Acts 10:12
What does Acts 10:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 10:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 10:12 means
Within the descending sheet, Peter saw a vast array of animals: four-footed beasts, creeping things, and birds. Crucially, the text implies that many of these would have been considered ritually unclean for a Jew according to Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11). The presence of such diverse and largely impure animals within this divine vessel immediately signals a challenge to Peter's deeply ingrained understanding of clean and unclean, setting up the subsequent divine command.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949In which were all sorts of beasts and birds.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862in which were all the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the heaven,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls of the air.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890in which were all the quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and the fowls of the heaven.
Context
This verse reveals the controversial contents of the descending sheet, highlighting the presence of animals considered unclean under Jewish law. This sight directly sets up the divine command that follows, designed to challenge Peter's understanding of dietary restrictions and, by extension, his social separation from Gentiles. It is a visual prelude to the radical lesson God is about to impress upon him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9
Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
- John 7:37
Now on the last day, the greatdayof the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
- Genesis 7:8
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creepeth upon the ground,
- Isaiah 11:6
And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
- Isaiah 65:25
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.
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