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Question

Where was Joppa, where Peter raised Tabitha?

Joppa is Jaffa, the old port on a rocky headland at the southern end of Tel Aviv-Yafo in Israel, about 55 km north-west of Jerusalem in a straight line; the map point stands on the ancient mound above the harbour. Its small natural harbour, sheltered by a line of rocks, was the only real port on that stretch of coast, and for the hill country it served as the port of Jerusalem. Jonah's flight from Joppa is told in a separate question.

Timber for the Temple came this way. Hiram of Tyre promised Solomon: “we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem”, and the exiles who returned from Babylon brought cedar from Lebanon to Joppa again for the second Temple. The town is far older than Israel: Thutmose III took it in the fifteenth century BC, an Egyptian tale tells how his general smuggled soldiers into it hidden in sacks, and excavators have found the gate of the Egyptian fortress.

In Acts “there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds”. When she died, the disciples sent for Peter from Lydda, about 18 km inland, and he raised her; “it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” Peter stayed on with Simon a tanner, “whose house is by the sea side”, and on its roof saw the vision of the sheet let down from heaven; then the messengers of the centurion Cornelius arrived from Caesarea, 51 km up the coast, and Peter went with them to the first gentile household to receive the Spirit. In old Jaffa a house by the sea is still shown as Simon's.

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Scripture: Josh 19:46; 2 Chr 2:16; Ezra 3:7; Jonah 1:3; Acts 9:36–43; Acts 10:5–23; Acts 11:5

Sources

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