Clean or Unclean?

What makes us unclean?

The circumcision party? The circumcision was associated with the Jew, the chosen people. To speak of them was to say God’s chosen people. So, God’s chosen people were criticizing Peter for dining with the uncircumcised. History would tell us that it was not proper to dine with the Gentile. Gentiles were of course the sinner, or the uncircumcised.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

As the church, as Christians, what do we do? I believe we still have to navigate our paths with caution and wisdom. What I mean is that we should be careful to not fall into the snare of sin ourselves. So dining with sinners is not a bad thing but the reasons for dining with them is more important than the simple act of dining. What is the danger? Simply guarding against us falling into the same sinful ways. Sometimes being different is all it takes to be categorized as a sinner, or Gentile.

Peter then explains that he has been told that it is okay. He saw this in a vision. Peter explains to God, 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:8. Do you find yourself defending your position? Can you imagine a group of people being considered unclean? The history of the Jew can give us a better understanding as to why the Jew felt strongly about the Gentiles. When God through Moses and later Joshua took possession of the land promised, the people of those lands were destroyed.

This was really an example of how sin can take over our lives if given the chance. The Law was handed down through Moses which had told the people what not to eat. Can you see why good Jews were resistant to eat with sinners and to defile their bodies with unclean food?

7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:7–9. The word common here is defined by unclean or ordinary. We, as Christians are to be like the Jew and live exemplary lives, not common or unclean. What Peter gets explained to him is that the food does not defile the body, it is the person who makes things bad.

Peter then explains that the Holy Spirit had come upon these people thought to be unclean, and as a sign Peter Baptized them. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:16.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Take homes for today. 1. It is not the sinner that defiles us, it is us who allow sin to overcome. We must strengthen our faith and this is done by being tested.

2. It is not the wine or food that defiles us but our use of things and misuse that corrupts our bodies.