Acts 10:15
What does Acts 10:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 10:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 10:15 means
A voice from heaven responded a second time with a profound declaration: "What God hath cleansed, make not thou common." This statement directly overrides Peter's traditional understanding of ritual purity. God, as the ultimate authority, declares that He has removed the distinction between clean and unclean, implying a broader, spiritual application beyond mere food. This dictum redefines purity from God's perspective, preparing Peter for fellowship with Gentiles.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the voice came to him a second time, What God has made clean, do not you make common.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and <FI>there is<Fi> a voice again a second time unto him: `What God did cleanse, thou, declare not thou common;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call common.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And [there was] a voice again the second time to him, WhatGod has cleansed, do not thou make common.
Context
Following Peter's direct refusal, this verse delivers God's counter-response, a definitive statement about divine cleansing. This declaration is a radical theological truth that directly challenges Peter's Jewish understanding of clean and unclean. This repeated message, soon to be done thrice, is central to preparing Peter for his encounter with Cornelius's Gentile household and demonstrates God's universal redemptive plan.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 9:9
which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,
- Acts 15:9
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
- Romans 14:20
Overthrow not for meat’s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
- Acts 15:20
but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
- Mark 7:19
because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean.
- Acts 11:9
But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
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