This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.
Parallel translations
- KJV This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
- BSB This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.
- NKJV This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
- NASB This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
- NLT The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The vision of the sheet is repeated three times to stress its certainty, then taken back to heaven. The threefold repetition underscores that this teaching comes with divine authority.
Overview
In Scripture a matter confirmed three times is established as sure (cf. Genesis 41:32). God presses the lesson on Peter so he cannot dismiss it as a passing dream. The vision overturns his lifelong assumptions about clean and unclean, preparing him for the larger truth that the gospel is for all peoples.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- John 21:17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
- Gen 41:32The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
- 2 Cor 13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 10:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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