Acts 9:32-43

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Acts 9:32–43 (ESV)

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 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.” 39 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. 40 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. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 9

Why does Luke discuss Peter at this point? The answer may have to do with the city he mentions: Joppa (vv. 36 and 43). This city reminds us at once of the prophet Jonah, who went down to Joppa to flee to Tarshish (Jonah 1:1–3). God called Jonah to carry His message to the Gentiles; and God was about to call Peter to do the same thing (Acts 10). Peter lived in Joppa with Simon, a tanner, suggesting that some of Peter’s Jewish prejudices are now being set aside, for tanning was “unclean” as far as Jews were concerned. Peter was about to discover that nothing is unclean that God has sanctified.

Acts 9:32–43 (ESV)

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

9:32–35 Like Philip (8:40), Peter proclaims the good news along the Mediterranean coast.

9:32 in Lydda Located about 10 miles inland from Joppa.

9:32. Lydda, capital of one of the Judean districts that included non-Jews, later hosted many prominent rabbis and a rabbinic school.

9:32 Saints refers to Christians. Lydda is the OT Lod, 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Jerusalem on the road to Joppa. Lydda served as a regional administrative town (toparchy) for Judea, and was on an important trade route.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:33 Aeneas A Greek name; Aeneas is likely a Hellenistic Jew (compare v. 29 and note).

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

9:33 Eight years points to the severity of his paralysis.

34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

9:34 Jesus Christ heals you. See note on 3:6. Peter understands that Jesus is invisibly working to build his church. Make your bed probably refers to folding the mat on which he was lying.

35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:35 who lived in Lydda and Sharon Refers to the area of the coastal plain. At first the church interacts with those who have been influenced by non-Jewish people (the Gentiles)—the Samaritans and Greek-speaking Jews. Now God moves Peter closer to the Gentiles.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

9:35 they turned to the Lord. As is often the case in Acts, miracles such as this healing (cf. ch. 3) led to the advancement of the gospel. The news spread beyond the town of Lydda to the whole coastal plain of Sharon.

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:36–43 Dorcas’ resurrection shows Jesus’ power over life and death. The event also calls Peter to Joppa, marking the next step in the Church’s mission to the Gentiles.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:36 Joppa An important Roman-controlled port city.

9:36. Joppa, now part of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, was a profitable port city. It was under Jewish control for about forty years until it came under direct Roman authority in A.D. 6. Tabitha is a Semitic name and Dorcas a Greek one (both meaning the same thing, “gazelle”).

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

9:36 Joppa was on the coast, 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Lydda. The port city of Joppa (modern Jaffa/Yafa, just south of Tel Aviv) was captured by the Jewish Hasmoneans (2nd century B.C.) and contained a substantial Jewish population prior to the First Jewish Revolt (A.D. 66–73). Excavations under portions of the modern city have revealed evidence of first-century residences and an early fortress.

37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:37 upstairs room This location creates an echo with the miracles of two of Israel’s great prophets (Elijah and Elisha) and Jesus’ miracles (1 Kgs 17:19; 2 Kgs 4:10; Luke 4:25–27; 8:49–56).

New Testament 9:32–43—Continuing Miracles through Peter

9:37. Jewish dead were always washed before burial. Only women prepared women’s bodies for burial.

38 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.”

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:38 Hearing that Peter was there reflects an understanding that an unusual level of the Holy Spirit’s power was present in the apostles.

New Testament 9:32–43—Continuing Miracles through Peter

9:38. It is important that Lydda is near Joppa, because corpses had to be buried right away. The distance of ten miles meant perhaps three or four hours’ journey each way (for the messengers to Peter and Peter to Joppa); because it was customary to bury the corpse before sundown, even if Tabitha had died early in the day they could afford no delay.

39 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.

9:39 all the widows Dorcas’ ministry among widows is testimony not only to her godliness and compassion, but to her importance for the community (compare note on Acts 9:36).

40 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.

New Testament 9:32–43—Continuing Miracles through Peter

9:40. In accordance with Jewish scruples, Tabitha’s body would be covered before Peter is brought into the room. On Peter’s sending the others out, cf. 2 Kings 4:33.

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:40 Tabitha, get up This scene especially evokes Jesus’ raising of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:54).

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

9:40 Tabitha, arise. See note on 3:6. Peter had no supernatural power in his own words, but the Lord had showed him what he was going to do in response to Peter’s prayer, and he imparted to Peter’s heart the knowledge and faith that he was going to restore Tabitha to life as Peter spoke.

41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

9:41 The Greek verb for raised her up is the same word used throughout the NT for Jesus’ resurrection (Gk. anistēmi). Though her restoration to life was not permanent, it served to remind Christians of their promised resurrection in Christ.

42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

9:42 many believed in the Lord. Once again there is the pattern that remarkable miracles lead to many more genuine conversions as the gospel spreads.

43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

9:43 a tanner Simon worked with dead animal carcasses, a job inherently unclean by Jewish standards (Lev 5:2; 11:24). Peter has moved to a region requiring him to interact with, and even stay with, Jews who are more influenced by non-Jewish culture and traditions.

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 9)

9:43 As a tanner, Simon worked with animal hides, which would explain his location close to the ocean breezes (10:6). This meant he was often left in an unclean state, but this was less significant since he is not in Jerusalem.

SOME THOUGHTS:

Acts for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–12 (Back to Peter (Acts 9:32–42))

There remain mysteries attached to these miracles, though, as perhaps there are to all healings.

Why is Peter called to this person who has just died, and not to any one of the others (Dorcas cannot have been the only follower of Jesus to have died in the first years of the movement)?

Why does Aeneas get healed, rather than all the other disabled people in the area? Why do some people get called to new work by an inner prompting, others by an angelic visitor, and others again by an ordinary messenger coming from a neighbouring town? If Luke had wanted to tell us that God keeps people guessing, he couldn’t have done it much better.

Acts for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–12 (Back to Peter (Acts 9:32–42))

First, there is Dorcas herself, who stands as it were for all those unsung heroines who have got on with what they can do best and have done it to the glory of God. Had it not been for Peter, she might never have made it into the pages of the New Testament, and we have to assume that there were dozens in the early years, and thousands in later years, who, like her, lived their lives in faith and hope, bearing the sorrows of life no doubt as well as celebrating its joys, and finding in the small acts of service to others a fulfilment of the gospel within their own sphere, using traditional skills to the glory of God.

Acts for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–12 (Back to Peter (Acts 9:32–42))

Second, the group Peter visited in Joppa was basically a group of widows (verses 39, 41). As we saw in chapter 6, the widows were beginning to form an important group within the life of the church. There is something poignant about this group, who by definition were all carrying one of life’s largest forms of grief, becoming recognized and acknowledged as having, not merely a claim on the general resources, but a significant contribution to make. Do not belittle the ministry of stitching, sewing, knitting and generally providing for the needs of the larger community—especially at a time before anyone dreamed of mass-produced clothes. And do not forget to celebrate, as Luke does here, the fact that the apparently ordinary people are not ordinary to God, and that when we tell the story of the great sweep of God’s purposes in history there are, at every point, the Aeneases and the Dorcases who smile out of the page at us, like the robin in the garden, and remind us what it’s really all about.

Since this is God’s Word: How would you apply this Word to your life?