Restored To Life

Princess Bride, iocaine powder, can be for good, but also for bad

Focal Passage

Acts 9:32–43 “Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 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.” 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. 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.”

The commercial centers of Lydda and Joppa were generally Gentile, even though both miracles were performed on Jewish Christians

6 years in, the Christian church remained distinctly Jewish

Miracles Are Not Supernatural - They Are A Glimpse Into God’s Intended Natural

We are currently in the subnatural

Indications of Authenticity For Miracles

The Lord alone is glorified

There is no showmanship

Unbelievers are convinced

Biblical truth is validated

Acts 9:32 ESV

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

today called Lod, at the site of the modern Tel Aviv airport

Acts 9:33 ESV

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

Quadriplegic

Acts 9:34 ESV

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

John 5:8 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

Pool of Bethesda, “the Jews” were more concerned that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath

Is There Something In Your Life, Even As A Christian, That Has Paralyzed You?

Acts 9:35 ESV

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

Acts 9:36 ESV

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

Tabitha, Dorcas - Gazelle

A couple of things about Joppa

Herod Built Caesarea Maritima As A Competition To Joppa’s Trade Business

Jonah and Joppa

Jonah ran to Joppa to avoid God’s ministry to the gentile Assyrians

Acts 9:37 ESV

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

Not the usual burial routine

Acts 9:38–39 ESV

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.” 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.

What Is Your Legacy Among Believers? Non-believers?

Acts 9:40–41 ESV

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

Elijah and the Widow’s Son (1 Kings 17:17-24)

Jesus and the Widow’s Son (Luke 7:11-17)

Jesus and the Ruler’s Daughter (Mark 5:35-43)

“Talitha, cumi” - “Young girl, arise” (Mark 5:41)

“Tabitha, cumi” - “Tabitha, arise” (Acts 9:40)

The Responses:

“Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth” (1 Kings 17:24)

“A great prophet has arisen among us… God has visited His people!” (Luke 7:16-17)

“And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:42)

Acts 9:43 ESV

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

The significance of this is that a tanner’s place of business was anathema to a fastidious Jew. It was highly unpleasant and smelly, and animals were slain there. Tanners were ostracized and had to live fifty cubits outside of town. Rabbinical law stated that if a betrothed woman discovered that her fiancé was involved in tanning, she could break the engagement. However, Peter had met a Jewish tanner who loved Jesus, and he was willing to associate with him. God was at work in the impulsive apostle’s heart. The old biases were wearing thin.

1 R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996), 143.

What Prejudices Are You Holding On To?

Prejudices Are Hard To Shed

One of the Miracles of God is Our Overcoming of Prejudices

Galatians 3:26–28 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.