Acts 10:11

Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)

ܘܰܚܙܳܐ ܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܟ݁ܰܕ݂ ܦ݁ܬ݂ܺܝܚܺܝܢ ܘܡܳܐܢܳܐ ܚܰܕ݂ ܟ݁ܰܕ݂ ܐܰܣܺܝܪ ܒ݁ܰܐܪܒ݁ܰܥ ܩܰܪܢܳܢ ܘܕ݂ܳܡܶܐ ܗ݈ܘܳܐ ܠܟ݂ܶܬ݁ܳܢܳܐ ܪܰܒ݁ܳܐ ܘܫܳܐܶܒ݂ ܗ݈ܘܳܐ ܡܶܢ ܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܥܰܠ ܐܰܪܥܳܐ ܀

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

saw: Acts 7:56, Ezekiel 1:1, Luke 3:21, John 1:51, Revelation 4:1, Revelation 11:19, Revelation 19:11

and a: Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 11:6-14, Isaiah 19:23-25, Isaiah 43:6, Isaiah 56:8, Matthew 8:11, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 13:48, John 11:52, John 12:32, Romans 1:16, Romans 3:29-31, Romans 9:4, Romans 15:9-12, Romans 16:25, Romans 16:26, Galatians 2:15, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 3:6, Colossians 3:11

vessel: The word ףךוץןע [Strong's G4632], which corresponds to the Hebrew kelee, denotes every kind of vessel or utensil, anything which may be considered as a receptacle; and is therefore applicable to a sheet ןטןםח [Strong's G3607], or anything woven from flax, tied up at the four corners, which our word vessel is not.

Reciprocal: Genesis 6:20 - fowls Genesis 7:2 - every clean Genesis 7:9 - General Leviticus 20:25 - put difference Numbers 12:6 - in a vision 1 Kings 22:17 - I saw Ezekiel 17:23 - under

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And saw heaven opened - Acts 7:56. See the notes on Matthew 3:16. This language is derived from a common mode of speaking in the Hebrew Scriptures, as if the sky above us was a solid, vast expanse, and as if it were opened to present an opportunity for anything to descend. It is language that is highly figurative.

And a certain vessel - See the notes on Acts 9:15.

As it had been - It is important to mark this expression. The sacred writer does not say that Peter literally saw such an object descending; but he uses this as an imperfect description of the vision. It was not a literal descent of a vessel, but it was such a kind of representation to him, producing the same impression, and the same effect, as if such a vessel had descended.

Knit at the four corners - Bound, united, or tied. The corners were collected, as would be natural in putting anything into a great sheet.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 10:11. And saw heaven opened — His mind now entirely spiritualized, and absorbed in heavenly contemplation, was capable of discoveries of the spiritual world; a world which, with its πληρωμα, or plenitude of inhabitants, surrounds us at all times; but which we are incapable of seeing through the dense medium of flesh and blood, and their necessarily concomitant earthly passions. Much, however, of such a world and its economy may be apprehended by him who is purified from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and who has perfected holiness in the fear of God. But this is a subject to which the enthusiast in vain attempts to ascend. The turbulent working of his imagination, and the gross earthly crudities which he wishes to obtrude on the world as revelations from God, afford a sufficient refutation of their own blasphemous pretensions.

A great sheet, knit at the four corners — Perhaps intended to be an emblem of the universe, and its various nations, to the four corners of which the Gospel was to extend, and to offer its blessings to all the inhabitants, without distinction of nation, &c.