Peter Has a Vision
9 It was about noon the next day. The men were on their journey and were approaching the city. Peter went up on the roof to pray.
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He became hungry. He wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter had a vision.
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He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners.
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It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
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Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
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"No, Lord! I will not!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything that is not pure and 'clean.' "
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The voice spoke to him a second time. "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made 'clean,' " it said.
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This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.
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Peter was wondering what the vision meant. At that very moment the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house. They stopped at the gate
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and called out. They asked if Simon Peter was staying there.
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Peter was still thinking about the vision. The Holy Spirit spoke to him. "Simon," he said, "three men are looking for you.
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Get up and go downstairs. Don't let anything keep you from going with them. I have sent them."
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Peter went down and spoke to the men. "I'm the one you're looking for," he said. "Why have you come?"
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The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius, the Roman commander. He is a good man who worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to invite you to his house. Cornelius wants to hear what you have to say."