Spiritual Gifts: PETER'S MINISTRY, THE GATEWAY TO GENTILE EVANGELIZATION
oikodoméō, meaning, literally, to build a house. The followers of Christ were being built into His likeness as people in whom He could dwell.
was rooted in the paráklētos, the Spirit who stood by their side. The paráklēsis, comfort, which the church was enjoying was because of the Lord’s presence with them, in them, and between them.
oikodoméō, meaning, literally, to build a house. The followers of Christ were being built into His likeness as people in whom He could dwell.
oikodoméō, meaning, literally, to build a house. The followers of Christ were being built into His likeness as people in whom He could dwell.
Why? Because salvation costs the greatest price, it produces the greatest results, and it brings the greatest glory to God.
A Great Miracle—Healing the Body (Acts 9:32–35)
All that Dr. Luke tells us is the man had been palsied for eight years, which meant he was crippled and helpless.
Both healed cripples. Both were arrested and put into jail and were miraculously delivered. Both were treated like gods (Acts 10:25–26; 14:8–18), and both gave a bold witness before the authorities. Both had to confront false prophets (Acts 8:9–24; 13:6–12).
The Apostle Peter had been engaged in an itinerant ministry (Acts 8:25) when he found himself visiting the saints in Lydda, a largely Gentile city about twenty-five miles from Jerusalem.
No doubt Philip the evangelist had also ministered there (Acts 8:40).
The Apostle Peter had been engaged in an itinerant ministry (Acts 8:25) when he found himself visiting the saints in Lydda, a largely Gentile city about twenty-five miles from Jerusalem.
All that Dr. Luke tells us is the man had been palsied for eight years, which meant he was crippled and helpless.
No doubt Philip the evangelist had also ministered there (Acts 8:40).
No one reading the Book of Acts could end up saying, “I am for Paul!” or “I am for Peter!” (1 Cor. 1:12) “But it is the same God which worketh all in all” (1 Cor. 12:6).
Acts 9:35 does not suggest that the entire population of Lydda and Sharon were saved, but only all those who had contact with Aeneas.
He evangelized, taught and encouraged the believers, and sought to establish the church in the faith. Jesus had commissioned Peter to care for the sheep (John 21:15–17), and Peter was faithful to fulfill that commission.
There is no record in Acts that any of the Apostles had raised the dead, so their sending for Peter was an evidence of their faith in the power of the risen Christ. When our Lord ministered on earth, He raised the dead; so why would He not be able to raise the dead from His exalted throne in glory?
This often happens in local churches and it is a hard blow to take. In my own pastoral ministry, I have experienced the loss of choice saints who were difficult to replace in the church; yet, all we can say is, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
No one reading the Book of Acts could end up saying, “I am for Paul!” or “I am for Peter!” (1 Cor. 1:12) “But it is the same God which worketh all in all” (1 Cor. 12:6).
He evangelized, taught and encouraged the believers, and sought to establish the church in the faith. Jesus had commissioned Peter to care for the sheep (John 21:15–17), and Peter was faithful to fulfill that commission.
This often happens in local churches and it is a hard blow to take. In my own pastoral ministry, I have experienced the loss of choice saints who were difficult to replace in the church; yet, all we can say is, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
Peter had the power to heal, and he used the power to glorify God and help people, not to promote himself.
Jewish custom first to wash the dead body, and then to anoint it with spices for burial.
a group of weeping widows who had been helped by her ministry.
Keep in mind that there was no “government aid” in those days for either widows or orphans, and needy people had to depend on their “network” for assistance.
In both instances, it was the power of God that raised the person from the dead, for the dead person certainly could not exercise faith.
a group of weeping widows who had been helped by her ministry.
The church has an obligation to help people who are truly in need (1 Tim. 5:3–16; James 1:27).
The church has an obligation to help people who are truly in need (1 Tim. 5:3–16; James 1:27).
32 Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.
36 There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. 38 But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”
39 So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.
42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.
14 “‹ This gospel of the kingdom › shall be preached
BULLET in the whole cworld
BULLET as a testimony to all the nations,
SENTENCE and then the end will come.
11 ‹ I say then, › ‹✕ they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? ✕›
SENTENCE May it never be!
SENTENCE But ‹✓ [TP by their transgression TP] [T salvation T] has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. ✓›
14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.
14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
However, I think that the greatest miracle of all is the salvation of a lost sinner. Why? Because salvation costs the greatest price, it produces the greatest results, and it brings the greatest glory to God.
A Greater Miracle—Raising the Dead (Acts 9:36–43)
14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
Peter had the power to heal, and he used the power to glorify God and help people, not to promote himself.
The church has an obligation to help people who are truly in need (1 Tim. 5:3–16; James 1:27).
In both instances, it was the power of God that raised the person from the dead, for the dead person certainly could not exercise faith.
42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.
