Acts 9:43

It came to pass. See on v. 32.

Tarried. There is no way of knowing how long Peter tarried. For comment on “many days” see on v. 23.

Simon a tanner. Luke shows an interest in the names of minor characters in his story (cf. chs. 9:11, 33, 36; 12:13; 21:16; etc.) and in occupations (cf. chs. 8:27; 10:1; 16:14; 18:3; 19:24). The occupation of tanner was one that repelled strict Jews. This was either because it would require coming in contact with carcasses and hides of dead beasts, with the risk of ceremonial defilement (see Lev. 11:24, 25), or because it was in general a repulsive and unpleasant business. The Jewish rabbis held that if a tanner who was about to marry concealed his occupation from his intended wife, the concealment was considered in the nature of a fraud, which would invalidate the contract (Mishnah Kethuboth 7.10, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, pp. 482, 483). This tanner’s house was “by the sea side” (Acts 10:6). It would be easy for Peter, during his long stay with the humble but hospitable Simon, to return to his old occupation of fishing, and thus earn his living. The fact that he was willing to take up his abode with a tanner indicates that the apostle was already tending to abandon Jewish prejudices. Even so did God prepare His servant for the greater step of preaching to Cornelius, the Gentile (see on ch. 10).