Acts 10:11
◄  Acts 10:11  ►
New International Version (©2011)
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

New Living Translation (©2007)
He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth.

International Standard Version (©2012)
and saw heaven open and something like a large linen sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the ground.

NET Bible (©2006)
He saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet descending, being let down to earth by its four corners.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And he saw Heaven as it was opened, and a garment which was tied at the four corners like a great linen, and it was descending from Heaven to The Earth,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He saw the sky open and something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners to the ground.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet held at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

American King James Version
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending on him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

American Standard Version
and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth:

Darby Bible Translation
and he beholds the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, bound by the four corners and let down to the earth;

English Revised Version
and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:

Webster's Bible Translation
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Weymouth New Testament
The sky had opened to his view, and what seemed to be an enormous sail was descending, being let down to the earth by ropes at the four corners.

World English Bible
He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,

Young's Literal Translation
and he doth behold the heaven opened, and descending unto him a certain vessel, as a great sheet, bound at the four corners, and let down upon the earth,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:9-18 The prejudices of Peter against the Gentiles, would have prevented his going to Cornelius, unless the Lord had prepared him for this service. To tell a Jew that God had directed those animals to be reckoned clean which were hitherto deemed unclean, was in effect saying, that the law of Moses was done away. Peter was soon made to know the meaning of it. God knows what services are before us, and how to prepare us; and we know the meaning of what he has taught us, when we find what occasion we have to make use of it.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - He beholdeth the for saw, A.V. ; descending for descending unto him, A.V. and T.R.; were for had been, A.V.; let down by four corners upon the earth for knit at the four corners and let down to the earth, A.V. and T.R. The vessel coming down from the open heavens implied that the command to eat what was contained in it was given by revelation. The things sent were from God, and the command to eat was from God. Peter's hunger had prepared the way for the particular form of the vision.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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.

Acts 10:11 Parallel Commentaries

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Peter's Vision
9On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending on him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: …

Ezekiel 1:1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
John 1:51 He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."
Acts 10:12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
Acts 11:5 "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.