How can we emulate Peter's willingness to stay with Simon in Acts 9:43? The Scene in Joppa “ And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.” (Acts 9:43) Why Peter’s Choice Matters - Tanners handled animal carcasses; under Mosaic law this work rendered them ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:39-40). - Many observant Jews avoided such homes to preserve ritual purity, yet Peter literally lodged there. - His decision reflects the Lord’s command to take the gospel “to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and anticipates the vision in Acts 10 that all people may be made clean through Christ. Timeless Lessons to Embrace • Love overrides social stigma – John 13:34: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.” – Choosing fellowship over image shows that people matter more than reputation. • Humility invites usefulness – Romans 12:16: “Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly.” – Peter’s humble lodging positioned him to hear God’s next instructions; humility keeps our hearts ready too. • Availability precedes assignment – Acts 10:5-6: Cornelius’s messengers are told, “He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” – Because Peter remained present, God connected him to a groundbreaking mission. Staying put where God places us opens doors for future service. • Purity comes from Christ, not externals – Hebrews 10:22: “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean.” – Peter’s lodging choice displays confidence that cleansing is inward, achieved by Jesus’ blood, not by avoiding certain occupations or houses. • Hospitality strengthens the church – 1 Peter 4:9: “Offer hospitality to one another without complaining.” – Both host and guest share grace when believers open their homes and lives. Putting It Into Practice - Welcome brothers and sisters whose backgrounds differ from ours; share a meal, share time. - Volunteer or partner with ministries that serve those society labels “unclean,” demonstrating God’s impartial love (James 2:1-4). - Evaluate routines: are we declining opportunities because they seem inconvenient or beneath us? Imitate Peter by saying yes. - Keep an open calendar for unexpected kingdom tasks. Remaining flexible often positions us for God-given appointments. - Celebrate the cleansing Christ provides; reject legalistic barriers that divide believers (Ephesians 2:14-16). Living Peter’s Example Today Staying with Simon was a small, literal act that signaled a major spiritual reality: in Christ, no person or place is off-limits for the gospel. Emulating Peter means stepping across man-made lines with humble hearts, confident that Scripture’s call to love, serve, and go applies as fully now as it did that day in Joppa. |
    |