Simon

36In the town of Joppa lived a follower named Tabitha. In Greek her name was Dorcas. She was always doing kind things and helping poor people.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

NoteJoppa was a town on the seashore with a harbor. Tabitha and Dorcas are the same name in two languages. Both mean "gazelle," a small deer that runs fast. The King James word "almsdeeds" means money or food given to poor people.

37At that time she got sick and died. They washed her body. Then they laid her in a room upstairs.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

NoteWashing the body was how people got someone ready to be buried. Friends and family did this careful, kind job. Burials usually happened the same day.

38Lydda was near Joppa. The followers heard that Peter was in Lydda. They sent two men to ask him, "Please come to us right away."

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

39So Peter got up and went with them. When he came, they took him to the upstairs room. All the widows stood around him, crying. Widows are women whose husbands have died. They showed him the coats and clothes Dorcas made when she was with them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

NoteWidows are women whose husbands have died. Back then a widow often had no way to earn money. The other believers looked after them. The "coats" were long shirts people wore every day.

40Peter sent everyone out of the room. He knelt down and prayed. Then he turned toward her body and said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41He took her hand and helped her stand up. Then he called God's people and the widows in. He showed them that she was alive.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42People all over Joppa heard about this. Many of them believed in the Lord.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43Peter stayed in Joppa for many days. He stayed with a man named Simon, who made leather from animal skins.

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

NoteA tanner turned animal skins into leather. The work smelled bad, so tanners often lived at the edge of town. It also meant touching dead animals. Jewish rules said that made a person unclean for a time.

1In the city of Caesarea lived a man named Cornelius. He was a centurion, a Roman officer in charge of about a hundred soldiers. He belonged to the group of soldiers called the Italian band.

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

NoteCaesarea was a big city by the sea. Roman rulers lived there. A "band" was a large group of soldiers, several hundred men. These soldiers came from Italy, far away.

2He honored God, and so did everyone in his house. He gave a lot of money to help poor people. He prayed to God all the time.

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

NoteCornelius was not Jewish. He came from another country. He still loved and prayed to the God of Israel. The King James word "alms" means money given to poor people.

3One day, about three in the afternoon, he clearly saw a vision. In it an angel of God came to him and said, "Cornelius."

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

NoteA vision is like a picture God shows you while you are awake. An angel is a messenger God sends to people. Jewish people prayed at set times each day. Three in the afternoon was one of those times.

4Cornelius looked at the angel and was afraid. He asked, "What is it, Lord?" The angel said, "God has taken notice of your prayers and your gifts to the poor."

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

NoteHere "Lord" just means "sir." Cornelius did not yet know who was talking to him.

5"Now send some men to the town of Joppa. Ask for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter."

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

NoteJoppa was a town by the sea, about thirty miles away. Walking there took almost two days. Many men were named Simon. A second name showed people which Simon you meant.

6"He is staying with Simon, a tanner, a man who makes leather from animal skins. His house is beside the sea. Peter will tell you what you should do."

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

NoteA tanner turned animal skins into leather. The work smelled very bad. Tanners often lived at the edge of town, near water.

7After the angel left, Cornelius called two of his house servants. He also called a soldier who helped him and honored God.

And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8He told them everything that had happened. Then he sent them off to Joppa.

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

17Peter was still wondering what the vision meant. Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house. They stood at the gate.

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18They called out to the people inside. They asked if Simon, who is also called Peter, was staying there.

And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19Peter was still thinking about the vision. The Spirit said to him, "Listen, three men are looking for you."

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Note"The Spirit" means the Holy Spirit, God's own Spirit.

20"So get up and go downstairs. Go with them and do not hold back at all. I sent them."

Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21Peter went down to the men Cornelius had sent. He said, "I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?"

Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22They said, "Cornelius the officer sent us. He is a fair man who honors God. All the Jewish people speak well of him. A holy angel from God told him to send for you. He wants to hear what you have to say."

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23So Peter invited them in, and they stayed the night. The next day Peter went with them. Some believers from Joppa went along too.

Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Note"Brethren" is an old word for brothers. Here it means the other people who believed in Jesus.

30Cornelius said, "Four days ago I had gone without food until this time of day. At three in the afternoon I was praying in my house. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me."

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

NoteGoing without food on purpose is called fasting. People often did it while they prayed.

31"He said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer. God has remembered your gifts to the poor.'"

And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32"'So send men to Joppa. Ask for Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, beside the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.'"

Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33"So I sent for you right away. It was kind of you to come. Now we are all here in front of God. We want to hear everything God told you to say."

Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

4So Peter told them the whole story. He explained it step by step, in order.

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

Note"Rehearsed the matter" just means he told the story over again. "Expounded" means he explained it clearly.

5He said, "I was praying in the city of Joppa. I was in a trance, a state like a dream, and I saw a picture. I saw something like a big sheet coming down from the sky. It was held by its four corners. It came right down to me.

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

NoteJoppa was a town beside the sea. A "trance" means Peter was awake but seeing something God showed him. A "vessel" here is just a container or a big cloth.

6"I looked at it closely. Inside were animals that walk on four feet. There were wild animals, crawling animals, and birds.

Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

Note"Fowls of the air" means birds. "Creeping things" means animals that crawl, like lizards and snakes.

7"Then I heard a voice say to me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'

And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

Note"Arise" means get up. "Slay" means kill.

8"I said, 'No, Lord. I have never eaten anything dirty or not allowed.'

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

NoteGod had given Jewish people rules about food. Some animals were allowed and some were not. "Unclean" did not mean dirty with mud. It meant not allowed by those rules.

9"The voice from the sky spoke again. It said, 'Do not call anything dirty that God has made clean.'

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10"This happened three times. Then it was all pulled back up into the sky.

And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11"Right then three men came to the house where I was staying. They had been sent to me from the city of Caesarea.

And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

NoteCaesarea was a big city by the sea. Roman rulers lived there.

12"The Spirit told me to go with them and not worry. These six brothers came with me too. We went into the man's house.

And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:

Note"Brethren" means brothers. Here it means other people who believed, not family brothers.

13"He told us he had seen an angel standing in his house. The angel said, 'Send men to Joppa. Ask for Simon, who is also called Peter.

And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends. A "surname" here is just a second name. Simon was also called Peter.

14"'He will tell you a message. That message will save you and everyone in your house.'

Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

NoteIn the Bible, "saved" means rescued and kept safe by God. "All thy house" means everyone who lived in his home.