Did Peter's Vision of the Sheet Mean People & Food?

[Vic]

(04-28-2011 11:47 AM)NearYah Wrote:  Are we really going to go down that road Rose? The nothing he made is unclean part by no way indicates eat food. If so, Peter most certainly would have ate whatever was available to him. The right question to ask is what did Peter do? What did Peter say the vision meant to him not us? The following answer is stretch out at least two times in the next chapter. I don’t really think this is debatable considering the revelation and events that took place immediately after the dream, let alone we never are told that Peter ate any food.

I don’t get it. Wasn’t part of the deal made at the Jerusalem council that they were not to eat meat filled with blood (Acts 15:20) and if that is true do you not agree that the Ruach hakodesh (holy spirit) is telling the people that this is not acceptable? Or do you feel Peter story stands isolated (no sarcasm here, but I really am confused).

It always amazes me how people can start quoting a Scripture and then totally miss what was said in that Scripture.

Acts 15---wasn't just about not eating meat with blood.

It was about those who were trying to impose the keeping of the law of Moses on Jews and Gentiles, which included the issue of clean and unclean food and people. We are saved by faith not the law. This issue is discussed quite deeply in the HR FAQS and MYTHS > http://www.seekgod.ca/hr/hrfaqs3a.htm#acts15
Myth. Acts 15 tells us that we are to learn and keep the law of Moses and that Gentiles who convert can start with just the basic list, but should become fully obedient to the law over time as they grow spiritually.

And similar > http://www.seekgod.ca/hr/hrfaqs3a2.htm#kosher

And it is discussed in other threads here such as:
http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=61

Please take that discussion to the appropriate threads.

Quote:If so, Peter most certainly would have ate whatever was available to him.

Peter was living as the Gentiles lived, eating, sleeping and living with them.

Here's what Paul wrote:

Gal 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Gal 2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Gal 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Gal 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. {Notice it doesn't say, remember to keep the law of Moses and the dietary restrictions}
Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

So we see, Peter was eating and living the same way the Gentiles were eating and living. Paul clearly stated Peter was not living as the Jews did, which meant he was not following the dietary laws, which also meant he was not keeping the law of Moses. Galatians appears to have taken place before the Acts 15 discussion. Because after Acts 15, it's apparent the issue of keeping the law is put to rest by the apostles themselves.

In another thread I quoted Mathetes, who wrote his letter about 150 A.D. It was noted then and I will quote part of it it again for you:

Quote:......Chapter V. The manners of the Christians.

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking [281] method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers.... http://mb-soft.com/believe/txv/mathetes.htm

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Just a bit about Acts 15; the apostle Peter makes it clear that Gentiles who come to the faith do not have to be circumcised or >>keep the law of Moses<< which means including the food issues.

Acts 15:5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: ...

Acts 15:24. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25. It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26. Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Act 15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

In verse 10 we see what Peter responds to the Pharisee believers that insisted on Law keeping. We see that neither they nor their fathers were able to bear the yoke of the Law and Peter then asked those that insisted on circumcision and the keeping of the Law, why they were forcing this yoke upon Gentile believers. They also had made the keeping of the Law a salvation issue, which many do today as well.

Moses yoke and Jesus' yoke are not the same. Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

In Acts 15 the apostle James actually regarded those Pharisees who believed but were saying that the Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Law, as having troubled believers and having subverted their souls. James then stresses that they had given no commandment for Gentiles to get circumcised and keep the Law.

Acts 15:24. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

subverting G384
ἀνασκευάζω
anaskeuazō
Thayer Definition:
1) to pack up baggage in order to carry it away to another place
1a) to move one’s furniture (when setting out for some other place)
2) of an enemy
2a) dismantling, plundering
3) of a place
3a) to overthrow, ravage destroy towns lands etc.
4) to turn away violently from a right state, to unsettle, subvert

Part of Speech: verb Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G303 (in the sense of reversal) and a derivative of G4632

The apostles, elders and Holy Spirit agreed with James as we saw in the verses that followed.

We see that the letter which was written in response to this question of a requirement of observing the Law and circumcision is distributed with witnesses to the Gentiles who are coming to the faith. There is no mention of obeying the whole Law or circumcision, just of those four necessary things. There was no mention within the letter of instructions sent by the apostles, elders and church in Jerusalem of them being temporal, or that they should go to synagogues to learn the Law. In fact, Jesus warned that they would be put out of the synagogues.

Paul addressed these specific issues many other times as well, and to the Galatians he wrote:

Galatians 6:12-15 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

And about food, althought the Scriptures have been given repeatedly, Jesus said it wasn't what goes in to a man that defiles but what they speak aka comes out of them. Paul repeated in various passages that food was not unclean. The fact is, Scriptural doctrine required 2 or 3 witnesses. We have Jesus, Peter, Paul, James, the elders of the church, and outside of Scripture we have such as Pliny, Mathetes and many others as witnesses of the issue of what Christians were about, and food wasn't an issue. That's aside from the very Scriptures which discuss these things and give understandings of the New Covenant which those who do not understand, wrestle with and in turn, overturn many Scriptures.

1 Timothy 4:1-6 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.