Acts 10:16

KJV

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1161} This {G5124} was done {G1096} thrice {G1909}{G5151}: and {G2532} the vessel {G4632} was received up {G353} again {G3825} into {G1519} heaven {G3772}.

Complete Jewish Bible

This happened three times, and then the sheet was immediately taken back up into heaven.

Berean Standard Bible

This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.

American Standard Version

And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 10:16 concludes Peter's transformative vision in Joppa, emphasizing the divine origin and certainty of God's message through the triple repetition of the sheet's descent and ascent. This verse marks the climactic moment where the heavenly declaration that "what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" is definitively sealed, preparing Peter for the radical inclusion of Gentiles into the nascent Christian community and signifying the abolition of old covenant distinctions concerning clean and unclean.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 10:16 serves as the definitive close to Peter's visionary experience, which began in [Acts 10:9](/acts/10-9 "Acts 10:9 - Peter's Vision Begins") while he was praying on a rooftop in Joppa. The preceding verses ([Acts 10:9-15](/acts/10-9-15 "Acts 10:9-15 - The Vision of the Unclean Animals")) describe a large sheet descending from heaven, filled with all manner of four-footed beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air, many of which were considered unclean under Mosaic Law. A voice commanded Peter to "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." Peter's immediate and vehement refusal, based on his adherence to Jewish dietary laws, highlights the deep-seated cultural and religious barriers that needed to be overcome. The repetition of the vision and command, culminating in the "thrice" of verse 16, underscores the divine insistence and prepares Peter's heart and mind for the revolutionary implications, directly preceding the arrival of messengers from Cornelius.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting in Joppa, a coastal city, is significant as it was a port town with a diverse population, making it a fitting location for a vision concerning the inclusion of Gentiles. For a devout Jew like Peter, adherence to the Mosaic Law, particularly the dietary restrictions (kashrut), was a fundamental marker of identity and separation from the Gentile world. Jews considered Gentiles "unclean" and socialized with them minimally, if at all. This deep-seated segregation, rooted in centuries of tradition and interpretation of the Law, presented a formidable obstacle to the universal spread of the Gospel. The vision directly challenged these deeply ingrained cultural norms and religious distinctions, paving the way for the radical notion that God's salvation was not exclusive to the Jewish people but extended to all humanity, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Acts and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Revelation and Confirmation**, emphasizing that God's new directive is not a human invention but a direct, undeniable command from heaven, leaving no room for Peter's doubt. The "thrice" repetition is a biblical motif for certainty and divine emphasis. Secondly, it signals the **Abolition of Old Covenant Distinctions**, particularly the ceremonial laws that separated Jew from Gentile. What God has declared clean is no longer to be considered common or defiled, a principle that extends beyond food to people. This theme is further elaborated by Peter's subsequent actions and sermon in [Acts 10:34-43](/acts/10-34-43 "Acts 10:34-43 - Peter's Sermon at Cornelius's House"), where he declares God's impartiality. Finally, it sets the stage for the **Universal Inclusion of Gentiles** into the body of Christ, a pivotal turning point in the early church's mission, foreshadowing the spread of the Gospel to the ends of the earth as commanded by Jesus in [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Great Commission"). The implications of this vision profoundly shaped the early church's understanding of its mission, as seen in the subsequent events in [Acts 11](/acts/11 "Acts 11 - Peter's Defense and Gentile Conversion").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **thrice (Greek, _trís'_):** From G5151, meaning "three times." This adverb emphasizes the repetition of the event, signifying certainty, divine confirmation, and completeness. In biblical contexts, three often denotes divine action or a definitive outcome, ensuring Peter fully grasped the radical nature of the message.
* **vessel (Greek, _skeûos'_):** From G4632, referring to an implement, equipment, or apparatus. In this context, it refers to the large sheet or container holding the animals. Symbolically, it represents the entire system of Jewish dietary and purity laws, and by extension, the perceived separation between clean (Jews) and unclean (Gentiles). Its contents represent humanity.
* **was received up (Greek, _analambánō'_):** From G353, meaning "to take up" or "receive up." This verb describes the sheet's ascent back into heaven. It signifies the divine origin and authority of the vision, confirming that the message was not a dream or human construct but a direct, final revelation from God, validating the new understanding Peter was to embrace.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"This was done thrice:"** This clause highlights the repetitive nature of the vision. The sheet, with its contents and the accompanying divine command, appeared and was withdrawn three times. This triple repetition serves as a powerful divine emphasis, akin to a spiritual exclamation mark, ensuring that Peter could not dismiss the vision as a mere hallucination or a one-off anomaly. It was God's way of indelibly imprinting the message upon Peter's mind and heart, demanding his full attention and acceptance of its profound implications.
* **"and the vessel was received up again into heaven."** This second clause signifies the completion and divine authority of the revelation. The swift and final ascent of the vessel back to its heavenly origin confirms that the message conveyed was from God Himself and possessed ultimate authority. It underscores the finality of God's declaration regarding the cleansing of all things and people, leaving Peter with a clear, undeniable mandate to act upon this new understanding. The "again" (Greek, _pálin_) emphasizes the return to its source, reinforcing the divine origin and purpose.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Repetition** is the most prominent, with the word "thrice" explicitly stating the triple occurrence of the vision. This **Repetition** serves to underscore the divine emphasis, certainty, and undeniable truth of the message God was conveying to Peter. It ensures that Peter, and by extension the reader, recognizes the critical importance and authoritative nature of the revelation. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is deeply embedded in the "vessel" and its contents. The sheet filled with "unclean" animals **symbolizes** the Gentile world and the traditional Jewish distinctions that separated them from God's chosen people. The act of the vessel being "received up again into heaven" **symbolizes** the divine origin and finality of God's new decree, confirming that the breaking down of these barriers was not a human idea but a heavenly mandate. This swift ascent also creates a sense of **Urgency**, implying that the time for old distinctions was over and the time for universal inclusion had arrived.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 10:16 is a pivotal verse that marks a profound theological shift in the early church's understanding of God's redemptive plan. It signifies the definitive end of the ceremonial distinctions that separated Jew from Gentile under the Old Covenant, paving the way for the universal application of the Gospel. God's declaration that "what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" extends beyond dietary laws to encompass the inclusion of all humanity into the family of God through faith in Christ. This vision powerfully illustrates God's impartiality and His desire for all people to be reconciled to Him, breaking down centuries of prejudice and division. It underscores that salvation is not based on ethnic lineage or adherence to ceremonial law, but on God's sovereign grace and the work of Christ.

* [Acts 11:1-18](/acts/11-1-18 "Acts 11:1-18 - Peter's Defense to the Jerusalem Church")
* [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile, Slave or Free, Male or Female in Christ")
* [Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Breaks Down the Dividing Wall")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 10:16 serves as a powerful reminder that God is continually at work, often challenging our preconceived notions and comfortable traditions to expand our understanding of His will and kingdom. Just as Peter had to confront deeply ingrained cultural and religious biases regarding clean and unclean, we too are called to examine our own hearts for any prejudices or narrow interpretations that might hinder us from fully embracing God's inclusive love for all people. The Gospel is inherently universal, transcending all human-made barriers of ethnicity, social status, or background. This verse compels us to cultivate a spirit of humility and openness to new insights from the Holy Spirit, even when they challenge our comfort zones or long-held beliefs. It encourages us to actively seek out and welcome those whom society, or even our own traditions, might deem "unclean" or "outsiders," recognizing that God's grace extends to everyone. Our mission, like Peter's, is to participate in God's ongoing work of breaking down dividing walls and proclaiming the good news to every corner of the earth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What deeply ingrained beliefs or traditions in my life might God be challenging for the sake of His broader kingdom purposes?**
* **How does the concept of God's impartiality, as demonstrated in this passage, impact my view of evangelism and ministry to diverse groups of people?**
* **In what ways might I be inadvertently creating or maintaining "clean" and "unclean" distinctions within my own community or understanding of the church?**
* **Am I truly ready to receive and act upon new revelations from God, even if they require me to step outside my comfort zone or challenge my existing paradigms?**

### FAQ

**Why was the vision repeated "thrice"?**

Answer: The repetition "thrice" (three times) is a significant biblical motif used to convey certainty, divine emphasis, and confirmation. In Jewish thought and throughout Scripture, the number three often signifies completeness, finality, or divine action. For instance, Jesus rose on the third day, and Peter himself denied Christ three times before being restored by Jesus with three affirmations of love in [John 21:15-17](/john/21-15-17 "John 21:15-17 - Jesus Restores Peter"). The triple repetition of the vision was essential to overcome Peter's deep-seated Jewish convictions and ensure he understood that this was not a mere dream or a suggestion, but a definitive, authoritative command from God, leaving no room for doubt about the abolition of the clean/unclean distinctions and the inclusion of Gentiles.

**What does the "vessel" symbolize in Peter's vision?**

Answer: The "vessel" (or sheet) in Peter's vision, filled with all sorts of animals, symbolizes the entire world of humanity, particularly the Gentiles, whom Peter and other Jews traditionally considered "unclean" or "common" due to their non-adherence to Mosaic Law. The contents of the sheet represent the diverse peoples of the earth. The divine declaration that "what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" (from [Acts 10:15](/acts/10-15 "Acts 10:15 - God Cleanses")) signifies that God has now purified and accepted all people through Christ, breaking down the ceremonial barriers that once separated them from His chosen people.

**What is the significance of the vessel being "received up again into heaven"?**

Answer: The swift ascent of the vessel back into heaven after the triple repetition holds profound significance. Firstly, it emphatically confirms the divine origin and authority of the vision. This was not a human fabrication or a fleeting dream, but a direct revelation from God Himself. Secondly, it signifies the finality and urgency of the message. The moment the message was delivered and confirmed, the means of delivery was withdrawn, indicating that the time for debate or hesitation was over. Peter was to immediately act on this new understanding, which would lead him to Cornelius's house and the groundbreaking baptism of the first Gentile converts, as detailed in [Acts 10:44-48](/acts/10-44-48 "Acts 10:44-48 - The Holy Spirit Falls on Gentiles"). It underscores that this was a completed, authoritative decree from heaven.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 10:16, with its emphasis on the breaking down of barriers and the inclusion of all peoples, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that God has "cleansed" all things, not merely ceremonially, but fundamentally, by His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Jesus' death and resurrection abolished the Old Covenant's dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, making it possible for all who believe to become one new humanity in Him, as powerfully articulated in [Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace"). The vision to Peter, confirmed "thrice" and originating from heaven, is a direct revelation of Christ's cosmic reconciliation, where He is making "peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself" ([Colossians 1:20](/colossians/1-20 "Colossians 1:20 - Reconciliation Through Christ")). The ascent of the vessel back to heaven points to Christ's own ascension, from which He continues to pour out His Spirit and direct His church to fulfill the Great Commission, bringing the good news of salvation to "all nations" ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission")), demonstrating that no one is common or unclean in the eyes of the One who died for all.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 21:17

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Genesis 41:32

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; [it is] because the thing [is] established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

2 Corinthians 13:1

¶ This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.