And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ Acts 11:7

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Peter saw the object from heaven descend. In the previous verse, it described the many animals and birds seen in it. In fact, it was a world full of all animals. With that, it now says, “And I heard a voice saying to me.”

This is just what is recorded in Acts 10:13. A voice came to him, and he heard it. The message from that voice is next stated, saying, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

More correctly, the verb is an aorist participle, “Having risen, Peter, kill and eat.” In other words, “Once you have gotten up, then you are directed to kill and eat.” The words are also in accord with verse 10:13, being cited word for word exactly as they were recorded there. Peter is being meticulously careful to relay exactly what he saw and heard to those who were there before him.

Life application: We are being provided a careful look into what occurred as if we are the audience there before Peter. Luke could have just said, “Peter carefully explained everything that happened while he was in Caesarea.” Instead, he attentively details for a second time all that occurred.

Because of this, we need to be sure to understand the message that is being conveyed. It is a message concerning the law and grace. How anyone can go through all of this detail twice, and still think it is appropriate to put himself back under the constraints of the Law of Moses is simply unimaginable. We are provided the same freedoms granted to Noah and all who followed him, even until the time of the law when only Israel was placed under the law. All other people continued to have the freedom to eat anything set before them.

Israel was given the law. Israel could not meet the demands of the law. Not even a single person of Israel could meet the law’s demands. And so, God Himself entered into the stream of time and human existence in order to fulfill the law. Why would anyone set that aside and claim that he was going to do what Jesus had done, improving upon His completed work? It is a slap in God’s face! Rest in Christ, trust in Christ, and be freed from the yoke of the law through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Lord God, thank You for Jesus who has opened the way for restoration with You. Yes, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.