John Calvin Commentary Acts 10:12

"wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven." — Acts 10:12 (ASV)

If anyone asks how Peter could see a great multitude of living creatures at once, the question is easily answered. For Luke says, All manner, because diverse kinds were there, mixed with each other. Therefore, he does not begin at the first kind, so that he might detail the count to the very end. Again, we must not measure this vision by human standards, because the trance gave Peter other eyes.

But before we go any further, we must understand the purpose of the vision. Some dispute more subtly about this than the context requires, in my judgment. Therefore, I think it is generally shown to Peter that the distinction God had made in times past is now taken away. And just as He had made a distinction between living creatures, so, having chosen one people for Himself, He considered all other nations unclean and profane.

Now that the distinction between living creatures is taken away, He teaches as a consequence that there is no longer such disagreement among people as there was in times past, and that there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek. By this, Peter is admonished not to abhor the Gentiles as unclean. Undoubtedly, God meant to encourage Peter to come to Cornelius without fear. However, He had separated one people to Himself from the rest, as Moses says in his song, when the Most High distributed the nations, He put His lot in Jacob, and so on (Deuteronomy 32:9). Therefore, He called them His inheritance and peculiar people.

According to this previous order, it would not have been lawful for Peter to bring the covenant of salvation to the Gentiles—for that was to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs (Matthew 15:26)—unless, perhaps, they would be circumcised and embrace the Jewish religion. For it was lawful to receive those who did yield themselves.

Therefore, when the apostles were previously sent to preach the gospel, they were forbidden to go among the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). And since the preaching of the gospel is a most holy and weighty matter, Peter ought not to have attempted anything in this regard with a doubting and wavering mind.

Therefore, so that he might be assured of his calling, God clearly shows, as in a picture, that the legal distinction between the clean and unclean is abolished. From this, Peter may gather that the wall that previously stood between the Jews and the Gentiles is now pulled down. And Paul says that it is a mystery hidden from the beginning of the world that the Gentiles are made partakers of the same salvation with the people of God, and grafted into one body (Ephesians 2:16; Ephesians 3:6).

Therefore, Peter would never have dared to open the gate of heaven to the Gentiles unless God Himself had made a clear way and entrance for all people by taking away the wall of separation.

I said just now that there was no time when it was not lawful to admit the Gentiles to the worship of God, provided they were circumcised; but as long as they remained in uncircumcision, they were strangers to God. But now God has made the covenant of life common to the entire world, which He had previously confined to one nation, as a treasure.

From this we gather that this vision is not a little profitable for us. For, as it teaches that the distinction between Jews and Gentiles continued only for a time, it is as if God were to pronounce from heaven that He receives all people of the world into favor, so that He may be God over all. Finally, we have a clear proclamation from heaven, which gives us hope of eternal life.

But some will object that Peter had been taught about this matter before, for he and the rest were commanded to preach the gospel throughout the whole world (Mark 16:15). Therefore, they might argue, he was either ignorant of his calling, or this vision was superfluous. I answer that there was such great difficulty in the novelty of it that they could not become accustomed to it immediately. They knew both the prophecies of the prophets and the recent commandment of Christ concerning the calling of the Gentiles by the gospel; but when it came to acting on it, they nevertheless doubted, being struck by the strangeness of the matter. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Lord confirmed Peter with a new sign, about which we must also say something more in the next chapter.