The Meaning of Acts 9:43 Explained

Acts 9:43

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

YLT: and it came to pass, that he remained many days in Joppa, with a certain one, Simon a tanner.

Darby: And it came to pass that he remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Acts 9:43 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse provides a geographical and ideological transition to the account of Peter"s visit to Cornelius ( Acts 10:1 to Acts 11:18). Evidently Peter remained in Joppa to confirm these new converts and to help the church in that town. His willingness to stay with a tanner shows that Peter was more broad-minded in his fellowship than many other Jews. Many Jews thought tanners practiced an unclean trade since they worked with the skins of dead animals, and they would have nothing to do with them. However, Peter was about to receive a challenge to his convictions similar to the one that Saul had received on the Damascus road.
Note how God used the invitation of the people of Joppa to bring Peter there. Likewise God often uses what appear initially to be incidental occurrences to open up great ministries. Luke illustrated this divine method repeatedly in Acts.
"It was important to demonstrate that Peter was in the full stream of his usefulness, and the agent of miracles curiously like those performed by his Master (Mt. ix23-26; Mk. Acts 9:38-43; Jn. Acts 9:6-9), when the call came to him to baptize a Gentile." [1]

Context Summary

Acts 9:32-43 - Strength And Life Through Christ
Peter was now free for a visit of apostolic inspection, of which the two incidents here preserved are the only record. Lydda was a village on the great plain, abutting on the seaboard. The effect of the miracle of healing wrought upon Æneas was profound. A general conversion of the agricultural population was the immediate result. They all turned to the Lord. The villagers had probably been prepared by the tidings of what had taken place, and a single spark sufficed to set the whole country in a blaze.
The little church at Joppa had sustained a serious loss in the death of one of its chief workers, a woman named Dorcas, Acts 9:36-37. She is described as a certain disciple. She had learned of Jesus Christ the great lesson that the love of God implies ministry to others, and she gave herself to practice it by quiet, feminine handiwork, which she distributed among the desolate and friendless women of the town. Peter's prayer in the chamber of death was answered, and Dorcas was given back to her friends. Our Lord put His seal upon her work, and she has been crowned as the patron saint of women workers. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 9

1  Saul, going toward Damascus, is stricken down to the earth,
8  and led blind to Damascus;
10  is called to the apostleship;
18  and is baptized by Ananias
20  He preaches Christ boldly
23  The Jews lay wait to kill him;
29  so do the Grecians, but he escapes both
31  The church having rest, Peter heals Aeneas;
36  and restores Tabitha to life

Greek Commentary for Acts 9:43

Many days [hēmeras hikanas)]
See note on Acts 9:23. Luke is fond of the phrase and uses it for time, number, size. It might be “ten days, ten months, or ten years” (Page). [source]
With one Simon a tanner [para tini Simōni bursei)]
The use of para is usual for staying with one (by his side). “The more scrupulous Jews regarded such an occupation as unclean, and avoided those who pursued it. The conduct of Peter here shows that he did not carry his prejudices to that extent” (Hackett). One of the rabbis said: “It is impossible for the world to do without tanners; but woe to him who is a tanner.” A Jewess could sue for divorce if she discovered that her husband was a tanner. And yet Peter will have scruples on the housetop in the tanner‘s house about eating food considered unclean. “The lodging with the tanner was a step on the road to eating with a Gentile” (Furneaux). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 9:43

Acts 10:32 In the house of Simon [en oikiāi Simnos)]
See note on Acts 9:43 for para Simōni with same idea. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 9:43 mean?

It came to pass then days many he stayed in Joppa with a certain Simon a tanner
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἡμέρας ἱκανὰς μεῖναι ἐν Ἰόππῃ παρά τινι Σίμωνι βυρσεῖ

Ἐγένετο  It  came  to  pass 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
ἡμέρας  days 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ἱκανὰς  many 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἱκανός  
Sense: sufficient.
μεῖναι  he  stayed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: μένω  
Sense: to remain, abide.
Ἰόππῃ  Joppa 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἰόππη  
Sense: a city of Palestine on the Mediterranean, lying on the border of the tribes of Dan and Ephraim.
τινι  a  certain 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
Σίμωνι  Simon 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Σίμων  
Sense: Peter was one of the apostles.
βυρσεῖ  a  tanner 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: βυρσεύς  
Sense: a tanner.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 9:43?

Loading Information...