Simon Peter did not know it yet, but he was standing before one of the greatest challenges God would give him. He would soon be taking the gospel of Jesus outside the confines of his people to a gentile army officer. It was a very big step, but God was preparing Peter.
We are told that he was staying in the home of Simon the tanner by the sea. Tanning, the process of working animal skins into leather, was one of the most disgusting professions a man could have. In the process of making the leather soft, ancient tanners used animal excrement because of certain chemicals it contained. It was a smell that did not wash off easily, and people did not want to be around a tanner.
Ancient Jewish law had many special rules about tanners. In normal circumstances, a woman could not initiate divorce. All but one of the reasons that allowed her to do so had to do with him being a tanner. All Jews were required to go up to the Temple in Jerusalem; all, that is, except tanners. In the larger cities, tanners sometimes had their own synagogue.
According to Jewish law, the workshop home of the tanner must be just outside the settlement and downwind. Simon's house was not by the sea just because he liked the view. And Peter may have had a good reason to go up on the roof of the house to pray in the heat of the day.
God was going to take Peter to the gentiles, but before he did that, he took him to the very lowest rung of Jewish society. God was preparing Peter. So often he is faithful to prepare us for what lies ahead. He is a gentle father, and he will take us step by step along the way. Peter was obedient to go to Simon's house, and then he would be ready to go to the gentiles.
"All of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, 'God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.' Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time." (1 Peter 5:5-6)