And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
11. The opening of heaven signifieth, in my judgment, another thing in this place than in the seventh chapter. For it is said there that heaven was opened to Stephen, that he did behold the glory of Christ; in this place Peter saw our heaven which we see divided, so that a sheet came thence.
Peter clung to Jewish prejudice against Gentiles, thinking association with them brought ceremonial pollution. Scripture had plainly spoken of the Gentiles entering the church, Christ Himself had ordered it, yet Peter could not see it until God broke his bigotry with a vision.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 10:9-18
And saw heaven opened,.... Not literally, as at the baptism of Christ, and the stoning of Stephen; but in a visionary way, and which was an emblem of the opening and revealing the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles, which in other ages was not made known, as it now and afterwards was: and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been...