Acts 10:6 (KJV)

What does Acts 10:6 mean?

Acts 10:6 says that Simon Peter is staying with a man named Simon, who works as a tanner and lives in a house by the sea. The verse explains that Peter will give important instructions to the person seeking him.

This verse is part of a message given to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, by an angel. Cornelius is told exactly where to find Peter, including the name and occupation of his host, and that Peter will tell him what he needs to do next. The details about Simon the tanner’s house by the sea help Cornelius’s messengers locate Peter in Joppa.

The Greek behind Acts 10:6

• The word for "tanner" is βυρσεύς (burseus), which refers to someone who works with animal hides. This job was considered ritually unclean by many Jews, highlighting Peter’s willingness to stay with someone on the social margins.
• The phrase "by the sea side" uses the Greek word θάλασσα (thalassa) for "sea," and the preposition παρά (para), meaning "beside" or "by." This gives a precise location, showing the practical detail in the instructions.
• The verb "shall tell" is λαλέω (laleō), which means "to speak" or "to tell." It emphasizes that Peter will communicate something specific and necessary to Cornelius.

Why Acts 10:6 matters

• Acts 10:6 shows how God uses very specific instructions to guide people, making it clear that Cornelius’s search for Peter is intentional and divinely directed.
• The mention of Peter staying with a tanner hints at the breaking down of traditional Jewish boundaries, preparing for the inclusion of Gentiles in the church.
• This verse sets up the meeting between Peter and Cornelius, which becomes a turning point in Acts where the message of Jesus is opened to non-Jews.