Acts 10:11

“And saw heaven opened, etc.] 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 a great sheet: which seems to represent the church of God, whose original is from heaven, and consists of persons born from above, who have their conversation in heaven, and were designed for it; and especially as under the Gospel dispensation, which Peter had a vision of in this emblematic way; the doctrines and ordinances of which are from heaven:…”

“And saw heaven opened - Acts 7:56. See the notes on Matthew 3:16. This language is derived from a common mode of speaking in the Hebrew Scriptures, as if the sky above us was a solid, vast expanse, and as if it were opened to present an opportunity for anything to descend. It is language that is highly figurative. And a certain vessel - See the notes on Acts 9:15. As it had been - It is important to mark this expression. The sacred writer does not say that Peter literally saw such an object descending; but he uses this as an imperfect description of the vision. It was not a literal descent of a vessel, but it was such a kind of representation to him, producing the same impression, and the…”

“Tied at the corners - Not all in one knot, but each fastened as it were up to heaven. Acts 10:14”

“saw: Act 7:56; Eze 1:1; Luk 3:21; Joh 1:51; Rev 4:1, Rev 11:19, Rev 19:11 and a: Gen 49:10; Isa 11:6-14, Isa 19:23-25, Isa 43:6, Isa 56:8; Mat 8:11, Mat 13:47, Mat 13:48; Joh 11:52, Joh 12:32; Rom 1:16, Rom 3:29-31, Rom 9:4, Rom 15:9-12, Rom 16:25, Rom 16:26; Gal 2:15, Gal 3:28; Eph 1:10, Eph 3:6; Col 3:11 vessel: The word σκευος \[Strong's G4632\], which corresponds to the Hebrew kelee, denotes every kind of vessel or utensil, anything which may be considered as a receptacle; and is therefore applicable to a sheet οθονη \[Strong's G3607\], or anything woven from flax, tied up at the four corners, which our word vessel is not. Acts 10:12”