Peter's Vision

Pete Kersker - Jun 09, 2026

The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them" (Acts 11:1-3 NIV).

Last week, we learned how Simon Peter was convinced that Jesus wants Gentiles in His Church alongside the Jews. Christ's offer to provide forgiveness and the Holy Spirit was to be made to everyone. This week, we are looking at how Peter convinced the rest of Jesus' disciples (students).

Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean'" (Acts 11:4-9 NIV).

Peter began by reporting the vision he had received from the Lord. "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean," was the point. Peter trusted that this vision was from God. He told the others about it as well.

"This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again" (Acts 11:10 NIV).

Has anyone ever told you about a vision or encounter they had with God?
Were you convinced that God communicated with them?

Have you ever had God communicate directly to you?
What convinced you that it was the Lord?