Acts 9 43

Acts 9:43 kjv

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

Acts 9:43 nkjv

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

Acts 9:43 niv

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

Acts 9:43 esv

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

Acts 9:43 nlt

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

Acts 9 verses

Acts 9 43 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial transition point in the book of Acts. It signifies the apostle Peter's prolonged stay in Joppa after the miraculous raising of Tabitha, indicating a period of dwelling and perhaps divine preparation. The significant detail is that Peter, a devout Jew, stayed with Simon, a tanner—a profession traditionally considered ceremonially unclean due to constant contact with dead animal carcasses. This unusual arrangement sets the stage for the pivotal events concerning the inclusion of Gentiles into the early Church.

Acts 9 43 Context

This verse marks the end of a highly successful apostolic campaign by Peter in Lydda and Joppa (Acts 9:32-42), where he healed Aeneas and raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead. These miracles resulted in "many believing in the Lord." Peter's decision to "tarry many days" in Joppa, specifically in the home of Simon the tanner, is the immediate prelude to the dramatic account of Cornelius's conversion in Acts 10. The wider context of Acts focuses on the Holy Spirit empowering the early Church to spread the Gospel "to the ends of the earth," progressively breaking through cultural and religious barriers established by Jewish law. This specific detail of Peter's lodging highlights God's preparation of Peter for the monumental shift regarding Gentile inclusion, signaling the transition from a purely Jewish messianic movement to a universal Church. Joppa, as a port city, served as an ideal launchpad for the Gospel's journey beyond Judea.

Acts 9 43 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (Καὶ ἐγένετο - Kai egeneto):

  • This is a common Greek literary formula in Luke-Acts, indicating a new significant event or development. It acts as a transitional phrase, signaling continuity with previous events while ushering in something new.
  • Significance: Luke uses it frequently to highlight God's hand in orchestrating events.

• that he tarried (ἐμεῖνεν - emeinen):

  • From the verb menō (μένω), meaning "to stay," "remain," "abide." It implies a deliberate, continued residence, not just a fleeting visit.
  • Significance: Peter was not just passing through; he settled in, suggesting God's purpose for him in that place and time. This period allowed for Peter to be in the exact location for the divine intervention that followed.

• many days (ἡμέρας ἱκανὰς - hemeras hikanas):

  • Hikanas (ἱκανὰς) translates to "sufficient," "adequate," "considerable," or "many." It implies a substantial, rather than short, duration.
  • Significance: The length of Peter's stay was sufficient for God to orchestrate the next major step in His plan—the conversion of Cornelius. It allowed time for Joppa to experience the impact of Peter's ministry, as well as for Peter's own readiness.

• in Joppa (ἐν Ἰόππῃ - en Ioppēi):

  • Joppa (modern Jaffa) was a well-known ancient port city on the Mediterranean coast of Judea, historically important for maritime trade. It was mentioned in the OT as the port from which Jonah set sail (Jon 1:3).
  • Significance: Its coastal location made it a gateway to the Gentile world. This geographical detail foreshadows the Gentile mission that begins directly from Peter's stay here. God placed Peter at a strategic point for the Gospel to expand beyond Israel.

• with one Simon a tanner (παρά τινι Σίμωνι βυρσεῖ - para tini Simōni byrsei):

  • with one Simon: The addition of tini (τίνι - "a certain one") distinguishes him from Simon Peter and suggests this was a specific, divinely appointed host, whose occupation is particularly significant.
  • a tanner (βυρσεῖ - byrsei): This is the crucial detail. Tanners dealt with animal hides, requiring them to constantly handle dead animals, use foul-smelling chemicals (often animal waste), and engage in a messy, offensive trade.
    • Jewish Custom: According to rabbinic tradition and Jewish purity laws (e.g., those found in Leviticus 11 concerning dead animals), tanners were considered perpetually ritually unclean. Their houses were often located outside the city limits due to the smell and defilement. Strict Jews would avoid prolonged contact with them, let alone staying in their homes.
    • Significance: For Peter, a devout Jew who initially struggled with the idea of associating with Gentiles (Acts 10:14, 28; Gal 2:11-14), staying with a tanner for "many days" indicates a remarkable willingness on his part, or more profoundly, a divine preparation by which God was already stretching Peter beyond his comfort zone and traditional purity norms. This situation perfectly sets up the sheet vision in Acts 10, where God explicitly challenges Peter's notions of clean and unclean. It subtly signals that God is breaking down old barriers and preparing Peter's heart for radical inclusivity.

Acts 9 43 Bonus section

• Geographic symbolism: Joppa was known in ancient times as the gateway to the West. Historically, it was a significant port. Just as Jonah fled from God's mission through Joppa (Jonah 1:3), Peter is poised here to embrace God's expansive mission from Joppa, symbolizing the Church's outward movement.
• Divine Timing: The phrase "many days" implies not just time but a purposeful waiting period, ensuring Peter was perfectly positioned and prepared to receive Cornelius's messengers precisely when God's plan required.
• Irony of Purity: The very place that, to a devout Jew, would signify ritual impurity becomes the stage for God to reveal a new understanding of purity—one based on God's declaration, not human traditions. The irony enhances the message of God's universal grace.

Acts 9 43 Commentary

Acts 9:43, though seemingly a simple geographical and relational detail, is loaded with profound theological and historical significance. Peter's extended stay in Joppa, following the astounding miracle of Tabitha's resurrection, served not merely as a respite but as a crucial period of divine incubation. The precise detail of his host—Simon the tanner—is anything but trivial. In Jewish society, tanners were ritually unclean due to their constant contact with dead animal carcasses and strong chemicals, making them social outcasts and their homes typically avoided by observant Jews.

For Peter, a pillar of the early, predominantly Jewish Church, to lodge with a tanner for "many days" speaks volumes about his burgeoning openness to God's broader plan, or more accurately, God's deliberate work to stretch Peter's conventional piety. This seemingly unconventional living arrangement preconditioned Peter for the radical encounter described in Acts 10, where God uses a vision of unclean animals to directly challenge his deeply ingrained purity laws. Peter's residence in the tanner's house provided the ironic, yet divinely purposeful, context for him to learn that "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34). It underscored that the Lord was moving His Church beyond the narrow confines of Jewish law and cultural norms to embrace the entire world. This seemingly innocuous verse is a divine setup, preparing God's chosen apostle and the early Church for the universal scope of the Gospel message—the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant community through Christ.