Acts 9:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

NIV: Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

NASB: And Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a tanner named Simon.

CSB: Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

NLT: And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.

KJV: And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

NKJV: So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

Luke's understated account of Peter's travels belie the importance of what is about to happen. Saul, the violent persecutor of the church (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–2), has defied his Pharisaical upbringing and become a Jesus-follower (Acts 9:13–19). His defection has angered the Jews—particularly those, like him, from the Greek culture (Acts 9:29), but it has given temporary freedom for the Jewish Jesus-followers to spread their message (Acts 9:31). Peter has taken advantage of the calm to visit two insignificant towns near the western border of Judea and Samaria. For the people in those towns, the news and grace of Jesus changes their lives for eternity. In the bigger picture, God has placed Peter there to change the world.

Tanners typically lived on the outskirts of town. Their trade involved stripping, soaking, and drying the hides of animals, which produces a notable stench. Simon lived by the Mediterranean Sea (Acts 10:6). In Judaism, tanners were ceremonially unclean as they dealt with dead animals all day. But Jesus taught His disciples to stay at the first house they were offered until they left town (Mark 6:10); even if someone with nicer accommodations offered, Peter would need to stay with whomever invited him first.

It is to this house that a Roman centurion named Cornelius will send two servants and one soldier to find Peter. Cornelius is a "devout man," meaning a Gentile who faithfully worships the Jewish God. Peter will go to his house and share the message of Jesus to a houseful of Cornelius' family, servants, and friends. Before Peter can lay hands on them or baptize them, the Holy Spirit will fall on them all. The promise God gave to Abraham is fulfilled, the world has been blessed through his line, and Jesus comes to the Gentiles (Genesis 22:18).

Most of the rest of the book of Acts records the mission of Paul, formerly Saul (Acts 13:9), to spread the news of Jesus to the Gentiles. As Jesus promised Ananias, Paul will suffer greatly (Acts 9:16). But it's likely Tabitha, who was known for making clothing for widows, is amazed that she had such a part in spreading the gospel to the world.

Acts 9:36–43 describes Peter raising a disciple named Tabitha—or Dorcas in Greek—to life. He has been in Lydda, about 15 miles southeast, where he healed Aeneas from paralysis and taught the people of the city about Jesus (Acts 9:32–35). Soon, he will receive a request to travel 40 miles north to Caesarea Maritima where he will meet a Roman centurion. Peter will share the story of Jesus, and a houseful of Gentiles will receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 10). Given his upbringing, Peter might think of Gentiles being saved as a greater miracle than Tabitha coming back to life!

Acts 9 sets the stage for the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. Saul continues the persecution of the church by traveling to Damascus to arrest Jesus-followers. Before he reaches the city, Jesus confronts him. Saul realizes Jesus is the Messiah and immediately starts spreading the news, first in Damascus and later in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Peter travels to modern-day Tel Aviv to heal a paralyzed man and bring a dead woman back to life. The miracles aren't unusual, but the story leaves him in Joppa, poised to take the next step in Jesus' mandate to be His witness (Acts 1:8).

The murder of the Jesus-follower Stephen has ignited a fierce persecution against the church, led by a young Pharisee-trained man named Saul (Acts 7:54—8:3; 9:1–2). When he realizes Jesus truly is the Messiah, that fervor fuels his own evangelism (Acts 9:3–30). Meanwhile, Peter travels to the coast of Judea. Soon, he will teach a prominent Gentile household about Jesus and discover that Gentiles can be saved (Acts 10). The stage will be set for Saul to spread the saving news of Jesus to ''the end of the earth'' (Acts 1:8) under the Greek version of his name: Paul.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.