Peter in Joppa
TRANSLATION
(32) As Peter traveled through the area, he went to visit the believers who lived in Lydda. (33) There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. (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 in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
(36) Now in Joppa lived a disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek). She was constantly doing good and helping the poor. (37) In those days she became sick and died. After they had washed her body, they laid her in an upper room. (38) Since Lydda was close to Joppa, the disciples, when they heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him urging, “Please come without delay.” (39) So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, they led him to the upper room. All the widows stood around weeping and showing him the cloaks and garments Dorcas made while she was still alive. (40) After Peter sent them all outside, he kneeled and prayed. Then, turning to her body, he said, “Tabitha, arise!” She opened her eyes and, when she saw Peter, sat up. (41) He gave her his hand and lifted her up. And calling the believers and widows, he presented her alive. (42) And this became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (43) Peter then remained in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
OBSERVATIONS
Luke focused on Peter’s apostolic ministry in Lydda (vss. 32, 35, & 38) and then in Joppa (vss. 36, 38, 42, & 43) in this segment of Acts 9. Aeneas’ name was mentioned twice (vss. 33 & 34) while Tabitha’s name (vss. 36 & 40) and her translated name, Dorcas, (vss. 36 & 39) both occurred twice. Peter’s name is found six times in the passage (vss. 32, 34, 38, 39, & 40). The place names, “Lydda” (vss. 32, 35, & 38) and “Joppa” (vss. 36, 38, 42, & 43), were also found several times. Other repeated words included “believers” (vss. 32 & 41), “the Lord” (vss. 35 & 42), “upper room” (vss. 37 & 39), and “widows” (vss. 39 & 41).
OUTLINE
I. The Lord enabled Peter to heal a paralytic named Aeneas in Lydda. (32-35)
II. The Lord enabled Peter to restore Dorcas to life after she had died in Joppa. (36-43)
IDEA STATEMENT
Peter’s apostolic ministry of healing and raising the dead was used by the Holy Spirit to turn many hearts to faith in Christ throughout the region.
APPLICATION
Peter’s healing of the paralytic and raising a much-beloved woman from her death bed both remind us of the miracles Jesus performed during his earthly ministry. Clearly, the Holy Spirit was empowering the apostles and other Jesus followers to fulfill the promise Jesus had made: “Truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I have been doing, and they will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father” (Jn. 14:12). Miracles like these confirmed the truth of the apostles’ message, encouraged the early believers in their new-found professions of faith, and opened the hearts of many who had not yet trusted in the risen Lord to become his followers.
The purpose of miracles was captured in two important phrases in these verses. First, we read that the hearts of those who lived in the area of Lydda and Sharon were “turned to the Lord” by what they saw (vs. 35). Later, in Joppa, Peter’s raising Dorcas from her deathbed had a similar result. We read, “…and many believed in the Lord” (vs. 42). Today we have the completed New Testament, the record of many centuries of church history, and the testimonies of many believers sharing their faith in the transforming power of the Gospel to confirm our commitment to Christ. While miracles can still occur, they are not what the Spirit normally uses in today’s world to generate faith in the hearts of those who are called to follow Jesus.