And saw heaven opened
Not literally, as at the baptism of Christ, and the stoning of
Stephen; but in a visionary way, and which was an emblem of the
opening and revealing the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles,
which in other ages was not made known, as it now and afterwards
was:
and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a
great
sheet:
which seems to represent the church of God, whose original is
from heaven, and consists of persons born from above, who have
their conversation in heaven, and were designed for it; and
especially as under the Gospel dispensation, which Peter had a
vision of in this emblematic way; the doctrines and ordinances of
which are from heaven: and which may be compared to a linen sheet
for its purity and holiness; through the blood and righteousness
of Christ, and the grace of his Spirit, and with respect to its
discipline and conversation; and so to a great one for its
largeness; for though the number of its members, when compared
with the world, are few, yet in themselves are a number which no
man can number; and though it was but small at first, yet the
Gospel being carried among the Gentiles it increased, and in the
last times will be large:
knit at the four corners;
which may denote the preaching of the Gospel, and the spread of
it, and the planting of churches by it in the four parts of the
world; and also the church being knit to Christ, and the members
of it one to another:
and let down to the earth;
for Peter to see it, and where it was to continue for a while,
even to the second coming of Christ, and when the whole church of
the firstborn will be let down to earth again; see ( Revelation
21:2 ) .