These were things strangled, or dead of themselves or through beasts or birds of prey; whatever beast did not both part the hoof and chew the cud; and certain other smaller animals rated as "creeping things;" certain classes of birds mentioned in Levi 11 and Deuteronomy 14 twenty or twenty-one in all; whatever in the waters had not both fins and scales whatever winged insect had not besides four legs the two hindlegs for leaping; Besides things offered in sacrifice to idols; and ail blood or whatever contained it (save perhaps the blood of fish, as would appear from that only of beast and bird being forbidden,) (Leviticus 7:26) and therefore flesh cut from the live animal; as also all fat, at any rate that disposed in masses among the intestines, and probably wherever discernible end separable among the flesh. (Leviticus 3:14-17; 7:23) The eating of blood was prohibited even to "the stranger that sojourneth among you." (Leviticus 17:10; 12:14) As regards blood, the prohibition indeed dates from the declaration to Noah against "flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof" in (Genesis 9:4) which was perhaps by Moses as still binding upon all Noah's descendants. It is noteworthy that the practical effect of the rule laid down is to exclude all the carnivora among quadrupeds, and, so far as we can interpret the nomenclature the raptores among birds. They were probably excluded as being not averse to human carcasses, and in most eastern countries acting as the servitors of the battle-field and the gibbet. Among fish those which were allowed contain unquestionably the most wholesome varieties, save that they exclude the oyster. Practically the law left among the allowed Meats an ample variety. As Orientals have minds sensitive to teaching by types, there can be little doubt that such cere menial distinctions not only tended to keep Jew and Gentile apart (and so prevented the Jews from becoming contaminated with the idolatry of the Gentiles), but were a perpetual reminder to the former that he and the latter were not on one level before God. Hence, when that ceremony was changed we find that this was the very symbol selected to instruct St. Peter in the truth that God was not a "respecter of persons." It remains to mention the sanitary aspect of the case. Swine are said to peculiarly liable to disease in their own bodies. This probably means that they are more easily led than other creatures to the foul feeding which produces it. As regards the animals allowed for food, comparing them with those forbidden, there can be no doubt on which side the balance of wholesomeness lies.

Things Clean and Unclean According to the Law and the Gospel.
... when, according to Mark, the Saviour said these things "making all meats clean,"
[5434 ... to be in bondage to the letter of the law declare to be unclean, but we ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/12 things clean and unclean.htm

Peter's Apologia
... Clearly it swept away at once the legal distinction of clean and unclean meats,
and of it, too, may be spoken what Mark, Peter's mouthpiece, writes of earthly ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/peters apologia.htm

Why Choice of Meats was Prescribed.
... Chapter XX."Why choice of meats was prescribed. ... green herbs, not eating all, we refrain
from eating some, not because they are common or unclean, but because ...
/.../chapter xx why choice of meats.htm

The Conservative Reaction, and the Liberal victory --
... law, including the observance of circumcision, of the Sabbath and new moons, and
the various regulations about clean and unclean meats, which virtually forbid ...
/.../section 35 the conservative reaction.htm

Argument. --And Thus Unclean Animals are not to be Reproached ...
On the Jewish Meats. <. ... Chapter III. Argument."And Thus Unclean Animals are
Not to Be Reproached, Lest the Reproach Be Thrown Upon Their Author ...
/.../novatian/on the jewish meats/chapter iii argument and thus unclean.htm

Acts XXI
... offerings, [522] and, as seen in Paul's epistles, abstinence from unclean meats,
and the observance of Sabbath-days, holy days, new moons, and Sabbatic years. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

The Way to the Kingdom
... Whatsoever, therefore, they found written therein, either concerning meat and drink
offerings, or the distinction between clean and unclean meats, they not ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 7 the way to.htm

He Says, in Addition, that "All the Christians were of one Mind...
... Judaism regarding Gentile believers, on the point whether they ought to observe
Jewish customs, or should reject the burden of clean and unclean meats, as not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xi he says in.htm

Moreover, Let them Show Where There is to be Found Even the ...
... to abstain from corporeal circumcision, and from a literal Sabbath, and literal
festivals, and literal new moons, and from clean and unclean meats, and to turn ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter vii moreover let them.htm

The Ministry in Galilee --Its Aim and Method
... hand-washing by an authoritative setting aside of the whole body of their traditions,
as well as of the Levitical ceremonial of clean and unclean meats (Mark 7 ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/iii the ministry in galileeits.htm