Peter moves on from Jerusalem

Acts 9:32-43

Acts 9:32–43 CSB

As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up. So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity. About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

A bit of background for this portion of the scripture. We will be following Peter as he travels to 2 different cities outside of Jerusalem. Lydda and Joppa. Both cities were coastal cities that were heavily Jewish cities. There is a pattern that we see from Luke that often times goes unnoticed but he likes to pair healings. many times we see those healings as one being a man and one being a woman. It is an interesting point of emphasis that goes under the radar, but again goes against the grain of the cultural and literary practices if he was making any of these events up. Luke also has been through this area as we will see later in our study through Acts as he travels with Paul. These miracles included the names of the healed, which would signify that these acts were remembered by those that witnessed them and still talked about even after Luke was in the area.

Healing Aeneas

What is the significance of Aeneas being paralyzed for 8 years?

Acts 9:33

Acts 9:33 CSB

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

Sometimes, the physical issues that we see healed in the Bible are representative of spiritual things that we deal with in our lives. As we see here. Aeneas was paralyzed and could not do anything to remedy this situation. We are in the same boat. We are more than paralyzed. We are dead in our sins. Ephesians 2:1

Ephesians 2:1 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

We have no way to cure sin outside of Jesus. Just like Aeneas...

Why does Peter tell him “Jesus Christ heals you?”

Acts 9:34

Acts 9:34 CSB

Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up.

We saw the word “immediately” when Paul was baptized and started following Jesus when it came to sharing the truth of the Gospel. We see here that Aeneas immediately did what Peter said. We see that the healing drew a lot of attention in the town and surrounding area.

Why did people turn to the Lord?

Acts 9:35

Acts 9:35 CSB

So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

I want us to look specifically at how the news spread of Aeneas’ healing. What are some possibilities? I think certainly the news of the healing would have been convincing, but how did they hear? I imagine that they saw him walking around with Peter. I can only imagine that Peter did not stop preaching the gospel when he was there. How do you think Aeneas spoke about Jesus and the message of a spiritual healing and salvation?

Raising Tabitha

What is significant about our introduction to Tabitha?

Acts 9:36

Acts 9:36 CSB

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

She is called a disciple. We know that there were women followers of Jesus but they were not called disciples. The statements of her faith are telling and indicators as to why she was seen as a disciple. She was doing what Jesus commanded.

What did the men expect from Peter when they “begged” him to go to Joppa?

Acts 9:38

Acts 9:38 CSB

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.”

They must have expected a miracle…a resurrection. Why would they expect that? They knew the character of Tabitha and they knew the character of Peter.

Why do you think Peter sent others out of the room?

Luke 8:49-56

Luke 8:49–56 CSB

While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” When Jesus heard it, he answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.” After he came to the house, he let no one enter with him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But he said, “Stop crying, because she is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead. So he took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he gave orders that she be given something to eat. Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

1 Kings 17:17-24

1 Kings 17:17–24 CSB

After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, “Man of God, what do you have against me? Have you come to call attention to my iniquity so that my son is put to death?” But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times. He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” So the Lord listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived. Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upstairs room into the house, and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”

2 Kings 4:32-37

2 Kings 4:32–37 CSB

When Elisha got to the house, he discovered the boy lying dead on his bed. So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the boy: he put mouth to mouth, eye to eye, hand to hand. While he bent down over him, the boy’s flesh became warm. Elisha got up, went into the house, and paced back and forth. Then he went up and bent down over him again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” He called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.” She came, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; she picked up her son and left.

What is different in the reaction of these two healings?

Acts 9:42

Acts 9:42 CSB

This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 9:35

Acts 9:35 CSB

So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

It is odd that all believed in the healing but many believed in the resurrection...

What is the significance of Peter staying with Simon the tanner?

Acts 9:43

Acts 9:43 CSB

Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

People of high status despised tanners. they worked with leather and their homes smelled BAD. It was lawful for a woman to be granted a divorce because she could not stand the discomfort of living with a tanner… so why then would Peter stay with the tanner? Jesus told him in

Luke 10:5-8

Luke 10:5–8 CSB

Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t move from house to house. When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you.

It may have also prepared Peter for what was to come in chapter 10....