Who Deserves The Credit?

Caleb Mayfield

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Luke shows us that Peter was dependent on Jesus for ministry effectiveness

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This section follows the same theme as last week. That Jesus can turn things around.

Now we are about to read of some more amazing miracles. Peter’s going to be reintroduced to the story and some amazing things are about to happen.

Question is: Who deserves the credit?

Acts 9:32–42 ESV

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.

We live in a day and time were people love taking credit for all sorts of things. People love attention. People love the idea of fame.

That’s why kids love instagram, tiktok, facebook.

Everybody wants attention.

Sadly, this has bled into the Christian sub culture.

There are loads of miracle workers who love to flaunt their so called miracles and sprinkle a little bit of Jesus on them as they go.

But even if those Christian miracles were real and truly of God. Who should really get the credit?

Peter was willing, available, and obedient. But we are about to see in this text how Jesus truly deserves the credit for the amazing things that happened as Peter went building up the church and preaching the gospel.

Main Idea

Luke shows us that Peter was dependent on Jesus for ministry effectiveness

I only have 2 points today.

Give Jesus Credit For Healings

Give Jesus Credit For New Life

It’s pretty straight forward.

So, I’m going to walk us through this text, explain it the best I can, and then I will have some applications for us.

Two things we should give Jesus credit for...

First, in verses 32-35, we see we should...

Give Jesus Credit for Miraculous Healings

Now, of course, I’m speaking to a healing where the gospel was front and center. I believe there are miraculous healings that can occur from demonic forces.

I’m not talking about every healing. But, I’m talking about healings were the true gospel is preached.

Acts 9:32–35 ESV

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

This seems to indicate that part of Peter’s ministry, perhaps also of other Apostles, was to continue traveling to preach in different areas.

Not only as an Evangelist. But also as a pastor/teacher.

The text says “he came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda.”

This seems to indicate a mission to build up the existing church.

I know many of you have told me you enjoy it when we get visiting Pastors who come and build us up - Like my friend Barnaby.

It’s good for us to be built up by other leaders within the whole body of Christ.

Peter’s mission to build up brothers and sisters gives him an opportunity to have Jesus perform a miracle.

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

Luke introduces a man with a big big physical problem.

It’s possible that Aeneas was a believer already.

“ And Peter said to him,”

Peter singles him out much like he’s done to others in the past.

Much like Jesus did during his ministry.

““Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.””

Peter doesn’t say “I heal you!”

He says, JESUS CHRIST heals you!

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 3

To heal in the name of Jesus was to invoke his power and presence.

The authority for the healing rests solely on Jesus.

Jesus deserves the credit for this miraculous event that is beginning to take place.

Peter says “RISE” - this is a recurring theme for this short story revolving around Peter’s ministry.

He tells him to make up his bed. Put it away.

“Get that bed together, pick it up, clean it off. You don’t need it here anymore!”

The sign of Aeneas’ crippling, that shows just how helpless he is, Peter tells him to clean it up. It no longer is a part of his future.

“And immediately he rose.”

The effect was immediate and great.

This man, paralyzed for the last 8 years is now standing up.

Can you imagine what Aeneas must of felt like?

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

Peter’s words “Jesus Christ heals you” had a huge life changing effect on Aeneas. And now we see, this entire encounter and healing of Aeneas has a huge life changing effect upon the people who see him healed from his paralysis!

“They turned to the Lord”

The essentially received the gospel and turned from their sins.

This reveals the main purpose for why Jesus enabled this whole encounter to take place.

This wasn’t for the glory of Peter.

This wasn’t to hype of people with emotional highs.

This wasn’t to prove that people need enough faith to experience a miracle.

THIS WAS ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE TURN FROM SIN AND TURN TO JESUS!

Jesus deserves the credit for this healing!

Not only did Jesus enable the healing, he also was the focus of faith.

Give Jesus Credit for Miraculous Healings

Lastly, in verses 36-42, we see we should…

Give Jesus Credit for New Life

We are going to see two types of new life here. First a physical resurrection. And then, people receiving spiritual life because of it.

Acts 9:36–42 ESV

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.

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

Now Luke introduces another new character.

It seems as if this is an important event to Luke because he uses some very particular language in the Greek to introduce Tabitha.

He uses the feminine form of the word disciple. This is like the only time in the NT where this is used.

Acts: Expanded Digital Edition Explanation of the Text

The person who was the object of one of the most astounding miracles in Acts was a woman

He mentions both her Aramaic name and Greek translation - The name means gazelle.

I’m not sure if there is any significance to this. Perhaps there was significance to this for Theophilus.

And then he talks about Tabitha’s character.

She was full of - meaning “complete in extent or degree and in every particular way.”

Good works - actions that effected everyone around her.

and of charity - expressions of help and contributing to the needs of others. “especially as flowing from a disposition to kindness and compassion.”

Luke tends to make comments like this about people he highly respects and appreciates - Like Barnabas. “A good man, full of the Holy Spirit.”

So, Luke wants us to see how special Tabitha was to the Church locally, and at large.

We want more women in the church like Tabitha.

The kind of woman who will take blind women to the grocery store.

The kind of woman who will watch your kids at the drop of a hat when you have an emergency.

The kind of woman who will knit clothes for the homeless or others in need within our community.

The kind of woman who will help coordinate picking up furniture to deliver to someone within the church family who needs it. Who also has time to write cards of encouragement to others in the church.

“ In those days she became ill and died,”

So Tabitha dies.

A huge loss. A huge loss. - We’ve experienced this with losing Linda, Pearl, Tina, and Marylou.

A loss like this not only hurts us emotionally, but the loss is felt throughout every aspect of church life.

“ and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.”

The response to her death appears strange if you were just reading this without knowing the power of Jesus.

They wash her - thats normal for burial.

But they lay her in the upper room - That’s abnormal. So this means they are either delayed in arranging burial, which is also not normal.

Or, they are expecting a miracle. I’m going with that. Based on what they did.

“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 this looks like they are expecting and believing that Peter’s presence will make a difference.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Acts F. Demonstration (vv. 36–43)

We find no certainty of their expectation, but Luke’s description of the appeal certainly makes it sound as though they anticipated a resurrection.

Maybe they remember the fact that Mary and Martha knew Jesus could have healed Lazarus. And that even after he was dead, Jesus called him out of the grave.

They probably are thinking “Peter spent a lot of time with our Lord, maybe Peter can initiate a miracle!?”

They probably heard about all the people being healed throughout the region. Maybe they heard about Aeneas’s miraculous healing.

The point is, they seem to believe that a miracle is possible. They seem to know that Jesus has a special role for Peter and the other Apostles.

They also seem to be of an authentic christian community.

Sadly, I’ve heard of heartbroken people associated with heretical christian circles (that deny the deity of Christ, say Jesus wasn’t special, and that we can become God’s like Jesus) claiming that they have authority to repeat something like this.

Being heartbroken and wanting a miracle isn’t sinful. But, sadly, some are deceived about miracles.

They aren’t impossible, their just not normative. This event isn’t being described as being normal.

That’s the whole point of it being in here. It’s not normal. Something big is happening.

But they desire a miracle.

“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.”

So Peter goes with them and arrives to a festival of mourning widows.

The emphasis on this being widows might indicate that Tabitha supported and ministered to widows.

While the text isn’t explicit in saying this, this might indicate that these widows are showing their desperation for a miracle.

They cannot imagine going on without Tabitha. The loved here dearly, and the church community benefited from her life.

There is not only a gaping wound in their hearts, but also a gaping wound within this small church community.

I know we’ve felt similar to this as we’ve lost dear ones too.

Jesse & Marylou, Bud, Pastor Dave, Tina, Pearl, and Linda.

The wounds are deep in our hearts. We love them. And we also recognize that our church isn’t the same.

I think we can all agree that we would have loved miracles too. Just like these widows.

“But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed;”

Notice now Peter’s posture: Humility and Dependency.

Rather than gaining a crowd for this miracle like many modern miracle workers, Peter wants privacy.

Rather than doing what Jesus did: speak directly and immediately, he prays.

Look how Jesus did a similar miracle. Mark 5:40-43

Mark 5:40–43 ESV

And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Jesus had authority in himself to resurrect a little girl, but Peter needed to seek Jesus out for Jesus to use his authority to raise Tabitha.

Acts: Expanded Digital Edition Theology in Application

In the second incident, the rare reference to kneeling in v. 40 emphasizes Peter’s submission to God and to Jesus as he prays. While Peter pronounces the word of healing with an imperative, the authority that renders the imperative immediately effective is Jesus’ authority, not Peter’s.

“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.”

RISE

A miraculous resurrection. Praise God!

ZECNT

Acts: Expanded Digital Edition Theology in Application

At the same time such miracles as the raising of the dead are very rare in Scripture.

“Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.”

Now Peter presents Tabitha to those who loved her and mourned for her.

Imagine the celebration. The joy. The amazement.

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

Notice what this event also led to.

People are led to Christ. Jesus get’s the credit. The believe in Jesus. Not Peter.

Not Pope Peter. But Lord Jesus.

The raising of Tabitha from the dead leads to the raising of many others from spiritual death!