What is the meaning of Acts 10:6? He • The pronoun points to Simon Peter, the apostle already introduced in Acts 10:5. • God singles out a real, identifiable man—Peter—underscoring that the gospel’s next step hinges on a historic person, not a vague idea (John 21:17; Galatians 2:7-8). • Peter’s life up to this point shows a track record of obedience (Acts 9:32-35), making him a fitting instrument for the moment. is staying • “Is staying” shows the present, ongoing nature of God’s arrangement. Peter is not passing through; he is settled where the Lord wants him, ready for the next assignment (Psalm 37:23; Acts 10:33). • The word also hints at availability. Cornelius’s men will find Peter because God has him precisely where they can reach him (Proverbs 16:9; Acts 8:26-31). with Simon the tanner • Tanning involved handling dead animals, making a tanner ceremonially unclean under the Law (Leviticus 11:39-40). Peter’s willingness to lodge here foreshadows the vision about clean and unclean foods (Acts 10:28). • The pairing of two Simons—one an apostle, one a tradesman—illustrates the gospel’s leveling power (Ephesians 2:13-14). • Acts 9:43 notes that Peter “stayed for many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon,” showing this was already his chosen base of ministry. whose house • God works through ordinary homes, not just temples or synagogues (Luke 19:5; Acts 16:15). • The mention of the house assures Cornelius’s servants of a definite, physical address—no guesswork, just obedience. • The detail highlights God’s care over logistics; nothing in His plan is random (Matthew 10:29-31). is by the sea • Practical: tanning required copious water and sea breezes to dissipate odor. God’s directions are sensible as well as spiritual. • Providential: a seaside location in Joppa recalls Jonah 1:3, where another servant wrestled with God’s global mission. Peter, unlike Jonah, will embrace it (Acts 11:17-18). • Accessible: travelers from Caesarea can follow the coastline straight to the house (Acts 10:32). God clears every obstacle so that Jew and Gentile can meet in Christ. summary Acts 10:6 assures us that God masterfully orchestrates people, places, and timing. Peter—a real man in a real house at a real seaside address—becomes the bridge for the gospel to cross fully into the Gentile world. Every phrase of the verse shows God’s precision and grace: the chosen servant, his settled readiness, the unlikely host, the welcoming home, and the strategic location. Nothing is incidental; everything serves the unfolding plan that “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43). |
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