Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 10:11
And 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:
11. and saw [ beholdeth ] heaven opened ] To shew him that the teaching of the vision was sent to him from God.
and a certain vessel descending unto him ] The oldest MSS. omit the two last words.
as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth ] The oldest MSS. only give “a great sheet let down by four corners upon the earth.” The word rendered “corners” is used of the “end of a cord” in Herod. 4:60, but it seems that for such a sense there must be added either a noun or adjective for explanation. What the Apostle saw was an extended sheet, the four corners of which were held up as it were by cords let down from the four extremities of the opened sky. The significance of the outstretched sheet, as a figure of the wide world, and the four corners as the directions into which the gospel was now to be borne forth into all the world, has often been dwelt upon.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And saw heaven opened – Act 7:56. See the notes on Mat 3:16. This language is derived from a common mode of speaking in the Hebrew Scriptures, as if the sky above us was a solid, vast expanse, and as if it were opened to present an opportunity for anything to descend. It is language that is highly figurative.
And a certain vessel – See the notes on Act 9:15.
As it had been – It is important to mark this expression. The sacred writer does not say that Peter literally saw such an object descending; but he uses this as an imperfect description of the vision. It was not a literal descent of a vessel, but it was such a kind of representation to him, producing the same impression, and the same effect, as if such a vessel had descended.
Knit at the four corners – Bound, united, or tied. The corners were collected, as would be natural in putting anything into a great sheet.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. And saw heaven opened] His mind now entirely spiritualized, and absorbed in heavenly contemplation, was capable of discoveries of the spiritual world; a world which, with its , or plenitude of inhabitants, surrounds us at all times; but which we are incapable of seeing through the dense medium of flesh and blood, and their necessarily concomitant earthly passions. Much, however, of such a world and its economy may be apprehended by him who is purified from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and who has perfected holiness in the fear of God. But this is a subject to which the enthusiast in vain attempts to ascend. The turbulent working of his imagination, and the gross earthly crudities which he wishes to obtrude on the world as revelations from God, afford a sufficient refutation of their own blasphemous pretensions.
A great sheet, knit at the four corners] Perhaps intended to be an emblem of the universe, and its various nations, to the four corners of which the Gospel was to extend, and to offer its blessings to all the inhabitants, without distinction of nation, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And saw heaven; either visibly to his corporal eyes, as to St. Stephens; or rather mentally, more suitably to the rapture mentioned in the former verse.
Opened; which might signify, that heaven, that was shut to the children of men by the first Adam, was now by Christ, the Second Adam, opened to all believers.
Vessel; this word is taken for any utensil commonly used about the house; and, with the
sheet here spoken of, bears an analogy to a table and table cloth amongst us.
Knit at the four corners; so gathered up or knit, that the viands, Act 10:12, might not fall down. And this Peter saw to come from heaven, to show that the liberty of taking Cornelius and other Gentiles into the church, did come from thence only.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9-16. upon the housetoptheflat roof, the chosen place in the East for cool retirement.
the sixth hournoon.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And saw heaven opened,…. Not literally, as at the baptism of Christ, and the stoning of Stephen; but in a visionary way, and which was an emblem of the opening and revealing the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles, which in other ages was not made known, as it now and afterwards was:
and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet: which seems to represent the church of God, whose original is from heaven, and consists of persons born from above, who have their conversation in heaven, and were designed for it; and especially as under the Gospel dispensation, which Peter had a vision of in this emblematic way; the doctrines and ordinances of which are from heaven: and which may be compared to a linen sheet for its purity and holiness; through the blood and righteousness of Christ, and the grace of his Spirit, and with respect to its discipline and conversation; and so to a great one for its largeness; for though the number of its members, when compared with the world, are few, yet in themselves are a number which no man can number; and though it was but small at first, yet the Gospel being carried among the Gentiles it increased, and in the last times will be large:
knit at the four corners; which may denote the preaching of the Gospel, and the spread of it, and the planting of churches by it in the four parts of the world; and also the church being knit to Christ, and the members of it one to another:
and let down to the earth; for Peter to see it, and where it was to continue for a while, even to the second coming of Christ, and when the whole church of the firstborn will be let down to earth again; see Re 21:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Beholdeth (). Vivid historical present and change from past time.
Opened (, perfect passive participle with double reduplication, state of completion).
Descending (). Present active participle describing the process.
Sheet (). Old word for linen cloth and only here in the N.T. Accusative case in apposition with (vessel).
Let down (). Present passive participle of . Old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Luke 5:19; Acts 9:25. Linear action here picturing the process, “being let down.”
By four corners ( ). Instrumental case of , beginning. We say “end” or extremity for this use of the word. The picture is the sheet held up by four cords to which the sheet is fastened. Isa 11:12 had said that Israel would be gathered from the four corners of the earth. Knowling follows Hobart in taking the four corners of the sheet to be a medical phrase for bandage (the end of a bandage).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Saw [] . Rev., better, and more literally, beholdeth. See on Luk 10:18. The present tense is graphically introduced into the narrative. Unto him. The best texts omit.
Sheet [] . Only here and ch. 11 5. Originally fine linen; later, sail – cloth or a sail. Dr. J. Rawson Lumby suggests that the word, “applied to loose, bellying sails of ships,” may indicate that the form of vessel which appeared to Peter “recalled an image most familiar to his previous life – the wind – stretched canvas of the craft on the Lake of Galilee” (” Expositor, ” iii, 272).
Knit [] . If this is retained, we must render bound, or attached; but the best texts omit, together with the following and. Render, as Rev., let down by four corners. Compare ch. 11 5.
Corners [] . Lit., beginnings; the extremity or corner, marking a beginning of the sheet. “We are to imagine the vessel, looking like a colossal four – cornered linen cloth, letting itself down, while the corners attached to heaven to support the whole.” The word is used in this sense by Herodotus, describing the sacrifices of the Scythians. The victim’s forefeet are bound with a cord, “and the person who is about to offer, taking his station behind the victim, pulls the end [] of the rope, and thereby throws the animal down” (4, 60). The suggestion of ropes holding the corners of the sheet (Alford, and, cautiously, Farrar) is unwarranted by the usage of the word. It was the technical expression in medical language for the ends of bandages. The word for sheet in this passage was also the technical term for a bandage, as was the kindred word ojqonion, used of the linen bandages in which the Lord ‘s body was swathed. See Luke 2412; Joh 19:40; Joh 20:5, 6, 7. Mr. Hobart says : “We have thus in this passage a technical medical phrase – the ends of a bandage – used for the ends of a sheet, which hardly any one except a medical man would think of employing” (” Medical Language of St. Luke “).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And saw heaven opened,” (kai theorei ton ouranon aneogmenon) “And he gazed (gazes) upon the heaven as having been opened,” beholdeth heaven, an historic present of vivid reality, Act 7:56; 1Co 2:9. It was opened for a disclosure not before clearly understood, Eph 3:5-6.
2) “And a certain vessel descending unto him,” (kai katabainon skeuos ti) “And a certain vessel coming down before him,” perhaps similar in appearance to a fallen sail from a sailboat with which Peter was familiar.
3) “As it had been a great sheet,” (hos othonen megalen) “As or similar to a great sheet,” having the visual appearance of a great sheet or sailcloth, Act 11:5.
4) “Knit at the four corners,” (tessarsin archais) “By four corners, as it had been knit,” in a square or rectangular appearance, suspended by four edges or corners, prepared for usefulness.
5) “And let down to the earth:(kathiemenon epi tes ges) “Let down upon the earth,” from heaven the upper regions of glory. The witness of the shed blood of Christ is offered to and for all, and saves people now, because the need is now, for all nations, Rom 1:14-16; 2Co 6:2; Heb 3:7; Heb 4:7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
11. The opening of heaven signifieth, in my judgment, another thing in this place than in the seventh chapter. For it is said there that heaven was opened to Stephen, that he did behold the glory of Christ; in this place Peter saw our heaven which we see divided, so that a sheet came thence.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) A certain vessel descending . . .The form of the vision corresponded, as has just been said, with the bodily condition of the Apostle. Its inward meaning may fairly be thought of as corresponding to his prayer. One who looked out from Joppa upon the waters of the Great Sea towards the far-off Isles of the Gentiles, might well seek to know by what process and under what conditions those who dwelt in them would be brought within the fold of which he was one of the chief appointed shepherds. The place, we may add, could not fail to recall the memory of the great prophet who had taken ship from thence, and who was conspicuous alike as a preacher of a gospel of repentance to the Gentiles, and, in our Lords own teaching, as a type of the Resurrection (Mat. 12:40-41). The Apostle was to be taught, as the prophet had been of old, that the thoughts of God were not as his thoughts (Jon. 4:10-11).
A great sheet knit at the four corners.Better, bound by four endsi.e., those of the ropes by which it seemed to Peters gaze to be let down from the opened firmament. The Greek word, literally beginnings, is used as we use ends.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Heaven opened The polished surface of the visible firmament seemed to part and let the square sheet down through.
Vessel An article in which a thing could be contained and borne.
Sheet Of white linen, the emblem of purity.
Knit Rather, fastened, as if the sheet were suspended by cords, which were attached to its four corners and fastened at the upper end to the firmamental roof.
Down to the earth So that Peter could look from the housetop down upon its upper surface.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 10:11. And a certain vessel, &c. And something descending in the form of a great sheet. As we do not in English call sheets vessels, the general word here used, more properly answers to the word , concerning which, see on chap. Act 9:15. We have no word in our language exactly answering to it. The other word signifies any large piece of linen, in which things are wrapped; and seems to have been used as an emblem of the gospel, which extends to all nations of m
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 10:11-13 . Observe the vividly introduced historical present .
.] attached with four ends , namely, to the edges of the opening which had taken place in heaven. Chap. Act 11:5 requires this explanation, not the usual one: “ bound together at the four corners.” Nor does the text mention anything of ropes , bound to which it was let down. The visionary appearance has something marvellous even in the way of its occurrence. We are to imagine the vessel (whose four corners, moreover, are without warrant explained by Augustine, Wetstein, Bengel, Lange, and others as pointing to the four quarters of the world), looking like a colossal four-cornered linen-cloth ( ), letting itself down, while the corners attached to heaven support the whole. On , extremitates , see Jacobs, ad Anthol. XI. p. 50.
] The formerly usual interpretation: “ four-footed beasts of all sorts, i.e. of very many kinds ” is linguistically erroneous. The phenomenon in its supernatural visionary character exhibits as present in the ( ) all four-footed beasts, reptiles, and birds (all kinds of them) without exception. [256] In a strangely arbitrary manner Kuinoel, after Calovius and others, holds that these were only unclean animals. See on Act 10:14 .
] See on Mat 6:26 .
] Perhaps Peter lay during the trance. Yet it may also be the mere call to action: arise (Act 9:11 ; Act 9:39 , Act 8:26 , and frequently; comp. on Act 8:26 ).
] occide (Vulg.), slay , not: sacrifice , as 1Ma 1:47 (Thiersch), see Act 10:10 .
[256] That fishes (those without fins and scales were forbidden) are not included in the vision, is explained from the fact that the was like a cloth. Fishes would have been unsuitable for this, especially as the animals were presented as living ( ). According to Lange, it is “perhaps a prophetic omission, wherein there is already floating before the mind the image of fishes as the souls to be gathered.” A fanciful notion.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
11 And 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:
Ver. 11. And saw heaven opened ] sc. The visible heaven, the air; for, as for the third heaven, it openeth not without a miracle, as some think.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
11. . . ] not, ‘ by the four corners ,’ which would certainly require the article, as in reff., but by four rope-ends . This meaning of justified by Diod. Sic. i. p. 104, who, speaking of harpooning the hippopotamus, says, . The ends of the ropes were attached to the sheet, and, in the vision, they only were seen .
At all events, as Neander observes (Pfl. u. L. p. 126, note), these four (whether ends of ropes attached to the corners, or those corners themselves) are not without meaning, directed as they are to the four parts of heaven, and intimating that men from the North, South, East, and West, now were accounted clean before God, and were called to a share in his kingdom: see Luk 13:29 . The symbolism is, as usual, fancifully exaggerated by Wordsw. in his note. The four are the four gospels, because the word occurs somewhere near the beginning of each, &c., &c. Who can wonder, after this, at the distrust of all Scripture symbolism by intelligent, but unspiritual minds?
I have retained the words . doubtfully, because it seems difficult to account for their insertion, but they may have been omitted to assimilate our text to ch. Act 11:5 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 10:11 . : “beholdeth,” historic present, giving vividness. . . Both words, and (in this sense), are peculiar to St. Luke in N.T. the phrase is medical, so that the expression here rendered ends or corners of a sheet is really technical medical phraseology, see Hobart, p. 218, Plummer, Introd. to St. Luke , lxv., Zahn, Einleitung , ii., 436. is also used in LXX, Exo 36:24 (Exo 39:17 ), not at all in LXX, but both words are found in classical writers in senses approaching their meaning here; but here as elsewhere in St. Luke it is the combination which arrests attention, for and are found again and again in medical language with or . : “by four corners,” R.V. No article; there might have been many ends or corners. It is doubtful how far we can therefore press the imagery as referring to the four regions of the world, or that men would come from the north, south, etc., to share the kingdom.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
saw = beheld. Greek. theoreo. App-133.
heaven = the heaven. Mat 6:9, Mat 6:10.
unto him. The texts omit. sheet. Greek. othcme, Only here and Act 11:6.
knit. The texts omit. Read “Let down by the four corners”.
let down = sent down. Greek. kathiemi. Occurs elsewhere, Act 9:25; Act 11:5. Luk 5:19.
to = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
earth. Greek. ge. App-129.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
11. . .] not, by the four corners, which would certainly require the article, as in reff.,-but by four rope-ends. This meaning of justified by Diod. Sic. i. p. 104, who, speaking of harpooning the hippopotamus, says, . The ends of the ropes were attached to the sheet, and, in the vision, they only were seen.
At all events, as Neander observes (Pfl. u. L. p. 126, note), these four (whether ends of ropes attached to the corners, or those corners themselves) are not without meaning, directed as they are to the four parts of heaven, and intimating that men from the North, South, East, and West, now were accounted clean before God, and were called to a share in his kingdom: see Luk 13:29. The symbolism is, as usual, fancifully exaggerated by Wordsw. in his note. The four are the four gospels, because the word occurs somewhere near the beginning of each, &c., &c. Who can wonder, after this, at the distrust of all Scripture symbolism by intelligent, but unspiritual minds?
I have retained the words . doubtfully, because it seems difficult to account for their insertion, but they may have been omitted to assimilate our text to ch. Act 11:5.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 10:11. , the heaven) The vessel was not only lifted up from the earth into heaven, but was first let down from heaven. Therefore the reception of the Gentiles into heaven presupposes the first origin of man to be heavenly (from heaven). And in heaven first are the types of the things which are afterwards made on earth for the salvation of men: comp. Heb 8:5.-, a vessel) a napkin.-, at the four) corresponding to the same number of quarters of the world.-, corners or extremities) These were not tied together in one knot, but were severally (separately) let down from heaven: ch. Act 11:5.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
saw: Act 7:56, Eze 1:1, Luk 3:21, Joh 1:51, Rev 4:1, Rev 11:19, Rev 19:11
and a: Gen 49:10, Isa 11:6-14, Isa 19:23-25, Isa 43:6, Isa 56:8, Mat 8:11, Mat 13:47, Mat 13:48, Joh 11:52, Joh 12:32, Rom 1:16, Rom 3:29-31, Rom 9:4, Rom 15:9-12, Rom 16:25, Rom 16:26, Gal 2:15, Gal 3:28, Eph 1:10, Eph 3:6, Col 3:11
vessel: The word [Strong’s G4632], which corresponds to the Hebrew kelee, denotes every kind of vessel or utensil, anything which may be considered as a receptacle; and is therefore applicable to a sheet [Strong’s G3607], or anything woven from flax, tied up at the four corners, which our word vessel is not.
Reciprocal: Gen 6:20 – fowls Gen 7:2 – every clean Gen 7:9 – General Lev 20:25 – put difference Num 12:6 – in a vision 1Ki 22:17 – I saw Eze 17:23 – under
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1
Act 10:11. Saw heaven opened refers to the region above him that could be seen with the natural eye under ordinary circumstances. A square piece of cloth could be gathered up by the four corners and thus form a vessel in which objects could be held. The four corners represented the “four corners of the earth,” and denoted that God was about to offer an additional opportunity to mankind for salvation, that would include the Gentiles or nations of the whole earth.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 10:11. Saw heaven opened. The verb in the original denotes that he gazed upon the opened heaven, and carefully surveyed it. Peters own phrase afterwards (Act 11:6) is that he fastened his eyes on what he saw, and considered. In his trance he was conscious of an exercise of close attention, and he remembered it.
Descending unto him. In the Greek there is, according to the best MSS., nothing corresponding with the phrase unto him. But this point is very emphatically expressed in St. Peters own vivid account afterwards (Act 11:5), It came even to me. The impression conveyed is that the great sheet not only floated from heaven, but gradually approached St. Peter, so as to invite his close examination.
Knit at the four corners. The more literal translation would be, fastened to the ends of four cords, the upper part of the cords being lost in the heavens. This must have been the view of the meaning of the word entertained by one of the old Greek commentators, who fancifully interprets it as denoting the four gospels. If the word meant corners, we should expect the article .
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Act 10:11-14. And saw heaven opened While he lay in a trance, the heaven appeared to be opened above him, to signify the opening of a mystery that had been hid. And a certain vessel Or utensil; (for the word , here used, extends to all sorts of instruments, and every part of household furniture, of which see on Act 9:15;) descending unto him as it had been a great sheet , a great linen cloth, or wrapper, an emblem of the gospel, extending to all nations of men; knit , tied; at the four corners Not all in one knot, but each fastened, as it were, up to heaven; and let down to earth To receive from all parts of the world those that were willing to be admitted into it. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts The net of the gospel was to enclose persons of all countries, nations, and languages, without any distinction of Greek or Jew, or any disadvantage attaching to barbarian or Scythian, Col 3:11. And there came a voice, Rise, Peter, kill and eat Of what thou seest, without any exception, or putting any difference between clean and unclean; the Lord thus showing him that he might now converse with Jews and Gentiles indifferently, and preach unto the latter, as well as unto the former, the word of life; and, at the same time intimating, that the Jewish Christians were, by the gospel, absolved from the ceremonial law, in which the distinction between clean and unclean meats made so considerable a part. But Peter said, Not so, Lord I would rather continue fasting a great while longer, than satisfy my hunger on such terms; for I see only unclean animals here; and I have never
From my childhood to this hour, defiled my conscience by eating any thing common or unclean Hitherto I have kept my integrity in this matter, and am determined still to keep it. Peters words speak his resolution still to adhere to Gods law, though he has a counter command by a voice from heaven; for he knew not, at first, but the words, kill and eat, might be a command of trial, whether he would abide by the sure word, the written law; and if so, his answer, Not so, Lord, had been very proper. Temptations to eat forbidden fruit must not be parleyed with, but peremptorily rejected. Reader, if God by his grace has preserved us from gross sin unto this day, we should use that as an argument with ourselves to continue to abstain from all appearance of evil.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
See notes on verse 9
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
PETERS VISION
11. And he saw heaven open and a certain vessel, like a great sheet, sitting down on the ground with four ropes ends,
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 11
Knit; that is, drawn together at the four corners.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the {g} four corners, and let down to the earth:
(g) So that it seemed to be a square sheet.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The sheet-like container, similar perhaps to an awning on the roof or a ship’s sail, was full of all kinds of animals, clean and unclean (cf. Act 11:6). The issue of unclean food was the basic one that separated observant Jews like Peter from Gentiles.
"Milk drawn by a heathen, if a Jew had not been present to watch it, bread and oil prepared by them, were unlawful. Their wine was wholly interdicted-the mere touch of a heathen polluted a whole cask; nay, even to put one’s nose to heathen wine was strictly prohibited!" [Note: Edersheim, The Life . . ., 1:92.]
". . . the point is that the Lord’s command frees Peter from any scruples about going to a Gentile home and eating whatever might be set before him. It would be a short step from recognizing that Gentile food was clean to realizing that Gentiles themselves were ’clean’ also." [Note: Marshall, The Acts . . ., p. 186.]
The Jewish laws distinguishing between clean and unclean animals appear in Leviticus 11.