Peter refused because he was still a law-keeping Jewish believer who had never eaten anything common or unclean.
Peter had always kept the Jewish dietary laws, so when the voice told him to kill and eat, he said, "Not so, Lord." Les Feldick notes that this happened about eight to ten years after Pentecost and that Peter would not eat anything that was not legally acceptable under the law. His refusal shows that he was still living under the law at that time.
Acts 10:13-14 — This is the moment in the vision where Peter is told to rise, kill, and eat, and he refuses because he has never eaten anything common or unclean.
The biblical account is found in Acts 10. A great sheet descended to the earth containing all manner of fourfooted beasts, wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air. A voice said, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." Peter replied, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." The voice answered, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Later, Peter himself summarized the issue to Cornelius: "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." The biblical text does not state that Peter was trying to combine law and grace; it simply records his refusal and his explanation that he had never eaten anything common or unclean.
Les Feldick teaches that Peter’s refusal shows he was still a law-keeping Jew about eight to ten years after Pentecost. The sheet contained many unclean animals according to the Jewish diet, and when God said "Rise, Peter, kill and eat," Peter answered "Not so, Lord" because he had never eaten anything that was not kosher or legally clean under the law. Les points out that Peter’s words "common or unclean" were according to the Jewish law, and that Peter was still sticking to the law — he was not going to eat pork or anything else not on the clean list. This demonstrates that the law had not been set aside in Peter’s understanding. Even when he reached the house of Cornelius, Peter said it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with one of another nation. Les also notes that the believing Jews in Jerusalem later contended with Peter because he had gone into the house of uncircumcised men and eaten with them. Their mentality was still law. God’s response in the vision showed Peter something new — God had cleansed what had been considered common, and He was now turning to the Gentiles.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, the vision occurred about eight to ten years after Pentecost and Peter was still a law-keeping Jew. When the voice said "Rise, Peter, kill and eat," Peter replied that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, because he would not eat anything that was not legally acceptable under the law. Les stresses that this shows the law had not been set aside — Peter was still sticking to the law.
Peter himself said it was "an unlawful thing" for a Jew to keep company with one of another nation. Les points out that Peter was a law-keeping Jew who was not about to break the law by eating something that was not kosher. Later, the believing Jews in Jerusalem argued with Peter because he went into the house of uncircumcised men and sat down to eat with them — their mindset was still law and Gentile food was not kosher.
The voice from heaven responded to Peter with the words, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Les explains that God was showing Peter something new: God had something else in store and was now going to turn to the Gentiles, whereas up until that time the focus had been predominantly on His covenant people, Israel.
Was Cornelius Really Saved? Acts 10 Explained Verse by Verse
And he, the Lord, said unto him, thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa. Call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter, and he lodgeth with Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside. He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
Peter’s Law-Keeping Refusal
Les explains that Peter was a law-keeping Jew about eight to ten years after Pentecost, so he would not eat anything that was not legally acceptable under the law.
The Law Was Not Yet Set Aside
Les uses Acts 10:14 to show that Peter still followed the Jewish dietary laws ten years after the crucifixion, proving the law had not been set aside.
Common or Unclean According to Jewish Law
Les highlights that Peter’s phrase "common or unclean" referred to the Jewish law, and that Peter was still sticking to the law — no pork and no animals outside the clean list.
Peter’s Kosher Habit
Les points out that Peter reacted "No way, Lord!" because he had never eaten anything that was not kosher; he was a law-keeper.
Centuries of Separation
Les connects Peter’s refusal to God’s centuries-long instruction for Israel to be separated from pagan Gentiles, which carried into Acts 10.
Still Unlawful to Enter a Gentile Home
Les notes that Peter told Cornelius it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with Gentiles, because Peter was a law-keeping Jew not about to break the law.
Jerusalem Believers Still Lived by Law
Les uses the Jerusalem believers’ contention with Peter to show the prevailing mindset among Jews was still law — Gentile food was not kosher and eating with uncircumcised men was unacceptable.
Acts 10:13: And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
This is the command Peter received in the vision, which immediately prompted his refusal.
Acts 10:14: But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
This is Peter’s direct response showing why he refused to eat the unclean animals.
Acts 10:15: And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
This verse records heaven’s correction to Peter, telling him not to call common what God had cleansed.
Acts 10:28: And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Peter later explains that entering Cornelius’ house was unlawful for a Jew, yet God showed him not to call any man common or unclean.
The vision came about eight to ten years after Pentecost, while Peter was in Joppa. Les Feldick emphasizes this timing to show that Peter was still living under the law at that point.
Peter had never eaten anything common or unclean. He was a law-keeping Jew and would not eat anything that was not legally acceptable or kosher under the Jewish law.
The Bible records, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Les points out that God was showing Peter something new — the old separation was changing and God was turning to the Gentiles.
Yes. Even about ten years after Pentecost, Peter was still keeping the law. The believing Jews in Jerusalem also argued with him for going into the house of uncircumcised men and eating with them.
Watch the Teaching: Was Cornelius Really Saved? Acts 10 Explained Verse by Verse