Acts 10:12

in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

BSB

It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.

KJV

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

ASV

wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.

BBE

In which were all sorts of beasts and birds.

Original Greek

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ἐν en in G1722 ᾧ hō which G3739 ὑπῆρχεν hupērchen were G5225 πάντα panta all G3956 τὰ ta the G3588 τετράποδα tetrapoda quadrupeds G5074 καὶ kai and G2532 τὰ ta the G3588 θηρία thēria beasts G2342 καὶ kai and G2532 τὰ ta the G3588 ἑρπετὰ herpeta creeping things G2062 τῆς tēs of the G3588 γῆς gēs earth G1093 καὶ kai and G2532 τὰ ta (the) G3588 πετεινὰ peteina birds G4071 τοῦ tou (the) G3588 οὐρανοῦ ouranou of heaven G3772

The early church

"And saw heaven opened, and, knit at the four corners, a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet, and let down to the earth: wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air." What is this? It is a symbol of the whole world. The man was uncircumcised: and - for he had nothing in common with the Jews - they would all accuse him as a transgressor: "thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them."
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts
The earth then, this is what the linen sheet denotes, and the wild beasts in it, are they of the Gentiles, and the command, "Kill and eat," denotes that he must go to them also; and that this thing is thrice done, denotes baptism.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts
To me it seems that this also denotes the Gospel (or, "the Preaching"). That the thing taking place was of God the circumstances made evident, namely, both that he sees it descending from above, and that he is in a trance; and, that the voice comes from thence, and the thrice confessing that the creatures there were unclean, and its coming from thence, and being drawn back thither - all this is a mighty token of the cleanness imparted to them.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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.

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Parallel passages

1

The same words or events elsewhere.

Acts 11:6

Cross-references

5

Topics

Animals

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.