Category: twelve apostles

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #7

Friday, August 15, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Cornelius was an uncircumcised Gentile who did not observe the Law of Moses, but he walked in the spiritual light he had by blessing Israel (verses 2,4,22,31). Based on what Peter heard about him from the trio and from Cornelius himself, Peter responded: “…Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (verses 34,35). (Cornelius parallels the Gentiles who will bless Israel during Daniel’s 70th Week; Matthew 25:31-40.) Yet, good works are insufficient, so Peter preaches to those Gentiles with Cornelius all about the Lord Jesus Christ and His earthly ministry to Israel (verses 36-43), closing with, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

As if Peter has not been perplexed enough, something else unexpected takes place! Verses 44-48: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed [six Jewish saints; Acts 10:23; Acts 11:12] were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

In Acts 11:15-17, Peter recounts how those Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke in intelligent human languages never formally learned—reminding him of what happened with believing Israel on Pentecost (chapter 2). Once more, the Gentiles have faith, but Israel is in unbelief. Peter sees more confirmation God is working with Cornelius and these other Gentiles in Caesarea, though he does not fully comprehend the scope of these events until several years later….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #6

Thursday, August 14, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Acts 10:28 is Peter’s first words to all the Gentiles assembled with Cornelius: “…Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” In what sense is it “unlawful” (forbidden, illicit, prohibited; Greek translated “abominable” in 1 Peter 4:3) for Peter to be with these non-Jews?

Gentile salvation was not a secret in prophecy. God would save and bless Gentiles through Israel as per the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3). Redeemed national Israel would subsequently rise to kingdom glory, a kingdom of priests preaching God’s words to Gentiles (Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20). Peter knew the order in prophecy was Israel converted first, as in his original apostolic commission: “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:5-7).

In early Acts, post-resurrection, Christ expands that commission: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). By the time of chapter 10 though, Jerusalem has not been fully converted, neither is Judaea (southern Israel) nor Samaria (northern Israel). Thus, Peter recognizes it is too early for him to go to Gentiles (“uttermost part of the earth”)… yet, strangely, there he was ministering to them (Cornelius and company) in Caesarea!

Peter is coming to greater awareness about a striking dispensational change that has already transpired….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #5

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Did you notice how Peter hungered for physical food in today’s Scripture? There is some interesting symbolism a great many fail to see here. Considering how Israel refused to hear and believe God’s preachers in Matthew to John as well as Acts chapters 1–7, Peter is also hungry for spiritual fruit—that is, a positive Jewish response to God’s words. Recall the parallel in Matthew 21:17-19 and Mark 11:12-14, the fruitless fig tree representing Israel’s unproductive religious system!

It was just prior to Peter’s vision that a Roman centurion (commander of 100 soldiers), Cornelius, wanted more spiritual light. The Holy Spirit rebukes unbelieving Israel by placing into the record of Scripture a heathen idolater who wishes to hear from Peter! Once the three-man delegation from Cornelius reaches the house where Peter is staying, they recount for the Apostle their reason for coming, confirming to Peter what God had told him (verses 21,22). They spend the night in Joppa, and Peter goes back with them to Caesarea the following morning, taking six Jewish saints with him to serve as witnesses (verse 23; cf. Acts 11:12).

When he reaches Caesarea, Peter is absolutely stunned to see a large crowd of interested Gentiles (Cornelius’ relatives and neighbors). “…And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends…. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together” (Acts 10:24,27). “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (verse 33). Here, we have a multitude of idolatrous Gentiles ready to hear and believe God’s words through Peter, with national Israel still in unbelief!!!!!!

There it is. It is remarkable, scathing, and factual….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #4

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Chapter 10 of Acts continues: “[11] And [Peter] saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: [12] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. [14] But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. [15] And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. [16] This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”

Observance of Mosaic-Law kosher food laws separated the nation Israel from the nations or Gentiles (Leviticus 11:1-47; Deuteronomy 14:1-20). Peter, a Law-keeping Jew, recognized how he was to eat only “clean” foods. Therefore, he is now baffled, especially curious as to why the Lord Himself suddenly overturns those dietary restrictions. Read Acts 10:17-20: “Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.”

As the Apostle considers the strange things he has seen and heard, Cornelius’ dispatched trio of “unclean” men (Gentiles who eat “unclean foods” like those in Peter’s vision!) arrive at Simon’s house where Peter is staying. It will become clear to the Apostle how the “thrice” of verse 16 corresponds to these three men….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #3

Monday, August 11, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

It is a real shame that almost everyone in Christendom misunderstands Acts chapter 10—whether the charismatics who gravitate toward the “pouring out of the Holy Ghost” and speaking in tongues, or the shallow dispensationalists who fail to see the full worth of the passage because they are not pure Pauline dispensationalists.

Cornelius was not a proselyte (Gentile convert) to Judaism (“uncircumcised” according to Acts 11:1-3). He even engaged in pagan idolatry such as human worship (Acts 10:25,26). Nevertheless, he still possessed more spiritual light than most other Romans and non-Jews of his time. For example, he was familiar with, and obeyed, the Abrahamic Covenant about materially blessing Israel to be blessed of God (Genesis 12:3; Acts 10:2,4,22,31,35). He wanted additional spiritual understanding, and, apparently, prayed for it (Acts 10:2,4,6,31). Israel’s God responded by first sending an angel to Cornelius with a message and then using a vision to direct Peter to Cornelius’ house.

Here is some useful geographical information. Caesarea (Cornelius’ home—Acts 10:1) is on the Promised Land’s Mediterranean Coast, some 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Joppa (where Peter is staying with Simon the tanner—Acts 9:43; Acts 10:5,6). God works with Cornelius and Peter separately to bring them together. Firstly, to repeat, an angel tells Cornelius he will hear words of salvation from Peter (Acts 10:22,32; cf. Acts 11:14). Secondly, obeying the angel’s instructions, Cornelius sends three men to lead Peter from Simon’s house and back to Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:7,8). As those three men make their way from Caesarea to Joppa, Peter in Joppa receives a message from God in today’s Scripture.

As Peter resides with Simon the tanner (animal-hide preparer), Peter goes up on the housetop to pray around noon—lunchtime—and he feels quite hungry! Here, he has a vision of unclean animals, which prepares him for those three special visitors….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #2

Sunday, August 10, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Once unbelieving national Israel’s temporary fall before God occurred in Acts chapter 7, the apostate nation not being forgiven of its blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31,32; Mark 3:28-30), there is a radical departure from the order of Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The Little Flock, Israel’s believing remnant, understood the sequence. With Christ gone back to Heaven, they had to convert Jerusalem first, before branching out to the Gentiles: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Nevertheless, Jerusalem was content to be in unbelief, rejecting Jesus Christ as He was preached during the opening chapters of Acts. It was here in Jerusalem, Acts chapter 7, that the Holy Spirit in Stephen condemned Israel’s religious leaders (Sanhedrin) for their unbelief. By the time of chapter 8, Stephen is dead by stoning and Philip goes to preach in Samaria to the north (with the Samaritans trusting the very Jesus Christ that Jerusalem had not!).

It is in chapter 9 that the Lord saves, raises up, and commissions the Apostle Paul to go to Gentiles. Jerusalem and Judaea (Jerusalem’s neighborhood) are not entirely converted, but Samaria is somewhat converted, and now salvation and blessing are going to the world or Gentiles through Paul with an entirely different commission. This is not the order of prophecy. Indeed, there has been a drastic change in program, and these various clues in Acts demonstrate it. Then, there is the bizarre case of Roman centurion Cornelius and the Apostle Peter’s ministry to him in the context of today’s Scripture….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #1

Saturday, August 9, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Let us read today’s Scripture within its context, Acts 10:9-20: “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

“Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.” What is the Lord teaching the Apostle Peter here with this vision? Is there anything we can learn from it? People seldom move beyond the same old basic, common, shallow, denominational interpretation, and this is a real shame which God never intended.

Let us with mature spiritual (dispensational) eyes see what we can glean….

The Kingdom of God is Within You #12

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV).

Is there really a “mis-translation” in the King James Bible here?

Due to a miserable (!) failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth, today’s Scripture and context (verses 20,21) have been twisted out of shape to teach something they do not teach and never did teach. They do not describe God’s current dealings with man at all, but typify what He did with Israel in time past. Peter’s ministry—an extension of Christ’s earthly ministry—concerns Israel rising to kingdom glory, God’s salvation and blessing going to the world (Gentiles) in Israel’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom (Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 2:32; Luke 24:47; John 4:42; Acts 1:6; Acts 3:24-26). However, Paul’s ministry is God’s salvation and blessing going to the world (Gentiles) through Israel’s temporary fall and without her kingdom (Romans 11:11-14). Though Christendom has neglected it for 20 centuries, we dare not miss this important distinction!

Just because God did something in time past does not mean He is doing it in the but now, and just because He is doing it in the but now does not mean He will keep doing it in the ages to come. Though He is not growing His earthly people (Israel) now, Romans 11:25-29 indicates He will return to that after He closes our program and completes us the Church the Body of Christ: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

We are not Israel, and we have not replaced Israel, so we are wise in our own conceits (we think we are someone we are not) if we believe we are Israel or that we have replaced Israel….

The Kingdom of God is Within You #11

Monday, July 21, 2025

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV).

Is there really a “mis-translation” in the King James Bible here?

Read Peter’s sermon directed to unbelieving Israel: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began…. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:19-21,25,26). See Israel’s rise to kingdom glory!

Contrast this with Paul’s words: “I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:11-13). See Israel’s fall!

With much of Christendom regarding Paul as “the twelfth apostle” (Paul being Judas Iscariot’s successor) or Paul being an extension/supplement of the 12 (Matthias being Iscariot’s replacement), they have blended whatever God is doing in the “but now” with what He did in “time past.” Hopeless confusion has resulted, for they believe, “There is but one gospel in the Bible,” “only one church in the Bible,” and so on. This is not “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). It is mixing distinct information God has separated—and then changing or denying verses because they know of no other way to resolve the incompatibilities. That is exactly what happened with Luke 17:20,21 (today’s Scripture and its context). Nothing is wrong with the Scriptures; what is incorrect is our traditional approach to them….

Training Replacements #11

Friday, June 20, 2025

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26 KJV).

One of the lesser-known purposes of Christ’s earthly ministry was that He trained 12 men to continue His work once He returned to His Heavenly Father!

The Lord Jesus Christ has not been on planet Earth physically for 2,000 years. However, He did send the Holy Spirit to take His place. Firstly, the Holy Spirit came upon the Little Flock, Israel’s believing remnant, in Acts chapter 2: He enlightened the people of God as touching prophecy (today’s Scripture). Secondly, the Holy Spirit’s ministry moved over to Paul’s ministry and the Gentiles in chapter 9, after unbelieving Israel had fallen and mystery had interrupted prophecy.

Acts 26:16-18 describes our Apostle Paul’s commissioning: “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I [the Lord Jesus Christ] have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee [‘apostle’ = ‘sent one’], To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

First Corinthians 4:1,2 likens Paul unto a “steward”—a household manager who distributes his master’s goods throughout the estate as his master directs. Paul delivers (“dispenses”) to us information the Lord Jesus Christ directly gave to him: this is the 13 Pauline epistles, Romans to Philemon, or what the Bible calls “the Dispensation of the Grace of God” (Ephesians 3:1,2). Here is how Christ lives His life in and through us as members of the Church the Body of Christ. Unless we know God’s will to and about us, we cannot work with Him by faith in accomplishing His will. If we do not hold firm to that sound doctrine, our lives and ministries are simply the works of sinful flesh.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….