Clean & Unclean

Act 10:9  The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.

Act 10:10  And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

Act 10:11  and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

Act 10:12  In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

Act 10:13  And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."

Act 10:14  But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."

Act 10:15  And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."

Act 10:16  This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Act 10:17  Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate

Act 10:18  and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

Act 10:19  And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.

Act 10:20  Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them."

Act 10:21  And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"

Act 10:22  And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."

Act 10:23  So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Act 10:24  And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Act 10:25  When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

Act 10:26  But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."

Act 10:27  And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.

Act 10:28  And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Act 10:29  So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

In Acts 10, Peter's vision was about MEN. Jewish tradition was to not enter the home of a gentile because they and their home would be "unclean." The vision of the sheet with unclean items uses the same terminology that Peter uses in verse 28, proving this point: 

28) "And he (Peter) said to them (gentiles), 'You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.'" 

The whole point of the vision was that gentiles were to be included in the covenant, not to change non-food to food.