The First Church (3)

Acts 9:32-43 “And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him…”

DIVISION IV

THE CHURCH SCATTERED: THE FIRST GREAT MISSION TO THE GENTILES—BY PETER, 9:32–11:18

A. A Broader Ministry—in Lydda: Making Men Whole, 9:32–35

1. The disciple Peter: a commitment to the Lord’s worldwide mission (v. 32).

2. The place: a city where saints lived (v. 32).

3. The need: a tragic sickness (v. 33).

5. The result: all turned to the Lord (v. 35).

(9:32–35) Introduction: the power of Christ to make men whole is proclaimed in this passage.

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

4. The proclamation: Jesus Christ heals (v. 34).

⇒ Peter “passed throughout all quarters,” that is, Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (see Acts 8:4, 14, 25). He went everywhere, ministered everyplace for which he was responsible.

⇒ Peter was faithful to his calling, faithful to the Lord’s mission. He had to pay a price by sacrificing personal comfort. He had a family and a home to look after, yet he left the comfort of all to travel about and preach Christ (see Mt. 8:14).

⇒ Peter preached the gospel to the lost and he edified the believers (Acts 8:25). This must always be remembered. It is the duty of believers to witness and share Christ wherever they are, no matter their gift or calling.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15).

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together” (Jn. 4:35–36).

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).

2 (9:32) Saints: the place where Peter went was a city where saints lived—Lydda. There are two things of significance here.

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5–6).

1 (9:32) Peter—Dedication: there was Peter’s commitment to the Lord’s mission. Christ had chosen Peter to be the leader, the apostle to the Jews (see Gal. 2:8). Therefore, it was Peter’s duty to reach out to the Jewish believers wherever they were. They were now scattered all over Palestine because of persecution (Acts 8:1–4). Therefore, he set out on a mission and evangelistic tour to visit and strengthen the believers and to preach Christ to all who would hear. Note these points.

1. The city was a place where the power of Christ was to be demonstrated. It was an important commercial city (see Deeper Study # 1, Lydda—Acts 9:32).

2. The city had saints living within it (see Deeper Study # 2, Saints—Acts 9:32). It is difficult for God to work where there are no believers present. A city that has believers dwelling within its boundaries is greatly blessed. The citizens may not know it, but they are. Believers bring the presence of God to a place, the presence of …

• righteousness

• morality

• justice

• assurance

• concern

• joy

• confidence

• care

• love

• peace

• hope (of eternal life)

• ministry to the poor, diseased, and uneducated

“By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” (Pr. 11:11).

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Pr. 14:34).

DEEPER STUDY # 1

(9:32) Lydda—Lod: Lydda was called “Lod” in the Old Testament (1 Chron. 8:12; Ezra 2:33; Neh. 7:37; 11:35). It was located about 30 miles northwest of Jerusalem and 10 miles south of Joppa.

⇒ It was located in the fertile plain of Sharon.

⇒ It was one of the cities to which the exiles of the Babylonian captivity returned when they were set free (Ezra 2:33; Neh. 7:37).

⇒ It was an important commercial city. It was lying on the caravan route from Babylon to Egypt.

DEEPER STUDY # 2

(9:32) Saints: note the believers are called saints. (See Deeper Study # 1, Holy—1 Pt. 1:15–16 for more discussion.) Ananias was the first to call believers saints. He did so when he was praying to the Lord (Acts 9:13). The word refers to the sanctified or holy ones. It simply means to be set apart; to be separated (see note—1 Pt. 1:15–16 for more discussion). There are three stages of sanctification.

1. There is initial or positional sanctification. When a person believes in Christ, he is immediately set apart for God—once-for-all and permanently.

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” (Heb. 3:1).

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10).

2. There is progressive sanctification. The true believer makes a determined and disciplined effort to allow the Spirit of God to set him apart day by day. The Spirit of God takes him and conforms him into the image of Christ more and more—for as long as he walks upon this earth.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:25–26).

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Th. 5:23–24).

3. There is eternal sanctification. The day is coming when the believer will be perfectly set apart unto God and His service—without any sin or failure whatsoever. That day will be the great and glorious day of the believer’s eternal redemption.

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn. 3:2).

3 (9:33) Hopelessness: the need Peter ran across was a tragic sickness, a man (Aeneas) who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. His condition was similar to the paralytic Christ had confronted and healed (see Lk. 5:18–26). Note two things.

1. The man’s condition was desperate. He was paralyzed, bedridden …

• unable to arise out of bed

• unable to walk

• unable to wash himself

• unable to dress himself

• unable to feed himself

• unable to take care of his own personal needs

• unable to move himself

He was unable to leave the house and the room he was in; he was unable to leave the bed in which he was lying. And this had been going on for eight long years. Picture the situation. His condition was about as critical as a person could face.

2. The man and his family or the ones taking care of him were full of despair and hopelessness. There was no hope he could ever recover and take care of himself. They were all helpless and gripped with a sense of hopelessness. There was no doctor, no man who could change his condition. He was destined and ill-fated to be paralyzed the rest of his life, and someone was required to take care of him.

“My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul” (Job 10:1).

“For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed” (Ps. 31:10).

“O my God, my soul is cast down within me” (Ps. 42:6).

“I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me” (Ps. 69:2).

“But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped” (Ps. 73:2). “Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go” (Jer. 2:25).

“That at that time ye were without Christ … having no hope, and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).

4 (9:34) Jesus Christ, Power—Deliverance: the proclamation was a straightforward confrontation. Peter forcefully declared, “Jesus maketh thee whole.” Note five points.

1. All that is known about the man is his name, Aeneas. He was unimportant to the world, a man of no fame and significance, unable to contribute to society and its welfare. He was most likely even forgotten by the world. But note: he was important to God, very important.

2. The focus was Jesus Christ and His power, not Peter, not even the man and his need. Peter did not say, “I make you whole.” He did not say, “It is my power, my faith, my act, my work.” But he said, “Jesus Christ makes you whole.” It is Christ Himself …

• His love and care,

• His authority and power,

… that can make the foulest clean and heal any man.

3. The word for “maketh whole” (iatai) means to be healed immediately, here and now. It was not a drawn out thing. The man was to be healed right then. The word has the idea of being made completely whole, within as well as without, spiritually as well as physically. The man, if not already saved, was made whole spiritually as well as physically. (See note—Mt. 14:36 for more discussion.)

4. Peter declared the Word of God to the man: Jesus Christ heals and makes men whole. Then Peter assured and challenged the man. He told him to arise, to believe the Word, the proclamation, and make his bed. Peter did not declare the power of Christ, then turn and walk away. He gave assurance to the man and challenged him, encouraging him to act, to believe, to get up and do something, to make his bed.

5. The man had to believe that Christ had made him whole. If he believed, he would get up; if he did not believe, he would not get up.

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God” (Mk. 11:22).

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (Jn. 6:28–29).

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Ro. 10:17).

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chron. 20:20).

DEEPER STUDY # 3

(9:34) Heal—Healing: Jesus Christ does heal, does make people whole. But we must always remember, He heals some and does not heal others, just as He did when He walked upon earth. What makes the difference? Why are some healed and some not? Why are not all faithful believers healed when they are sick and diseased and ask for healing? Some who walk ever so faithfully believe God. They have the necessary faith, believing that God does heal, and they have as much if not more faith than some who are healed. Why then are they not also healed?

The reason is God. When God looks at our requests, He considers four things. (Also see notes—Eph. 1:3; see outline and notes—2 Cor. 1:3–11. See Ph. 1:29.)

1. God’s glory. Would granting the request bring the greatest glory to His name?

2. Our good, not only physically, but spiritually. What particular spiritual grace or quality do we need to learn: endurance, self-control, trust, dependence?

a. Spiritually, within ourselves: will granting our request strengthen us more spiritually? Which way will our faith and trust in God grow more?

b. Spiritually, without ourselves: how does God now want to use us? As a constant prayer warrior? As an unbelievable testimony to His empowering spiritual strength, no matter the physical condition? Note something else: What do the people need with whom God wants to use us? What is the best way for God to reach them? By demonstrating His strength in and through our trial?

3. God’s wisdom. He knows what is needed by whom; when it is needed; for whom it is needed; where it is needed; how it is needed; why it is needed.

4. God’s mercy. He wills above all else for men to know His mercy. He does whatever is needed to demonstrate His mercy to men. Sometimes walking through the trials of life reveals His mercy more; sometimes removing the trials reveals His mercy more. He chooses the best.

The point is this: Jesus Christ heals the believer who has need of healing. This is always true. A believer who really needs healing is blessed by God and healed. But note: the need for healing is not always the greatest need of a person. God sometimes uses the physical need to meet that which is far more important: the spiritual need and the glory of God. Therefore, not all believers are always healed. Sometimes the believer needs to learn love, joy, peace, endurance, prayer, trust, faith, and hope through his suffering.

5 (9:35) Conversion: the result is that all of Lydda turned to the Lord. So did all the residents of the Valley of Sharon,

all who saw the healed man. (See Deeper Study # 4, Sharon—Acts 9:35.) Note the word saw. It was “seeing” the power of Christ in the man’s life that stirred the people to turn to Christ. Nothing influences people more than the power of Christ in the life of a person. Christ within a believer—the rule and reign of His presence and power, the evidence of His working in human lives—touches people. It causes people to turn to the living Lord. They turned from religion in all its form and ritual to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Lk. 10:23–24).

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul” (Ps. 66:16).

DEEPER STUDY # 4

(9:35) Sharon: this was not a city but a rich coastal plain. It lay between the central mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Several cities were built within its boundaries such as Lydda, Joppa, Caesarea, Dor, Antipatris.

1. The valley was so fertile, its pastures and beauty became proverbial (see the term the “Rose of Sharon,” Song of Sol. 2:1; see 1 Chron. 27:29).

2. The valley is used by Scripture as a type or symbol of eternity, of the new heavens and earth which God has promised to create (Is. 35:1–2; 65:10–27. See 2 Pt. 3:7, 10–13; Rev. 21:1f.)

3. The pasture lands of the valley were possessed by the tribe of Gad in the Old Testament (1 Chron. 5:16).

B. A Broader Ministry—in Joppa: Conquering Death, 9:36–43

1. The place: A city where disciples & believers livedDS1

2. The need: A believer had tragically died

a. A faithful believerDS2

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

b. A tragic death

37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

c. A great hope & desperate appeal for help

38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

d. A sensitive, pastoral response

e. A deep sorrow for a dedicated believer

39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

3. The source of power to raise the dead: Jesus Christ

a. Getting alone

b. Praying to the living Lord

c. Acting as Jesus Christ instructed during his prayer: Commanding her to arise

40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

4. The results

a. The woman arose

41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

b. Many people believed

42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

c. A door was opened for evangelism

43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

B. A Broader Ministry—in Joppa: Conquering Death, 9:36–43

(9:36–43) Introduction: Jesus Christ has the power to raise the dead. This is abundantly demonstrated in this marvelous event, an event that speaks loudly and clearly to the most desperate need of man—the need to conquer death.

1. The place: a city where disciples and believers lived (v. 36).

2. The need: a believer had tragically died (v. 36–39).

3. The source of power to raise the dead: Christ Jesus (v. 40).

4. The results (v. 41–43).

1 (9:36) Saints: the place where the power of Christ confronts death—a city where disciples and believers lived (see v. 36, 41). Note two points.

1. The city of Joppa was an important commercial city (see Deeper Study # 1, Joppa—Acts 9:36).

2. The city had disciples or saints living within its borders (see notes—Acts 9:32 for discussion).

DEEPER STUDY # 1

(9:36) Joppa: Joppa was a seaport town, bringing commercial goods from all over the ancient world. It was …

• the seaport for Jerusalem, the capital of Israel

• the only seaport that could provide shelter between Egypt and Mt. Carmel

• a busy, bustling seaport, populated with Jews as well as Gentile people from all over the world

• an ancient seaport town, one of the very oldest in the Mid-East, dating back to the time of Jonah (Jonah 1:3)

• assigned to the tribe of Dan in the Old Testament (Josh. 19:46)

• the city where Peter raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36f) and had the vision that led to the evangelizing of the Gentiles (Cornelius, Acts 10:1f)

2 (9:36–39) Ministering—Death: the need was created by the tragic death of a believer. Note five points.

1. The believer was a faithful believer, a lady named Dorcas.

a. Two names are given for her: “Tabitha,” which was her Jewish or Hebrew name, and Dorcas, which was her Greek name. Her name means gazelle (or doe or deer) which is a most beautiful creature. The gazelle is known for …

• its slender features

• its grace and loveliness

• its bright eyes and tender looks

The same traits were apparently characteristic of Dorcas. Note: Scripture does say the wife is to be as the loving hind and the pleasant roe to her husband (Pr. 5:19). She is to be as the beautiful creature: gracious and loving, bright eyed (joyful, excited, expectant) and tender.

b. She was deeply committed to Christ, a very faithful and devoted disciple, full of …

• “good works” (agathon ergon): a general term meaning all kinds of good works, serving and doing all kinds of good to all who needed help.

• “almsdeeds”: charitable gifts. She gave gifts to the needy.

c. Note the deeds which she did (on epoiei). The emphasis is that she gave things, gifts which she herself made (see v. 39). She must have been well off, perhaps wealthy; for she was buying material to make clothing, apparently for a large number of the needy. Note she was helping a large number of widows (v. 39). The widows without the financial support of their deceased husbands would be especially poor and needful.

Thought 1. Dorcas’ discipleship was not a false profession.

⇒ She did not promise something and then not follow through.

⇒ She did not begin and then slack off.

⇒ She did not say, “I will serve” and then ignore the need.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).

“Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have” (2 Cor. 8:11).

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

“That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1 Tim. 6:18).

“In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Tit. 2:7).

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Heb. 10:24).

2. Dorcas tragically died. The idea seems to be that she died right in the midst of her ministry when she was so needed. The believers were crushed. There was little hope that the ministry could go on as effectively as it had been.

⇒ There apparently were few, if any, as mature in the Lord as she. It appears as if they were newer believers, not having had sufficient time to grow and mature in Him.

⇒ There were so many poor. There apparently was no one else wealthy and gifted enough to meet their needs. The church desperately needed Dorcas.

3. A great hope and desperate appeal was stirred. The disciples at Joppa …

• had heard about Peter being close by in Lydda

• had heard about the phenomenal healing of the paralytic

• had heard (perhaps some had even witnessed) that Jesus had raised the dead

Note three significant points about the believers.

a. Great hope swelled up in their hearts. They did not rush to bury Dorcas as was the custom of Jews. But they washed her and laid her in an upper chamber.

b. They sent two men to ask Peter to come and seek the Lord in behalf of Dorcas—for the sake of the church and its witness as well as for her sake.

c. They demonstrated great faith in the possibility that the Lord could raise the dead and meet the cry of their hearts. They had enough faith …

• not to bury her

• to go for Peter and ask him to come. This is important. They did not go to discuss the matter with him, but to ask him to come and to come quickly, without delay

The words “delay not” (me okneseis) mean not to hesitate, not to be reluctant; but to act and act now, quickly, without questioning. The believers were in dead earnest, believing that the Lord could raise the dead if it was His will to do so. What an enormous faith in the Lord Jesus they demonstrated!

4. A sensitive, pastoral response was the result. Peter arose and went with the two men. He was the servant of the Lord, so he did love and care. He was deeply concerned and compassionate. He had been made aware of the need; the cry for help had reached his ears and he responded. (What a lesson for the leaders of the church!)

5. A deep sorrow was expressed for Dorcas, the dedicated believer. As soon as Peter arrived, they took him into the upper chamber. The widows whom she had helped so readily surrounded Peter, weeping from broken hearts. Note they began to show Peter the clothes Dorcas had made and given them. The word showing (epideiknumenai, middle voice) means they were pointing to the clothes. They were actually wearing the clothes she had made in her honor or because they had few or no other clothes decent enough to wear publicly.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).

“That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1 Tim. 6:18).

“In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Tit. 2:7).

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Heb. 10:24).

DEEPER STUDY # 2

(9:36) Dorcas: think of the legacy left behind by this woman. Contrast the legacy of Euodias and Syntyche (see note—Ph. 4:2–3).

3 (9:40) Power: the source of power to raise the dead is Christ Jesus. Note three significant points.

1. The disciple got alone with the Lord. He excused everyone from the room. He had to get alone and seek the Lord. He had to concentrate and meditate; his thoughts had to be undisturbed before the Lord. There are at least three incidents in Scripture where the dead were raised in similar circumstances.

⇒ Jesus and Jairus’ daughter (Mt. 5:40–42).

⇒ Elijah and the widow’s son (1 Ki. 17:17–24).

⇒ Elisha and the Shunammite’s son (2 Ki. 4:18–37, esp. 32–37).

2. Peter prayed to the living Lord. The Lord is living, and because He is alive Peter got alone with Him and asked at least two things:

a. He asked for the Lord’s will. Was it the Lord’s will or not His will to raise Dorcas? (See Deeper Study # 3, Healing—Acts 9:34 for discussion.)

b. Once Peter knew that the Lord wanted Dorcas raised, he prayed both for the power to raise her and for God to use the miracle to make men believe (see v. 43).

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Mt. 6:6).

“And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray” (Mk. 6:46).

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Lk. 6:12).

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 Jn. 5:14–15).

3. Peter did exactly what Jesus instructed. He turned to the body and boldly demanded, “Tabitha, arise.”

a. Note the faith of Peter. It was the faith of the Lord Jesus Himself, the faith which Jesus had demonstrated in raising Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:41).

b. It was the Lord’s will for Dorcas to be raised from the dead. The Lord told Peter what His will was while Peter was praying. If Jesus had told Peter it was not His will, then Peter would not have commanded Dorcas to arise. Her resurrection was to serve a greater purpose than her remaining dead. (See Deeper Study # 3, Healing—Acts 9:34 for discussion.)

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (Jn. 7:17).

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

4 (9:41–43) Power—Witnessing: the results of raising the dead were twofold.

1. Many believed.

2. A tremendous door was open for Peter to freely evangelize the area. It was here in Joppa that God was to give him the vision that led to the carrying of the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1f).

Thought 1. Note this critical point. When God raises the dead, it is always to demonstrate the enormous power of God to save men through any and all trials, even from the greatest of enslavements—death. There is dramatic symbolism in this point for the conversion of a soul from death to life eternal.

The “many” who believed in Joppa illustrate the point. They believed because Dorcas was raised. Because she was raised, they turned to the Lord for salvation. They turned from spiritual death to spiritual life, from physical death to life eternal. They wanted life now and eternally, life abundant and life that lasted forever. They wanted to live with Christ in that glorious day of promise, the day of redemption.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ro. 8:38–39).

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2003. The Acts of the Apostles. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.