Acts 9:43

And it came to passe, that he taried many dayes in Ioppa, with one Simon a Tanner. Acts 9:43 (KJV)

Acts 9 records the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who later became the apostle Paul. After encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul was struck blind and was led into the city by his companions. There a disciple named Ananias was instructed by the Lord to go and pray for Saul, that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Following his conversion Saul began preaching in Damascus, creating a stir among the Jews. He then went to Jerusalem, where the believers were initially afraid of him because of his former persecution of the church. Barnabas vouched for Saul before the apostles, and Saul stayed in Jerusalem boldly preaching and disputing with the Hellenists. When his life was threatened the brethren sent him back to his hometown of Tarsus.

In the same chapter we see Peter temporarily staying in Joppa with a man named Simon, who was a tanner. Joppa (also known as Jaffa) was a port city on the Mediterranean coast of Israel and a significant hub of trade and commerce in biblical times. Simon’s occupation involved processing animal hides, a trade considered ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law because it dealt with dead animals.

The fact that Peter lodged with Simon the tanner highlights several important lessons. First, it underscores the value of fellowship and hospitality among believers; despite Simon’s socially lowly occupation, he welcomed Peter into his home, modeling the love and openness Christians are called to extend to one another. Second, Peter’s willingness to stay with someone regarded as unclean demonstrates a breaking of social and religious barriers for the sake of the Gospel, reminding us that Christ’s love is not limited to any particular group or status. Third, the specific mention of Simon’s trade shows God’s sovereignty in using people from any walk of life to accomplish His purposes, proving that divine plans are not constrained by human expectations or societal norms. Finally, Peter’s time in Joppa served as preparation for the vision of the sheet from heaven that would lead to the conversion of Cornelius and the opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles. This teaches that God may place us in seemingly ordinary situations to ready us for greater ministry, even when the purpose is not immediately clear.