Acts 10:9-16 KJV
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Silent question to kill to eat something uncommon or unclean will you Peter to spread the Gospel. There are people that consider muscles, clams and oyster a delicacy. If I had to live on the seashore I might know how to find these shell creatures, but truth told I would have to be very hungry to eat them. There are foods in society today many us would perhaps not eat, however if you knew you be invited to a meal and have opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus in a place God sent you to, would you eat what been prepared?

Are we so incline to think that a simple meal could break our witness, but it might and it might not depending on society rules. God gave Peter a vision to prepare him to be a minister to people that might be consider by some not to be worthy to hear the message of Jesus. Had not Jesus dined with sinners then why was the vision to kill.

As a child one is taught to stay away from certain society. It not about culture it about staying away from what is forbidden by God. Cornelius would be a man that Peter would share the Gospel with, because he found favor with God.

There people God has called to receive the Gospel to begin a new ministry of faith in his Son. The things that enter the body like certain foods will not make you unholy unless it forbidden to you. Peter had grew up and lived by the sea. His main food staple fish, beef and lamb. He be traveling into other regions where other foods were consumed. Christ ministered in a mainly Jewish society though there many types of people that travel through and lived among them, probably adapting to some traditions and diet of the people that lived there.

Yet what had not been taught was to eat anything set before you for thid dif not make one unholy. God was calling Peter to not worry what makes the body filthy but what makes the Spirit unholy. Do not be consumed that this man I am sending you to is consider unclean. His love for others come forth. And sending you to make him into disciple and his family. God's word would then be spread by these people.

Not everyone God sends you to will have care for others as Cornelius did. In fact Philip was sent into an area of sorcery, Acts 8, which happened before the story about Cornelius. No, Peter a true Israelite by birth and saved by God's grace struggled with ministring to the gentile because of his upbring as an Israelite.

God was traininf Peter by his Spirit to be obedient. To teach him God still loved all people despite tradition.

Dear Heavenly Father help us not to be people of religion that obstructs others frpm coming to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Galatians 2:11-21 KJV
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.