111 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God . 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem , those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying , " You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them." 4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence , saying , 5 " I was in the city of Joppa praying ; and in a trance I saw a vision , an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky ; and it came right down to me, 6 and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air . 7 "I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter ; kill and eat .' 8 "But I said , 'By no means , Lord , for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth .' 9 "But a voice from heaven answered a second time , ' What God has cleansed , no longer consider unholy .' 10 "This happened three times , and everything was drawn back up into the sky .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 11:1-10
Commentary on Acts 11:1-18
(Read Acts 11:1-18)
The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been received, because their own system has not been attended to. And we are too apt to despair of doing good to those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It is the bane and damage of the church, to shut out those from it, and from the benefit of the means of grace, who are not in every thing as we are. Peter stated the whole affair. We should at all times bear with the infirmities of our brethren; and instead of taking offence, or answering with warmth, we should explain our motives, and show the nature of our proceedings. That preaching is certainly right, with which the Holy Ghost is given. While men are very zealous for their own regulations, they should take care that they do not withstand God; and those who love the Lord will glorify him, when made sure that he has given repentance to life to any fellow-sinners. Repentance is God's gift; not only his free grace accepts it, but his mighty grace works it in us, grace takes away the heart of stone, and gives us a heart of flesh. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.