2021-10-03 Joppa (Tel Aviv–Yafo) Acts 9.36–43)

Joppa (Tel Aviv-Yafo) October 3, 2021

GEOGRAPHY

Joppa (Jaffa, Yafo) is one of the oldest port cities along the Mediterranean coast. It is located on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean. In ancient times, it was located strategically on the Via Maris, the main travel route linking Africa with Asia and Europe. Joppa is located about 45 miles west-northwest of Jerusalem.

HISTORY

Legend holds that the founder of Joppa was Japheth, one of Noah's sons. In ancient times, it was inhabited by many peoples, including Canaanites, Egyptians, Israelites, Greeks, Romans, and others.

Joppa was the main seaport providing access to Israel for thousands of years until the last few years of the first century BC when Herod the Great built a vastly superior seaport at Caesarea, about 35 miles north of Joppa.

JOPPA IN THE BIBLE

SOLOMON’S TEMPLE

The timber that Solomon used to build the Temple in Jerusalem around 950 BC was shipped from Lebanon to Joppa (2 Chronicles 2.16).

2 Chronicles 2:16 ESV

And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”

JONAH

Joppa was also the seaport from which Jonah sailed when he disobeyed the Lord's calling and attempted to flee to Tarshish rather than preach a message of repentance to the Ninevites (Jonah 1.3).

Jonah 1:3 ESV

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

RETURN FROM EXILE

When Israel returned from Babylonian exile, Joppa was the seaport where logs again arrived for rebuilding the second temple in about 535 BC (Ezra 3.7).

Ezra 3:7 ESV

So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

PHILIP THE EVANGELIST

After preaching to the Ethiopian Eunuch, Philip the Evangelist passed through Joppa preaching the gospel on his way to Caesarea (Acts 8.39-40).

Acts 8:39–40 ESV

And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

PETER AND TABITHA

A short time later, Peter raised a believer named Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead in Joppa (Acts 9.36-43).

Acts 9:36–43 ESV

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

PETER AND SIMON THE TANNER

Simon the Tanner lived in Joppa and Peter was staying with him when he received the vision to take the gospel to the gentiles in Caesarea (Acts 10.9-15).

Acts 10:9–15 ESV

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Question 1.

Jonah disobeyed the Lord in Joppa and ran from the presence of the Lord. Are we running away from something God wants us to do?

Question 2.

Peter obeyed the Lord in Joppa, trusted in God, and took the gospel to the gentiles in Caesarea. Are we committed to taking the gospel to those around us?

Question 3.

When we obey, as Peter did, we find blessings; when we disobey, as Jonah did, we find difficulties. What kind of difficulties are we facing because of disobedience in our lives?

NOTES