What is meant, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat'?

by Leonard V Johnson

You also have the option to listen to this article. Just click on the Orange Play button below.

COJCOM · Think About This... What is meant, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat'?

In this THINK ABOUT THIS… let’s talk about what is meant, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat’? Because there are a great number of people worldwide who were taught and believe that the apostle Peter, along with the other apostles, ate meats that were unclean according to the law which the LORD God gave to Moses. Let’s examine God’s living word concerning this subject.

Back in 2017 a Roman Catholic proudly announced to me ── rather anti-Semitically ── when he heard that I do not eat pork, “Oh, that’s a Jewish thing!”

I then proceeded to remind him of the LORD God’s food laws in Leviticus 11:1-8, 47, as well as Deuteronomy 14:1-29. But, since a large majority of Catholics don’t read the Old Testament (and I’m sure this doesn’t apply to all Catholics), it’s possible he was referencing Acts 10 ── especially that part concerning the apostle Peter’s vision.

There was a centurion, a commander in the Italian Regiment of the Roman military. He lived in Caesarea. His name was Cornelius. It was in Cornelius’ home that the LORD God opened up the door to His living word to the Gentiles. In a vision, he was told to send to Joppa for the apostle Peter, who would tell him what to do. And, as Cornelius’ messengers were on their way to get Peter, Peter also had a vision. While Peter was on the roof of his house praying he became very hungry and wanted to eat; “but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.” He saw the atmosphere open and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners that descended down to him. Within the bounded sheet were all kinds of four-footed beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. Then, a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ── Acts 10:1-13.

Was this the instance that my mother-in-law’s neighbor was referring to in which the apostle Peter was supposedly now allowed to eat pork?

But, did he?

Notice the apostle Peter’s response to the voice ──

“ …’ Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean!’” vs. 14.

So, if our Lord Jesus Christ had made unclean meats clean, the apostle Peter would have not only begun eating any meats deemed unclean by the law of God, but ── and pay close attention to his answer, he had not eaten even up to that point any meats deemed unclean by the law of God!

Also, the apostle Peter was told by a voice THREE TIMES, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ – vs. 15. He was instructed about what the LORD God has since cleansed, he was not to think of it as common. Here, there was no reference as to what was considered common and what was unclean.

The apostle Peter “wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant,” since he knew and believed that God’s living word plainly FORBIDS His begotten children to consume meats that are deemed unclean. Because God’s living and immutable word nowhere contradicts itself. While he pondered the meaning of this vision, ‘the men who had been sent from Cornelius stood before the gate.’ Then the Spirit of God came to him and said, “Behold, THREE men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” – vss. 19-20.

Peter’s Vision Made Clear

The following day the apostle Peter traveled with the three men, and some brethren from Joppa to Caesarea to meet with Cornelius. As he talked with him, “he went in and found many who had come together.” And he said, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” – vs. 28.

The LORD God had never forbidden Jews to keep company with or go to one of another nation ── that was a man-made law by the Jews based upon their wrong understanding of God’s living word! Truly, until that time the apostle Peter was wrongly following Jewish traditions and customs. Do you recall the apostle Paul getting onto Peter concerning this very thing? Paul confronts Peter concerning his hypocrisy. “for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself.” – Galatians 2:11-14; in approx. AD 45.

But, NOWHERE in God’s living word, do we find that the apostle Peter ate pig meat or any other meat deemed unclean by the law of God. A great number of people are wrong, though I doubt many would admit it even if it is proven to them beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Has Our Lord Jesus Cleansed All Meats?

Still, again, multiple millions are taught and believe that God’s law concerning clean and unclean meats has been “done away with.”

Our Lord Jesus’ living words in Mark chapter 7 have been purported to have “done away” with His law concerning unclean meats ──

“When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18) So He said to them, ‘Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19) because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?’” – Mark 7:17-19 (New King James Version).

Now, something to think about ── if our Lord Jesus truly meant by this clear understanding: What had He just been discussing with the Pharisees and scribes? “’ Why do Your disciples not walk according to the TRADITION OF THE ELDERS, but eat bread with unwashed hands?’” And our Lord Jesus answered ── it doesn’t matter if you eat with unwashed hands, because what you eat doesn’t enter into your heart, but enters into your stomach, which eventually is eliminated – thus, whatever was unclean on your food has now been “purified” ── that all meats that were unclean are now clean (of which, sadly, multiple millions believe), then obviously the apostle Peter still didn’t understand our Lord Jesus’ clear teaching years later!

Let us briefly go over a little about the law concerning clean and unclean meats. (We have several articles concerning this important subject, i.e. “Is God's Biblical Food Laws Still In Effect!?” and “An Abomination to Eat Pork!”). This law was well-known even before the Great Flood. A verse that a great many children’s Bible Story books actually won’t properly quote ── “’ You shall take with you SEVEN each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female.’” – Genesis 7:2.

When it becomes clear to you just who the “LORD” of the Old Testament was, you will come to see that this subject is so much more important in receiving the glorious gift of eternal salvation than you might think it is. Truly, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT… Because throughout God’s living word is made clear that the One who later became our Savior Jesus Christ was the very same being known as the “LORD” in the Old Testament. For reference be sure to read and study Colossians 1:13-18; as well as John 1:1-5. The very God who would later become “flesh and dwell among us” – John 1:14.

The Word had personally said to the children of Israel, “’ distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.’” – Leviticus 11:47.

Have you ever asked yourself ── “Why did the LORD God make such a law?”

Well, our Creator always has a good reason for the things that He does. When one comes to the knowledge that all unclean meats can have dangerous bacteria, that can cause foodborne illnesses, then there’s our answer. The LORD God says to us, “’ But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, … I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease [such as a cancer] and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart.’” – Leviticus 26:14, 15, 16. The Eternal our God’s living word makes clear which animals are clean ── “’ Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud ── that you may eat.’” – Leviticus 11.

All the meats that were deemed by the LORD God as unclean are still unclean in this 21st century! They all can still have dangerous bacteria, which can cause foodborne illnesses in human beings.

Can We Eat Whatever Is Set Before Us?

Yet another passage in God’s living word that is often misunderstood and misconstrued, and is taught and believed “done away” or “nailed to the cross” with God’s law against consuming unclean meats is 1st Corinthians chapter 10 ──

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake.” vs. 25.

Here again, one must properly understand what is being talked about ── we must include the whole context and not just one verse.

What was it that he was speaking about?

“Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19) What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20) RATHER, that the things which the Gentiles [or heathen; Someone who is not religious] sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; …” – 1 Corinthians 10:18-21.

He goes on to say that people will tell themselves, “All things are lawful for me.” And he answers, ‘but not all things are helpful, and not all things edify’ the person.

In verse 27 he says, “If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for conscience sake.”

Does the apostle Paul mean that you cannot ask questions about how the meats were prepared, or its source? No. Logically one would ── not everyone can eat the same foods. As noted earlier, the whole context should make it clear what the apostle Paul was actually speaking of ── he was addressing people offering animal meats as sacrifices to other gods. The apostle Paul had a clear understanding of God’s food law.

As an example: If your host is a practicing Islamic, and he and his family pray over the meal being served, then, for their consciences' sake, you should not eat it ── notice verses 28 & 29.

Understand, the god they worship, Allah, is not the Creator God that true Christians worship in truth and in Spirit!

Is All Meats Now Considered Clean?

Another so often misunderstood and misconstrued passage is Romans 14:14.

“I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; …”

What is he talking about?

Again, we must include the whole context to see what it is that the apostle Paul is addressing. Notice that this chapter's subject is mentioned in verse 2 – “ … one man will have faith enough to eat all kinds of food, while a weaker man eats only vegetables.” – (New English Bible). In other words, some people ate meat and vegetables, while others ate only vegetables. The apostle Paul in this chapter is saying that true Christians should not judge another if they only eat vegetables ── are a vegetarian. Rather, a true Christian should not say or do anything that would cause another true Christian to stumble in faith ── “it is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” – vs. 21.

So, now that we properly understand what he is speaking about ── what about verse 14?

We see the answer when we discover the original Greek word for “unclean.”

The word in Greek is koinos, meaning common #2839. It is usually translated into English as “unclean.”

The Interlinear Bible Hebrew/Greek/English Bible translates this verse – “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing by itself is common, except to the one counting anything to be common, it is common.”

Note that the Greek word for “unclean” is not used ── akathartos #169.

Sadly, the improper translation from Koine Greek to English in this verse has caused a great many people to wrongly conclude that this statement by the apostle Paul permits all Christians to eat meats that even the LORD God has deemed unclean. □