Peter's ministry work continues

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

A time of peace made a good time for the message to continue to travel out, to continue to fulfill the great commission given to them.

(Lydda, Joppa and Aztos picture inserted here)

Peter is to travel out to areas of Galilee and Samaria (implied) but for sure to western Judea and our passage tonight will focus on two cities, Lydda and Joppa. In looking at the map you can see this is the region that Philip had travelled through with the meeting the Ethiopian Eunuch (Act8:26-40).

(Transition) So in our passage tonight we will see two things.

Two cities

Two miracles

Two results

Peter at Lydda

An old city with a new work and a great result.

(Picture of Lydda inserted here)

(Background) - this is a city located 11 mi fro Joppa to the Southeast , it was in the O.T. known by the Hebrew name Lod (1Chr8:12) it is in the picturesque plains of Sharon (Act9:35). It was a city that was repopulated after the Babylonian exile and it was apparent there was a body of believers there since it says saints lived there (Act9:32)

(Transition) having some background, some history now may we look at the passage and see the miracle

Acts 9:32–33 NASB95

32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.

Acts 9:34–35 NASB95

34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

Question: It says “when it came to pass” what does that mean, what came to pass?

Could it be as Peter passed through the area? (v.32)

Could it be the peace all throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria (v.31)?

It is always good to ask questions of the scripture!

Travelling through all parts Peter comes to the saints who dwelt in Lydda (Act9:32)

Identity either by word of mouth, or by life, there were known saints there in Lydda.

So, do people know we are saints here? By word of mouth or by our example?

Peter found a certain man named Aeneas, bedridden for 8 years (Act9:33)

Question: Who healed Aeneas according to (Act9:34)?

Get up, make your bed, and he arose immediately (Act9:34)

This story is a great reflection or reminiscent of Jesus healing of the paralytic (Lk5:17-26)

In our passage it was Peters faith that became Aeneas faith that went into action, immediately

In the Luke passage it was the friends faith that became the paralytic’s faith that went into action immediately.

Question: From these examples what can we know about faith?

Your faith can bring others to faith

Faith should take action, immediately!

All who saw him turned to the Lord (Act9:35)

(Transition) This miracle that ended in “all” turning to the Lord served to confirm Jesus as Lord and Peter as His apostle proving our Mk16:19-20

Mark 16:19–20 NASB95

19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

That now leads us to our 2nd section tonight.

Peter at Joppa

The signs, wonders, miracles performed by the Apostles, in this case Peter were to prove their authority, their testimony that Jesus is the Christ and they are his apostles. That what they said had the authority and power of God. Peter is sought out in our next passage to bring that authority to Joppa.

Acts 9:36–37 NASB95

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.

Acts 9:38–39 NASB95

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

Acts 9:40–41 NASB95

40 But Peter sent them all out 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; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Acts 9:42–43 NASB95

42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

(Jerusalem-Lydda-Joppa Picture inserted here)

May we remember that it was a time of peace and Peter was venturing out, from Jerusalem to Lydda now he is going to come to Joppa.

(City of Joppa picture inserted here)

Some facts about Joppa

It is a harbor town along the Mediterranean Sea, the name of this city now is Jaffa.

It is located 35-miles Northwest of Jerusalem

It is the place that Jonah tried to run away from God from you can see that in Jonah1:3)

It had to be a place with a church there, and we will see that in the scripture in just a minute.

Question: what can we know about Dorcus according to (Act9:36)

She was a disciple

She was full of good works and charitable deeds

She was also known as Tabitha (Aramaic name) for Dorcus was (Greek name) by the way her name means Gazelle in case you were wondering

We can know from (Act9:37) she died, she was washed and her body was laid in an upper room.

Disciples in Joppa heard Peter was in Lydda and sent men to implore him to come and not delay (Act9:38)

So we can know there were disciples, believers in Joppa and word of Peter being in Lydda had travelled to them and they sent two men to go implore Peter to come and not delay.

Do we ever implore people to pray, people to come?

Question: By the disciples sending men to get Peter what does that prove to us?

They had faith, they acknowledged the authority and the power of the apostles, of Peter, they also believed in resurrection.

Peter went and found the widows weeping and a display of Dorcus’ garments she made (Act9:39)

Peter put everyone out, he kneeled, prayed and commanded Tabitha to get up (Act9:40)

Peter was not about display, and this miracle is also reminiscent to Jesus raising Lazarus daughter in Lk8:41-42, 49-56)

The results to hearing and obeying Peter’s commands were she was presented alive and many believed on the Lord (Act9:41-42)

Faith, it played a big part in this passage too, Peter’s active faith, led to any others coming to believe when the proof of Peter’s faith was presented alive.

Your faith, your active faith can help bring others to come alive, from dead in sin to alive in Christ. Your faith can help many believe, so live out your faith, actively.

(Transition) still one more verse to glean from and we don’t want to miss out on that either.

Peter stayed in Joppa many days, with Simon a tanner (Act9:43)

We do not know God’s particular plan at times, just as Peter did not know. He had to stay there because there was another encounter that was going to happen (if you want to read ahead that is found in Act10).

Question: Do you think Peter, in the many days, was sitting around doing nothing?

I know that is a subjective question, but the subject is, what are we doing in our “many days?”

(Transition): We still have a few minutes left, or at least when I wrote this it was planned that way, may we stop and consider one more passage for application.

Hebrews 2:1–2 NASB95

1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

Hebrews 2:3–4 NASB95

3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Question: In those days there were signs, wonders and miracles, but what about today, what do we see today?

Do people see the hope that is in you (1Tim1:1)?

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1 Timothy 1:1 NASB95

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,

Do people see your faith (2Cor5:7)?

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2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB95

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—

Do people hear that hope that is in you (1Pt3:15)?

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2 Peter 3:15 NASB95

15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

Do people know your love of Christ (Jn13:35)?

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John 13:35 NASB95

35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(encouragement slide- such a great salvation picture inserted here)

We have such a great salvation in Christ Jesus that should be evident, with Peter it was active, it was evident, it was proclaimed, it was believed, it had results. And today there are still miracles, look in the mirror you were dead, but you were made alive in Christ! You were separated, now reconciled, you were hopeless not you are hope filled and heaven bound!