Jaffa, also known as Joppa or Japho, was an ancient port city located on the Mediterranean coast in what is now Tel Aviv, Israel. It is mentioned several times in the Bible as an important maritime and commercial hub connecting Israel with other nations.
Here are some of the key ways Jaffa is significant in the Bible:
A boundary marker for the territory of Israel
In the division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel after the Exodus, Jaffa marked the boundary between the territories of Dan and Ephraim (Joshua 19:46). Its status as a boundary city indicated its importance in delineating the geographic domain God had given to Israel.
A gateway for international commerce
Jaffa’s port enabled active trade by sea between Israel and other nations near and far. King Solomon used the port of Jaffa to import cedar logs from Lebanon for building the Jerusalem temple (2 Chronicles 2:16). The prophet Jonah left from Jaffa on a ship bound for Tarshish when he was fleeing God’s call to preach to Nineveh (Jonah 1:3).
A landing place for Jewish exiles returning to Israel
After the Babylonian exile, Jewish refugees returned to Israel by ships landing at Jaffa. Ezra records that exiles coming back with Zerubbabel from Babylon stopped first at Jaffa before traveling to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:7). In the revival under Nehemiah, timber was brought back to Jaffa for construction (Nehemiah 3:7).
The home of the prophet Jonah
Jaffa was the hometown of the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai, before God called him to preach in Ninevah. After Jonah reluctantly obeyed and saw the Ninevites repent, he waited bitterly outside the city for God’s judgment, only to have God ordain a plant to grow over him for shade. When the plant withered, God used it to teach Jonah a lesson in compassion (Jonah 1:1, 4:6-11).
A site of several key biblical miracles
Jaffa was the location of some pivotal miracles in the Bible. Tabitha (Dorcas) was raised from the dead by Peter in Jaffa (Acts 9:36-42). While staying in Jaffa, the apostle Peter also had his rooftop vision from God to share the Gospel with Gentiles, which opened the door for their salvation (Acts 10:5-16).
A place of origins for the cedars of Lebanon
The prized cedars of Lebanon that were used to build Solomon’s temple were shipped from the port of Jaffa. “Send me also cedar, fir, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful.” (2 Chronicles 2:8-9 ESV)
A gateway for apostolic ministry to the Gentiles
Not only was Jaffa the site of Peter’s vision to preach to Cornelius, it also became a base for the gospel’s expansion. After raising Tabitha, Peter stayed in Jaffa with Simon the tanner (Acts 9:43). The apostle’s preaching led many to faith, and churches sprang up all over Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (Acts 9:31).
A departure point in Paul’s fateful final trip to Jerusalem
On his last journey to Jerusalem at the Spirit’s leading, Paul stopped in Jaffa and met with believers there. Despite their pleas for Paul not to continue to Jerusalem and risk danger, he remained determined to complete his mission (Acts 21:8-14). Paul was later arrested in Jerusalem, setting in motion his appeal to Caesar.
The cure site for Aeneas’ paralysis
In one of his healing miracles in Lydda, near Jaffa, Peter cured a paralyzed man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years (Acts 9:32-35). This brought many people in the region of Sharon to faith in Christ. Peter’s miracle paralleled similar healings by Jesus and continued the apostles’ Spirit-empowered works.
A strategic base for Christian evangelism in Judea
As a major seaport connecting Judea and the Roman world, Jaffa provided early Christians a launching point for spreading the gospel after persecution broke out in Jerusalem. Many who fled from Saul’s persecution initially preached only among Jews, but men from Cyprus and Cyrene boldly preached to Gentiles in Antioch after passing through Jaffa (Acts 11:19-21).
A passage point for the cedars of Lebanon
When King Solomon needed cedar and cypress timber to build the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, he made a deal with King Hiram of Tyre to have the logs shipped from Lebanon to Israel via the port of Jaffa: “My servants shall bring them down to the sea from Lebanon. And I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive them. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” (1 Kings 5:9 ESV)
The departure point for Jonah’s attempted escape
When God called the prophet Jonah to go to the enemy city of Nineveh and preach repentance, Jonah rebelled and tried to flee by boat from his hometown of Jaffa. But God pursued him through a storm, a fish, and finally back to his mission field in Assyria. “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ 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.” (Jonah 1:1-3 ESV)
The location of the raising of Tabitha
In one of his dramatic miracles, the apostle Peter raised a much-loved disciple named Tabitha from death after she fell ill and died in Jaffa. Peter’s resurrection miracle so moved the community that many came to faith. “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity…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.” (Acts 9:36, 40 ESV)
The site of Peter’s vision to preach to the Gentiles
While staying in Jaffa, Peter had a critical vision from God that opened the door to preaching the gospel to non-Jews. A sheet of unclean animals lowered from heaven symbolized that Gentiles were not unclean but were to be included in salvation. “He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.” (Acts 10:10-12 ESV)
A strategic missionary base for the early church
After the stoning of Stephen sparked persecution in Jerusalem, many Jewish Christians took refuge in Jaffa and settled there as a new hub for evangelism: “Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 11:19-20 ESV)
A port of arrival for building materials for the new temple
When Zerubbabel led the first return of exiles from Babylon, materials shipped from Lebanon to Jaffa were transported to Jerusalem to rebuild the fallen temple: “So they set out from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not reach Jerusalem. And they journeyed to the canal that runs to Ahava, and they camped there three days. For I was ashamed to ask the king for horses and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the way, since we had told the king, ‘The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.'” (Ezra 8:15, 21-22 ESV)
A reluctant prophet’s point of departure
Jonah’s hometown of Jaffa was the sea port where he tried to sail away from God’s call on his life. But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea to get Jonah’s attention and eventually send him to preach repentance to Israel’s enemies in Nineveh. “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ 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.” (Jonah 1:1-3 ESV)
A gateway for the gospel to the Gentiles
Not only was Jaffa the site of Peter’s vision to preach to Cornelius’ household, it became a beachhead for apostolic outreach beyond Israel. Staying in Jaffa with Simon the tanner after raising Tabitha, Peter’s preaching saw many saved and churches planted across Judea, Galilee and Samaria (Acts 9:32-35; 43; 10:1-48; 11:19-21).
A port of call in Paul’s final trip to Jerusalem
Stopping in Jaffa on his last fateful journey to Jerusalem, the apostle Paul met with believers there who pleaded with him not to continue due to the danger awaiting him. But Paul pressed on out of obedience to the Spirit’s guidance (Acts 21:8-14). He was later arrested in Jerusalem, leading to his appeal to Caesar.
In summary, Jaffa’s strategic location as an important Mediterranean port city allowed it to play a key role at multiple junctures in biblical history. It marked an important geographic boundary in Israel’s territory. It served as a gateway for international trade and travel, both economically and spiritually, being a point of entry for cedar logs from Lebanon, exiles returning from Babylon, and apostles bearing the gospel to Jews and Gentiles. Several pivotal miracles took place in or near Jaffa, including healings by Peter and the raising of Tabitha. God used visions in Jaffa to direct both Peter and Paul in their ministries. And it was the launching point for the reluctant prophet Jonah’s ultimately obedient journey to Nineveh. Jaffa’s prominence in maritime commerce made it an ideal hub for the fulfillment of God’s work in building Israel, preserving a remnant through exile and return, and spreading the gospel widely to make Israel a light to the Gentiles.
