Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of [one] Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Send {G3992} therefore {G3767} to {G1519} Joppa {G2445}, and {G2532} call hither {G3333} Simon {G4613}, whose {G3739} surname is {G1941} Peter {G4074}; he {G3778} is lodged {G3579} in {G1722} the house {G3614} of one Simon {G4613} a tanner {G1038} by {G3844} the sea side {G2281}: who {G3739}, when he cometh {G3854}, shall speak {G2980} unto thee {G4671}.
Now send to Yafo and ask for Shim‘on, known as Kefa; he is staying in the house of Shim‘on, a leather-tanner, by the sea.’
Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.
No cross-references found for this verse.
Acts 10:32 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Cornelius's encounter with Peter, marking a significant moment in the expansion of the early Christian church to the Gentiles. It records the angel's direct instruction to Cornelius to send for Simon Peter, specifying Peter's exact location.
Context
This verse is part of a miraculous divine orchestration. Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion living in Caesarea, received a vision from God where an angel commanded him to send men to Joppa to fetch Simon Peter (see Acts 10:5-6). Simultaneously, Peter, in Joppa, was prepared through a vision of a sheet descending from heaven filled with all kinds of animals, with a voice telling him to "kill and eat," signifying the breaking down of dietary and ceremonial laws (Acts 10:9-16). The detail of Peter lodging in the house of Simon a tanner is significant: tanners worked with animal hides, a profession often considered ritually unclean by Jews, highlighting Peter's growing openness, or perhaps God's leading him to a place that challenged his preconceptions even before Cornelius's messengers arrived.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "Simon, whose surname is Peter" (Greek: Simon, ho epikaloumenos Petros) emphasizes Peter's well-known identity as one of Christ's chief apostles, ensuring there is no confusion about which Simon is being called. The mention of "Simon a tanner" (Greek: Simōnos tinos byrseōs) is noteworthy. A tanner's trade involved handling dead animals, making it an occupation that rendered one ceremonially unclean according to Mosaic law. Peter's willingness to lodge there, therefore, subtly prepares the reader for the broader theme of God breaking down barriers between clean and unclean, Jew and Gentile, which is central to this chapter.
Practical Application
Acts 10:32 encourages believers to be attentive to God's specific directions, even when they seem to lead to unconventional places or challenge personal biases. It reminds us that God often works through seemingly ordinary circumstances to accomplish extraordinary purposes. Just as God prepared both Cornelius and Peter for this pivotal encounter, He prepares us for the people and messages He wants us to receive or deliver. We are called to be obedient to divine instruction, willing to cross social or cultural divides, and open to God's continuous work of expanding His kingdom to all people, as exemplified by the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.