So it was the Cornelius events you had in mind. I thought you were speaking of some much later event.
Here's why this is significant: Peter knew Christ personally. Peter was personally TAUGHT by Christ. Taught by Christ when incarnate and TAUGHT by the resurrected Christ.
OK, so if Peter had all this face time with Jesus, why then did God need to speak to Peter in a vision for him to get the correct perspective on the gentiles almost a decade after the resurrection?
If, in spite of all those years with Jesus, Peter didn't get the gentile connection correct, how do we know that he got the food issue correct?
Your argument cuts both ways.
It WAS not and IS not a teaching of Christ that the scriptural food laws the Christ created are done away with. It simply wasn't done.
And I say it was, and most scholars agree with me.
It's certainly possible. And even if this is figurative it represents transportation.
Thanks for the admission. And by the same reasoning “Jerusalem” represents figuratively the new Jerusalem, the Church, not the old earthly Jerusalem. God punishes those who come against His people, the body of Christ.
You're just wrong.
Could be, but you have not proven that to be true at this time.
Beats me, but I suspect it was a timing issue. The Lord wasn't ready before then to have non-Israelites come into the church of God before this time. Therefore he didn't this sin of Peter's to him until this time.
If, in spite of all those years with Jesus, Peter didn't get the gentile connection correct, how do we know that he got the food issue correct?
I find it incredible that you're questioning Peter and what the Lord taught him. Granted Peter wasn't perfect, but it seems absurd that you would think that Peter was somehow too dense to understand what would have been a major doctrinal, cultural and lifestyle change.
It WAS not and IS not a teaching of Christ that the scriptural food laws the Christ created are done away with. It simply wasn't done.
And I say it was, and most scholars agree with me.
I feel confident in believing Peter, someone who was actually there and offered up his testimony in holy scripture.
The original Twelve Apostles had been selected by our Lord [Mark 3:13-19] from a group of many disciples and their commission was: [Matthew 10:5-6] These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
When Peter received his vision it was difficult for him to comprehend as his ministry was directed to the circumcised [Galatians 2:7]. Paul had recently been converted but at this time was probably still in Arabia [Galatians 1:17] and therefore unavailable for this special mission to the Gentiles. No one probably would have believed him anyway [Acts 9:26].
So....enter Peter. Contrary to popular opinion the Apostles were not aware of the fact that Our Lord was going to include the Gentiles in his plan for salvation. It is quite evident when reading these scriptures that they were astonished at Peter's actions. [Acts 10:45] The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. [Acts 11:1-3] The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.
The early Church was thoroughly Jewish and these things that Peter was being asked to do [Acts 10:28] went against everything he had ever been taught. Peter was being asked basically to do an about face and even years later he still had problems accepting this [Galatians 2:11-13].
This is why Our Lord selected Paul....an educated, Jewish, Roman citizen. If any one could tackle this Gentile ministry, and be successful, Paul and his associates could. But....the ministry to the House of Israel and Judah still belonged to the twelve. [Matthew 15:24]