē) – was taken up: A passive verb, indicating that the action was performed by an external agent – God. The word is reminiscent of Jesus’ own ascension (Acts 1:9), associating the event with direct divine involvement and sacred importance.
• πάλιν (palin) – back, again: Denotes a return to its original place or state. The sheet returned to its source, which was heaven. This reinforces its divine origin and nature.
• ὁ σκεῦος (ho skeuos) – the sheet/vessel: Not just any cloth, but "the vessel" or "article" specifically used for this divine revelation. It highlights the particular object involved in God's teaching.
• εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν (eis ton ouranon) – into heaven: The divine dwelling place and source of all authority. The vision originates from and returns to God, authenticating its message and power.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "This happened three times": This phrase underlines the emphatic and undeniable nature of the vision. It was a deliberate, repeated communication from God, crucial for overcoming Peter's profound cultural and religious preconceptions about purity and separation. The repetition confirms the truth, preparing Peter for a radical change in perspective regarding God's people.
• "and the sheet was taken back up into heaven": This signals the immediate cessation of the visual revelation and emphasizes its divine origin and authority. The passive voice ("was taken up") again points directly to God as the orchestrator of the event. The return to heaven confirms the message as coming directly from the heavenly realm and concludes this specific visual aspect of Peter's education.

Acts 10 16 Bonus section

The vision’s return to heaven implies that the truth revealed within it—God's acceptance of all people as clean through faith in Christ, irrespective of ceremonial laws—is not merely a suggestion but a heavenly decree. This truth fundamentally redefines what constitutes "common or unclean" for the New Covenant believer, shifting the focus from external observance to the spiritual state of the heart (Mk 7:15-19). This learning process for Peter, though challenging, highlights that even foundational apostles had to undergo transformative shifts in understanding as the new dispensation of God's grace unfolded, moving from a primarily national and ritualistic faith to a global and grace-centered one. The vision also underscores God's patient yet firm method of guiding His servants towards His larger redemptive plan, ensuring clarity and removing all doubt through unmistakable signs.

Acts 10 16 Commentary

Acts 10:16 concludes Peter's vivid vision, locking in its critical message with divine finality. The repetition "three times" is a common biblical device that lends gravity and indisputability to a communication; it ensures that Peter, despite his deeply held Jewish traditions, cannot doubt the divine instruction. This act not only concerned food laws, but directly foreshadowed and mandated the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant people of God without requiring adherence to ceremonial laws. God, by declaring what was once 'unclean' now 'clean,' was removing the man-made and formerly God-given barriers that separated humanity and hindered the spread of the Gospel. The sheet's immediate ascent to heaven underscores that this was a divine, not human, initiative—a revelation directly from God's throne, signifying the comprehensive and eternal nature of this new understanding for the Church. It sets the stage for the Gospel's unrestricted expansion to all nations, breaking down spiritual walls between people.

• Example: Just as God redefined what was clean for Peter, He might call us to re-evaluate our own preconceived notions or cultural boundaries that might be hindering fellowship or outreach.
• Example: When a truth is repeated in the Bible or strongly affirmed by the Spirit, it's often a sign of its profound importance, like the three times in Peter's vision urging deep attention.