Acts 9:43

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} it came to pass {G1096}, that he {G846} tarried {G3306} many {G2425} days {G2250} in {G1722} Joppa {G2445} with {G3844} one {G5100} Simon {G4613} a tanner {G1038}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Kefa stayed on in Yafo for some time with a man named Shim‘on, a leather-tanner.

Berean Standard Bible

And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 9:43 concludes a significant period of Peter's ministry in Lydda and Joppa, marking his extended stay in the coastal city with Simon, a tanner. This seemingly ordinary detail is profoundly significant, serving as a divine pause and preparation for Peter, positioning him perfectly for the revolutionary events of the next chapter—the call from Cornelius and the pivotal expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles. It highlights God's meticulous orchestration of circumstances to break down long-standing social and religious barriers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 9:43 serves as a crucial transitional verse within the narrative of Acts. Immediately preceding it, Peter has been actively engaged in ministry, demonstrating God's power through two remarkable miracles: the healing of Aeneas, a paralytic, in Lydda ([Acts 9:32-35](/acts/9-32-35 "Acts 9:32-35 - Peter Heals Aeneas")), and the raising of Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead in Joppa ([Acts 9:36-42](/acts/9-36-42 "Acts 9:36-42 - Peter Raises Tabitha")). These powerful acts led to widespread belief in the Lord throughout the region, solidifying Peter's apostolic authority and the divine authentication of the Gospel message. Verse 43 then signals an extended period of Peter's residence in Joppa, which, though seemingly a simple logistical detail, providentially sets the stage for the groundbreaking encounter with Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, detailed in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius"), marking a major turning point in the early church's mission.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Joppa (modern Jaffa) was an ancient port city on the Mediterranean coast, strategically important for trade and travel. For a devout Jew like Peter, staying in Joppa was not unusual, but his choice of lodging "with one Simon a tanner" was highly significant and culturally provocative. The profession of tanning involved working with animal hides, a process that rendered the tanner ceremonially unclean due to constant contact with dead animals and their by-products, as per Jewish purity laws (e.g., [Leviticus 11:39-40](/leviticus/11-39-40 "Leviticus 11:39-40 - Laws of Uncleanness")). Furthermore, the tanning process produced offensive odors, leading tanneries to be typically located outside city limits. For Peter, an apostle and a strict Jew, to lodge in such a household indicated a profound shift in his understanding or a direct divine leading that transcended conventional Jewish ceremonial barriers. This seemingly minor detail underscores the radical nature of the Gospel's expansion and God's preparation of Peter for the inclusion of Gentiles, who were considered "unclean" by many Jews.
* **Key Themes:** This verse highlights several profound themes. Firstly, it showcases **Divine Preparation and Timing**. Peter's "many days" tarrying in Joppa was not idle time but a period divinely orchestrated to prepare him for the next, monumental phase of the Gospel's expansion. God was meticulously setting the scene for a major breakthrough beyond Jewish boundaries, a waiting period crucial for Peter's spiritual development and readiness. Secondly, the detail of Peter staying with "Simon a tanner" powerfully illustrates the **Breaking Down of Social and Ceremonial Barriers**. This choice of lodging, culturally offensive to many devout Jews, foreshadows the broader message of [God's impartiality](/acts/10-34-35 "Acts 10:34-35 - God Shows No Partiality") towards all people, Jew and Gentile alike, a truth Peter would fully grasp in the subsequent chapter. Lastly, the verse underscores **God's Meticulous Orchestration**. The seemingly ordinary detail of Peter's lodging highlights God's sovereign hand, placing Peter precisely where he needed to be—in a coastal city, at a house by the sea (tanneries were often near water), and with a person who might challenge his preconceived notions of purity—all in preparation for the vision concerning clean and unclean animals and the subsequent call from Cornelius in Caesarea, as described in [Acts 10:9-23](/acts/10-9-23 "Acts 10:9-23 - Peter's Vision and the Messengers from Cornelius").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **tarried (Greek, _ménō'_):** From G3306, this verb signifies "to stay, abide, continue, dwell, endure, remain." The use of _ménō_ here emphasizes not just a brief visit but an extended, settled stay. Peter was not merely passing through Joppa; he established residence for a significant period. This prolonged presence suggests a divine purpose, allowing time for the preceding miracles to impact the community and for Peter himself to be positioned and prepared for the next stage of God's plan.
* **tanner (Greek, _byrseús'_):** From G1038, this noun refers to a "tanner," one who processes animal hides. As discussed in the context, this profession was considered ceremonially unclean and socially undesirable in Jewish society due to its association with dead animals and unpleasant odors. Peter's willingness to stay with a tanner, Simon, is a profound indicator of God's progressive revelation to him, challenging his deeply ingrained Jewish purity laws and preparing him for the radical inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian community, a theme central to the book of Acts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa":** This introductory phrase, common in biblical narrative, signals a significant development. Peter's extended stay ("many days") in Joppa, a bustling port city, is not accidental but divinely orchestrated. It signifies a period of consolidation after his powerful miracles in the region and a strategic pause before the next major expansion of the Gospel. The duration implies a settled ministry or a period of waiting for divine direction.
* **"with one Simon a tanner":** This seemingly simple detail is the most loaded part of the verse. The identification of Peter's host as "Simon a tanner" immediately signals a challenge to Peter's Jewish sensibilities and purity laws. For a devout Jew, staying in the house of a tanner, whose profession involved constant contact with ceremonially unclean materials, would have been highly unconventional, if not scandalous. This detail serves as a crucial foreshadowing of the breaking down of Jewish-Gentile barriers, as Peter is already being prepared by God to transcend traditional boundaries, setting the stage for his encounter with Cornelius.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Foreshadowing** by subtly hinting at the profound theological developments to come. Peter's extended stay in Joppa, specifically in the home of a tanner, is not merely a logistical detail but a deliberate setup for the encounter with Cornelius in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius"). The "unclean" nature of the tanner's profession **Symbolizes** the "unclean" status of Gentiles in Jewish eyes, making Peter's lodging choice a powerful visual metaphor for the impending inclusion of the Gentiles into the church. There is also a subtle **Irony** in a leading apostle, a devout Jew, lodging with someone whose profession would render him ritually impure, thus challenging Peter's own deeply held traditions and preparing him for a revelation that would overturn those very traditions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 9:43, though brief, is pregnant with theological significance, serving as a crucial bridge between Peter's early ministry among Jews and the groundbreaking expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles. It underscores God's sovereign control over seemingly mundane circumstances, orchestrating every detail to fulfill His redemptive plan. Peter's willingness to stay with a tanner, a person considered ceremonially unclean and socially marginalized by Jewish standards, highlights the Gospel's inherent power to transcend human distinctions and prejudices. This act foreshadows the radical inclusivity of the New Covenant, where all who believe in Christ, regardless of their background or previous status, are welcomed into God's family. It demonstrates that God often prepares His servants for monumental shifts in ministry through seemingly ordinary, even uncomfortable, experiences, challenging their preconceived notions and expanding their understanding of His boundless grace.

* [Acts 10:17-20](/acts/10-17-20 "Acts 10:17-20 - Peter's Vision Interpreted")
* [Acts 15:7-9](/acts/15-7-9 "Acts 15:7-9 - Peter's Defense of Gentile Inclusion")
* [Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace, Breaking Down Walls")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 9:43 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God often works in the quiet, seemingly uneventful periods of our lives, or in circumstances that challenge our comfort zones, to prepare us for His greater purposes. Peter's "many days" in Joppa, lodging with a tanner, was not a delay but a divine appointment, a period of spiritual stretching and re-education before a pivotal moment in church history. This challenges us to embrace our own "waiting periods" with faith, recognizing that God is always at work, even when we don't perceive immediate progress. Furthermore, Peter's willingness to cross social and cultural boundaries by staying with a tanner calls us to examine our own prejudices and comfort zones. Are there individuals or groups we avoid due to social stigma, cultural differences, or perceived "uncleanness"? The Gospel compels us to extend grace and hospitality, just as God extended His grace to all through Christ. We are called to be open to God leading us into unexpected places and relationships, breaking down our own barriers, to share the inclusive message of Christ's love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "waiting periods" or seemingly ordinary circumstances in your life might God be using to prepare you for a future purpose?**
* **In what ways might you be holding onto social, cultural, or personal prejudices that prevent you from connecting with others whom God desires you to reach?**
* **How can you cultivate a greater openness to God leading you into uncomfortable or unconventional situations for the sake of His kingdom?**
* **What "unclean" or marginalized people groups in your community might God be calling you to engage with, following Peter's example of crossing boundaries?**

### FAQ

**Why is Peter's stay with a tanner so significant?**

Answer: Peter's decision to stay with Simon, a tanner, is highly significant because the profession of tanning involved constant contact with dead animals, making tanners ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law ([Leviticus 11:39-40](/leviticus/11-39-40 "Leviticus 11:39-40 - Laws of Uncleanness")). For a devout Jew like Peter, lodging in such a household was highly unconventional and would have been viewed as a violation of purity norms. This act foreshadows God's radical plan to include Gentiles, who were considered "unclean" by many Jews, into the Christian community. It demonstrates Peter's growing openness, or God's direct leading, to transcend traditional Jewish ceremonial barriers, preparing him for the vision and encounter with Cornelius in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius") that would definitively open the door to Gentile inclusion.

**What happened immediately after Peter's stay in Joppa?**

Answer: Immediately after Peter's extended stay in Joppa, the narrative shifts to the pivotal events of [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius"). While Peter was still in Joppa, staying at Simon the tanner's house by the sea, he experienced a profound vision involving a sheet descending from heaven filled with all kinds of "unclean" animals, with a voice telling him to "kill and eat" ([Acts 10:9-16](/acts/10-9-16 "Acts 10:9-16 - Peter's Vision of the Sheet")). This vision, repeated three times, was God's way of teaching Peter that He had declared all foods clean and, by extension, that no person should be considered "unclean" or "unholy." Concurrently, Cornelius, a devout Gentile centurion in Caesarea, received a vision telling him to send for Peter. These two divine interventions converged, leading Peter to Caesarea to preach the Gospel to Cornelius and his household, resulting in the Holy Spirit falling upon them—the first recorded instance of Gentiles receiving the Spirit and being baptized, demonstrating God's impartial grace.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 9:43, with its seemingly mundane detail of Peter's lodging, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the universal scope of the Gospel made possible through Jesus Christ. Peter's willingness to stay with Simon the tanner, a person considered ceremonially unclean and socially marginalized, is a tangible demonstration of the new reality inaugurated by Christ. Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, broke down every dividing wall of hostility—not just between Jew and Gentile, but between all peoples and God, and between people groups themselves. The ceremonial laws that once separated Jews from Gentiles, and even devout Jews from those in "unclean" professions, were fulfilled and transcended in Christ, who declared all foods clean ([Mark 7:19](/mark/7-19 "Mark 7:19 - Jesus Declares All Foods Clean")) and established a new covenant where there is "neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile in Christ")). Peter's experience in Joppa was a divine preparation, molding his understanding to align with the radical inclusivity of Christ's finished work, which fully embraced "those who were far away and those who were near" ([Ephesians 2:17](/ephesians/2-17 "Ephesians 2:17 - Christ Preached Peace to All")), creating one new humanity in Himself ([Ephesians 2:15](/ephesians/2-15 "Ephesians 2:15 - One New Humanity in Christ")). Thus, Peter's stay with the tanner foreshadows the boundless grace and universal welcome found in the person and work of Jesus, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, making all who believe clean and acceptable before God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 10:6

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

Acts 10:32

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.