Verse 43 serves as a transitional section. In the first place, it begins with a Greek verb often translated “it came pass” or “it happened that,” and this marks the beginning of another episode (Chapter 10.1-48). At the same time, this verse serves as a kind of conclusion to the preceding account of what happened to Dorcas in Joppa. The information, however, that Peter was staying with a leatherworker named Simon is important for understanding information given in 10.6.

The term leatherworker is essentially a “tanner,” in other words, one who tans the hides of animals. This does not imply that he is the one who makes articles out of leather, as a sandal maker or shoe cobbler would be. A tanner’s trade was considered unclean by the Jews, since it involved handling skins of animals they considered ceremonially unclean.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .