We often say "never say never". That's the case for Peter. Put yourself in his sandals: to have never eaten pork in all his life! But now he is commanded to do so. But of course it's just a trance. He doesn't actually eat anything unclean; rather he is led to meditate (v17). Then came the men from Cornelieus. Now Peter really has to violate one of his nevers! Jews never went to the homes of Gentiles. Yet he does it without objection (v29). Why? The trance certainly helped. But likely it's the new Peter. The old Peter had told Christ he would never let Him die (Mt. 16:21-22), yet he did. The old Peter had told Christ he would never deny Him (Mt. 26:30-35), yet he did. Peter was then wonderfully restored by grace when Jesus uttered His own never: "you will never depart from Me" (Jn. 21:15-23; esp. v18). Armed with this assurance Peter would never again be moved to say never to God.
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