One Torah For All

One Torah shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exodus 12:49

The Vision of Kepha

Ma’aseh (Acts) 10:9-10
9 Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, Kepha went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour,
10 and he became hungry, and desired to eat, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;

Kepha (Peter) was staying with a fellow talmid (disciple). In the evening he went up to the housetop to pray. While praying, he became hungry. This often happens to anyone who has prayed, and it can become quite a distraction. In this case, however, Kepha went into a trace and saw a vision, a vision that would change his life and the way he viewed the world.

Ma’aseh (Acts) 10:11-16
11 and he beheld the heavens opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth,
12 therein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heavens.
13 And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Kepha; kill and eat.”
14 But Kepha said, “Not so, Adoni, for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.”
15 And a voice came unto him again the second time, “What Elohim has cleansed, you make not common.”
16 And this was done three times, and straightway the vessel was received up into the heavens.

YHWH gave Kepha a vision about a subject matter to which he would be able to relate easily: food. He would be able to relate to this easily because he was presently hungry. However, he was not hungry enough to eat any of that which was offered. It was offered to him three times, and three times he did not eat.

Ma’aseh (Acts) 10:17
Now while Kepha was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate,

Kepha was much perplexed about this vision. While he was contemplating what it might mean, the three men who had been sent from Cornelius arrived and inquired about Kepha. The timing of YHWH in this matter is critical and perfect!

Ma’aseh (Acts) 10:19-20
19 And while Kepha thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, “Behold, three men seek thee.
20 But arise, and you go down, and go with them; doubt nothing, for I have sent them.”

Kepha is no longer in a trance and is no longer seeing the vision. The Holy Spirit says to him that three men are looking for him and that he is to go with them and he is not to question or doubt that this thing is from Elohim!

Ma’aseh (Acts) 10:28-29
28 and he said unto them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me has Elohim showed that I should not call any man common or unclean;
29 therefore I also came without hesitation, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent have you sent for me.”

Now we come to Kepha’s own understanding and interpretation of his own vision and how it was applied. The vision was not about food at all! The vision was about people. YHWH has cleansed for himself a people; a people who were not a people, are now known as the children of El Chay! This was the whole point of the vision, to prepare Kepha to go and deliver the good news of Mashiach Yeshua to the nations.

Ma’aseh (Acts) 10:34 And Kepha opened his mouth and said, “Of a truth I perceive that Elohim is no respecter of persons.”

As long as a person is willing to shema His Voice, that is, to hear and obey His Voice, YHWH will bring said person into His kingdom via Yeshua our Mashiach (Messiah). It matters not what a person’s parental heritage and bloodlines may be or not be; one is adopted into the family of El Chay through the Blood of Mashiach Yeshua. That is the only way into this family; no one, not Jew nor Gentile, is born into this family through natural means. It is only by the quickening of His Spirit one is brought near.

Ma’aseh (Acts) 15:7-9
7 And when there had been much questioning, Kepha rose up, and said unto them, “Brethren, you know that a good while ago Elohim made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And Elohim, who knows the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us;
9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”

Please note what Kepha testifies before the counsel at Jerusalem concerning the matter of the vision and the subsequent inclusion of the nations, in not only hearing the good news, but also being able to fully accept it and become a part of Elohim’s family. YHWH made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, which was, and is, the whole point of the vision Elohim gave to Kepha on the rooftop that day.

Shemot (Exodus) 20:20
And Moshe said unto the people, “Fear not: for Elohim has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, that you do not sin.”

There are a couple of things to keep in mind while considering this vision, its meaning, and its subsequent application by the person to whom the vision was given. First, YHWH our Elohim is in the business of testing His people. He does this constantly and consistently. One of the reasons He does this, is to show us what is in our own hearts. Another reason He tests His people is to help them not to sin against Him. This is a very important reason for the testing.

Just as a reminder as to what sin is: it is the breaking of one of His commandments, statutes, ordinances, or judgments. YHWH has commanded His people not to eat certain items found in His creation. These items He has placed there in order to test His people as to whether they have a heart to obey His Voice or to reason His word away and do the pleasures of their own hearts. Will a person do what is right according to his own mind, or will he do what is right according to the Voice of YHWH? It is each person's choice. YHWH is testing. How will you do on this test?

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
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