Acts 10:14
What does Acts 10:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 10:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 10:14 means
Peter's immediate and emphatic response, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean," reveals his strong adherence to Jewish dietary laws and his sense of ritual purity. His refusal highlights the deep-seated cultural and religious barriers that God was intending to break down. Even when directly commanded by what he perceived as the Lord, Peter initially resisted, demonstrating the profound paradigm shift required.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But Peter said, No, Lord; for I have never taken food which is common or unclean.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Peter said, `Not so, Lord; because at no time did I eat anything common or unclean;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But Peter said: Far be it from me. For I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Peter said, In no wise, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.
Context
This verse records Peter's immediate and firm refusal to obey the divine command, rooted in his lifelong adherence to Jewish dietary laws. This resistance highlights the deeply ingrained cultural and religious barriers that must be overcome. His refusal directly prompts God's powerful clarification in the next verse, which will begin to reframe Peter's understanding of purity and inclusion.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 9:5
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
- Ezekiel 4:14
Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, my soul hath not been polluted; for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
- Deuteronomy 14:1
Ye are the children of Jehovah your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
- Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
- Leviticus 11:1
And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
- Matthew 25:9
But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
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