Acts 10 6

Acts 10:6 kjv

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Acts 10:6 nkjv

He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do."

Acts 10:6 niv

He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."

Acts 10:6 esv

He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."

Acts 10:6 nlt

He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore."

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 6 Meaning

Acts 10:6 identifies Peter's precise location as he awaited the messengers from Cornelius: lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house was by the sea in Joppa. This seemingly simple detail carries profound theological and cultural significance, revealing that Peter was already positioned in a ritually unconventional setting, which subtly prepared him for the upcoming radical shift in understanding God's covenant and the inclusion of Gentiles. The choice of location foreshadows the breaking down of purity barriers central to the narrative.

Acts 10 6 Context

Acts 10:6 is strategically placed within the narrative of Cornelius and Peter's respective visions, immediately following the divine command to Cornelius's men to seek out Peter in Joppa. The verse identifies Peter's exact whereabouts, a detail crucial for the narrative's progression. It is part of the pivotal account of God opening the door of faith to Gentiles without requiring them to become Jewish proselytes first.

Historically and culturally, living with a tanner (βυρσεύς, byrseus) was considered highly unorthodox and socially compromising for a devout Jew like Peter. The tanning process involved dead animals and their waste, making the profession ritually unclean (Lev 11; Num 19). Tanners were often marginalized and their workshops, due to their stench, were typically located outside city limits, usually near a water source like the sea. Peter's willingness to lodge with Simon the tanner already suggests an openness or a breaking from strict Jewish custom, an ironic prelude to his own vision where God declares all foods clean and Gentiles acceptable. This pre-existing arrangement underscores divine orchestration, positioning Peter both physically and symbolically on the threshold of breaking ancient boundaries, preparing him for the radical expansion of the Gospel.

Acts 10 6 Word analysis

• He is lodging (οὗτος ξενίζεται, houtos xenizetai):

  • οὗτος (houtos): "He, this man." Points directly to Peter, who was just referred to in Acts 10:5.
  • ξενίζεται (xenizetai): Present passive indicative verb meaning "to be a guest, lodged, entertained."
    • Significance: This implies Peter is a guest, dependent on Simon's hospitality. The present tense indicates an ongoing state, not a fleeting visit, which further emphasizes his sustained interaction with an "unclean" household.
    • Cultural Implication: For a Jewish rabbi or leader, choosing to stay as a xenos (stranger/guest) in such a household was unusual and against many societal norms of purity and association.

• with Simon (παρὰ Σίμωνι, para Simōni):

  • παρὰ (para): A preposition meaning "with, by, beside, near." Denotes close proximity and association.

• a tanner (βυρσεῖ, byrsei):

  • βυρσεῦς (byrseus): Noun, dative singular. "Leather worker, tanner."
    • Meaning: This specific detail is perhaps the most significant in the verse. Tannery was considered one of the most detestable trades for Jews due to its involvement with dead animals and often vile-smelling waste products (blood, putrefied flesh, animal excretions used in the curing process).
    • Ritual Impurity: Handling dead animal carcasses made the tanner perpetually ritually unclean according to the Mosaic Law (Lev 11:39-40; Num 19:11). Living or interacting closely with a tanner could lead to secondary defilement for a strict Jew. Rabbinic tradition often excluded tanners from religious communities and from marrying into priestly families, even to the extent that a marriage contract could be annulled if a man was discovered to be a tanner post-marriage.
    • Literary Purpose: Luke includes this detail precisely because of its scandalous nature for Jewish readers. It subtly informs the audience that Peter was already in a socially and ritually liminal space, indicating God was actively preparing his heart and mind to move beyond traditional Jewish purity boundaries, even before the sheet vision (Acts 10:9-16). It also explains why Simon the tanner's house was well-known, despite his profession.

• whose house is by the sea (ᾧ ἐστὶν οἰκία παρὰ θάλασσαν, hō estin oikia para thalassan):

  • παρὰ θάλασσαν (para thalassan): "by the sea, alongside the sea."
    • Practicality: Tanners typically lived outside cities, often near a water source (the sea or a river) due to the large quantities of water needed for the tanning process and to mitigate the foul odor of their work. Sea breezes helped carry away the stench.
    • Symbolic Significance: The sea often symbolized the Gentile world, beyond the settled, holy land. Peter is physically located at the edge of the known