Acts 9:36

“Now there was at Joppa, etc.] The same with Japho, (<061946>Joshua 19:46) a sea port town in the tribe of Dan, said by some historians f501 to be a very ancient one, even before the flood. It is now called Jaffa, and its name, in the Hebrew tongue, signifies beauty: some say it had its name from Jope, the daughter of Aeolus, the wife of Cepheus, the founder of it; and others derive it from the name of Japhet, because it looks towards Europe, which is inhabited by the sons of Japhet. It was built upon a hill, as Pliny f502 says; and so high, as Strabo f503 reports, that Jerusalem, the metropolis of Judea, might be seen from thence, which was distant from it forty miles; as may be concluded…”

“at Joppa--the modern Jaffa, on the Mediterranean, a very ancient city of the Philistines, afterwards and still the seaport of Jerusalem, from which it lies distant forty-five miles to the northwest. Tabitha . . . Dorcas--the Syro-Chaldaic and Greek names for an antelope or gazelle, which, from its loveliness, was frequently employed as a proper name for women [MEYER, OLSHAUSEN]. Doubtless the interpretation, as here given, is but an echo of the remarks made by the Christians regarding her--how well her character answered to her name. full of good works and alms-deeds--eminent for the activities and generosities of the Christian character.”

“At Joppa - This was a seaport town situated on the Mediterranean, in the tribe of Dan, about 30 miles south of Caesarea, and 45 northwest of Jerusalem. It was the principal seaport of Palestine; and hence, though the harbor was poor, it hind considerable celebrity. It was occupied by Solomon to receive the timber brought for the building of the temple from Tyre 2 Chronicles 2:16, and was used for a similar purpose in the time of Ezra, Ezra 3:7. The present name of the town is Jaffa. It is situated on a promontory jutting out into the sea, rising to the height of about 150 feet above its level, and offering on all sides picturesque and varied prospects. “It owes its existence to the low ledge…”

“Tabitha, which is by interpretation Dorcas - She was probably a Hellenist Jew, known among the Hebrews by the Syriac name Tabitha, while the Greeks called her in their own language, Dorcas. They are both words of the same import, and signify a roe or fawn. Acts 9:38”

“Joppa: Act 10:5; Ch2 2:16; Ezr 3:7; Jon 1:3 Dorcas: or, Doe or, Roe, Pro 5:19; Sol 2:9, Sol 3:5, Sol 8:14 full: Joh 15:5, Joh 15:8; Eph 2:10; Phi 1:11; Col 1:10; Th1 4:10; Ti1 2:9, Ti1 2:10, Ti1 5:10; Tit 2:7, Tit 2:14, Tit 3:8; Heb 13:21; Jam 1:27 almsdeeds: Act 10:4, Act 10:31 Acts 9:37”