Peter's vision of a sheet with animals facts for kids
In the Bible, the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10, tells a story about Saint Peter. Peter had a special vision while he was praying. He saw something like a large sheet coming down from heaven. This sheet was full of all kinds of animals.
A voice from heaven told Peter to kill and eat the animals. But Peter said no. This was because some of the animals were considered "unclean" by his beliefs at the time. The voice repeated the command two more times. It said, "What God has made clean, do not call common or unclean." After this, the sheet was taken back up to heaven.
Soon after, some messengers arrived. They were sent by a man named Cornelius the Centurion. Peter went with them. When he spoke to Cornelius, Peter explained his vision. He said that God had shown him that he should not call any person "common or unclean." Peter told the story of his vision again in Acts chapter 11.
Peter's Vision in Art
Peter's vision is not often shown in famous artworks. However, some artists have created pictures of it. The famous artist Rembrandt made drawings of this vision. One of his students, van Hoogstraten, also drew a similar scene.
Rembrandt might have been inspired by a painting by Domenico Fetti. This painting was in Amsterdam when Rembrandt lived there. Today, Fetti's painting is in Vienna. You can also see this vision in a painting called the "Altar of St. Peter." This artwork is in Seville Cathedral and is thought to be by Francisco de Zurbarán.
