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what did the term 'unlawful' (athemiton) encompass in peter's jewish context regarding gentiles?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Acts 10:28

He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come near to one of another nation; but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.”

This passage is part of the story where Peter, a Jewish apostle, receives a vision from God and is then sent to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. It marks a significant moment for early Christians grappling with how Jewish followers of Jesus should relate to non-Jewish people.

What boundaries do we unconsciously uphold that might prevent connection with others, and how might they be challenged?

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Read alongside it

  • Acts 11:1-18

    Describes Peter explaining his actions to skeptical Jewish believers in Jerusalem, further clarifying the shift.

  • Galatians 2:11-14

    Shows a later tension between Peter and Paul concerning Jewish-Gentile table fellowship, indicating ongoing challenges.

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