Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 10:16
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
16. This was done thrice ] The original has a conjunction “And” at the commencement of the sentence.
The repetition of the vision three times over was made that no doubt might remain in the Apostle’s mind, and the reception of the whole into heaven again was designed to point out that it was a lesson which God had as directly sent as of old He sent the Law on Sinai. Cp. the repetition of Pharaoh’s dream (Gen 41:32) and Joseph’s explanation thereof. Peter would also remember when he came out of his trance the thrice-repeated charge given to him by Jesus (Joh 21:15-17), “Feed my sheep.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This was done thrice – Three times, doubtless to impress the mind of Peter with the certainty and importance of the vision. Compare Gen 41:32.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. This was done thrice] For the greater certainty, and to make the deeper impression on the apostle’s mind.
And the vessel was received up again into heaven.] Both Jews and Gentiles came equally from God; and to him, both, by the preaching of the Gospel, shall again return.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whereby this great mystery of the conversion of the Gentiles, and taking them into the church, might be the more confirmed, and fixed in St. Peters mind.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. done thriceSee Ge41:32.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
This was done thrice,…. That is, either the voice spoke the same words three times, or the sheet was let down three times; and it may be both; it may be, that every time the voice was spoke, the sheet was let down: this was done, not with respect to any mystical meaning in the number three, but for the confirmation of Peter, that he might be the more firmly assured of the truth of the things represented unto him:
and the vessel was received up again into heaven; to denote, that when the general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, whether Jews or Gentiles, are all gathered in, by the preaching of the Gospel to them, they will be taken up to heaven, their original and native place, and be for ever with the Lord; as well as to certify to Peter, that what was now shown him on earth, concerning the taking away the distinction of men and meats, was ratified in heaven.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Thrice (). For three times. Peter remained unconvinced even by the prohibition of God. Here is a striking illustration of obstinacy on the part of one who acknowledges the voice of God to him when the command of the Lord crosses one’s preferences and prejudices. There are abundant examples today of precisely this thing. In a real sense Peter was maintaining a pose of piety beyond the will of the Lord. Peter was defiling what God had cleansed.
Was received up (). First aorist passive indicative of , to take up. The word used of the Ascension (1:22).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “This was done thrice: (touto de egeneto epi’ tris) “Then this became (was done or occurred) on three occasions,” or three successive times. The sheet, with all kinds of creatures, was lowered from and raised again into heaven three times, while the Lord, to emphasize repeated His mandate, three times, as if to certify the Divine Message.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
16. This was done thrice. The repetition of the vision served for the confirmation of Peter, lest any doubt (672) should remain in his mind. Whence we gather how deeply the observing of the law was rooted in his mind. And I know no reason why God left him in a dump, [perplexed,] until, by the event which followed, he might learn the cause of the vision, save only because being astonished he did not desire to know what this thing meant; although it was all in good time, that the messengers of Cornelius should come shortly after to interpret it. The vessel was at length taken up again into heaven, that Peter might be certified that this message came from heaven, [God.]
(672) “ Vel anxietas vel scrupulus,” or anxiety or scruple, omitted.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) This was done thrice.The three-fold repetition was at once general and personal in its significance. It was mystically the token of a complete ratification of the truth proclaimed. It reminded him of the three fold command, Feed My sheep, and taught him to take a wider range of work in obeying it (Joh. 21:15-17).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Done thrice Greek, , up to thrice. The divine number implying that the vision was from God. (See on the sacred numbers, vol. ii, p. 77.) We understand that either there were three separate visions, or that the sheet was thrice let down in continuance of the same vision and withdrawn completely into heaven at the close.
Received up again As if all men might be good enough for heaven. For we do not understand the sheet to represent the Church, into which none but the clean are admitted; but the world, waiting for the Gospel without any ceremonial distinction.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And this was done three times, and immediately the container was received up into heaven.’
The sheet was lowered three times. It would seem probable that three times Peter refused to eat. Whatever God said he could not bring himself to break the habits of a lifetime, especially in such an odious way (Peter would know of Eze 4:9-15 where Ezekiel had, on pleading with God, obtained some relief. Possibly Peter was hoping for a similar concession.). But the threefold repetition, which emphasised the importance of the message that the vision was seeking to get over, made him feel more and more uneasy. It may well also have taken his mind back to when the Lord had three time called on him to tend His sheep (Joh 21:15-17). But what connection had sheep with these unclean animals? (He was soon to learn). Then to his relief the sheet was taken back up into heaven, temporarily at least resolving his dilemma.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 10:16. This was done thrice In order to confirm the matter: see Gen 41:32.Before we proceed in the history, it may not be amiss to reflect upon the propriety and decorum with which things were managed in erecting Christ’s spiritual kingdom. The Lord Jesus Christ himself appeared to Saul, and granted the knowledge of the gospel to him by immediate revelation, because he was to be an apostle; but Cornelius was admonished by an angel to send for St. Peter, and hear him preach the Christian doctrine, because he was to open the door of faith to the Gentiles; and Cornelius was not designed for so high an office in the Christian church as Saul. Again, the angel who appeared to Cornelius, was not sent to preach the gospel to him, but only to order him to send for an apostle, who was one of the witnesses chosen of God to attest the truth of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and miracles, and upon those facts to found the Christian doctrine. And farther, St. Peter did not go of himself, and attempt the conversion of the uncircumcised Gentiles, even though the body of the Jews in Palestine who would embrace the gospel, were in general gathered in. If he had done so, he would have met with a more severe rebuke from the zealous Jewish Christians at Jerusalem, and could not have offered half so much for his own vindication: but as he did not go till he was sent for, and that in so extraordinary a manner, he maintained the apostolic dignity, and could allege the determination of heaven in his favour. And, finally, we may observe, that an angel was sent to Cornelius; but the Spirit of God himself spoke to St. Peter; not only as he bore a higher character in the church than Cornelius was to bear, but as he was to execute, a new and most extraordinary commission; for such that of beginning to call in the uncircumcised Gentiles certainly was.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Ver. 16. Received up again into heaven ] The Church’s original is from heaven,Rev 21:10Rev 21:10 , and thither she shall be taken up again. As in the mean space, our commoration is on earth, our conversation in heaven, Phi 3:20 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
16. ] denoting the certainty of the thing revealed: see Gen 41:32 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 10:16 . : if we read , see critical notes, we have St. Mark’s characteristic word (used by St. Luke only here in Acts, and once in Luk 6:49 ), a suggestive fact in a section of the book in which the pen or the language of St. Peter may fairly be traced.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
thrice. Literally upon thrice.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
16. ] denoting the certainty of the thing revealed: see Gen 41:32.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 10:16. , thrice) The decisive number, confirming the fact and signifying immediate speed. Comp. Gen 41:32.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
thrice: Gen 41:32, Joh 21:17, 2Co 13:1
Reciprocal: Lev 7:19 – General Eze 11:24 – So Mar 9:8 – General Act 7:56 – I see
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Act 10:16. This (conversation) was done thrice, the second being mentioned in the preceding verse. After the three times, the vessel was taken back out of Peter’s sight.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 10:16. This was done thrice. Evidently to fix all this occurrence in Peters memory, and to convince him that that which he had seen was no mere dream or fancy of his own, but a really Divine communication. Moreover, there was a sacred emphasis in the number three, as we see from various parts of Scripture. By this we must understand all the particulars of the vision, including what Peter heard and said, as well as what he saw. See Act 11:10, where he lays stress on this threefold repetition, adding at the close that all () were taken up into heaven.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 9