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8. The Wonderful Works of Christ at the Hand of Peter (Acts 9:31-43)
ACTS 9:36-43
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 37 It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put them all out, and kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 It happened, that he stayed many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
Many centuries ago Jesus commanded his apostles, saying: “Preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8). Jesus gave His apostles authority to practice these things in His name. They did so in full harmony with Him. Jesus’ will was realized through the works of the apostles. The Holy Spirit guided them to glorify the Son and effectuate His kingdom of love.
In Joppa a certain disciple had died. Here we read, for the first and only time in the Holy Bible, the word “disciple” being used for a woman. The disciple’s name, “Tabitha”, was an Aramaic word meaning gazelle. This sister was distinguished through her godly character and meekness. She had hastened not to sow dissension between her neighbors, but to help the sick. She had cleaned the houses of the elderly, helped in nursing children of tired mothers, and was merciful to the widows in the church who lived in great trouble. “Gazelle” had sacrificed much of her possessions to help fellow believers. She had embroidered during her free time, longing that Christ might embroider His own name on the hearts of church members. She wanted them to be an altogether beautiful carpet for the glory of His name.
Suddenly this saint died. It was not their custom to put the deceased in an upper room. For Tabitha, however, they had chosen to do so, enabling many people to come and weep, remembering her love and sacrifice. Dear brother, if you died do you think people would be led to weep over you because of your good, sacrificial deeds? Or would they curse you because of your selfishness, hardness, and unwillingness to sacrifice?
The elders of the church heard that Peter, the leader among the apostles, was coming near their city. They asked him to come and comfort those who were grieving and sustain them in their affliction. Like them, the departed had expected the second coming of Christ, and had hoped to meet Him while she was still alive. It was a great shock to the church, for one of their most virtuous women had died before the coming of Christ.
Peter heard the call and immediately traveled the 18 kilometers from Lydda to Joppa to console the church. He remembered how the Lord had entered into the house of Jairus, where grieving women were slapping their faces and tearing at their hair. Entering into the room of the dead girl and bidding the weeping women to leave, He had given life back to her, saying: “Little girl, arise.”
In this atmosphere of expectation, Peter entered into the house of Gazelle. His heart was filled with sorrow when he heard and saw the loud weeping of the women. He felt indignation at the power of death over believers who live in Christ. Sending all the weeping women out, he knelt down alone to pray. The Holy Spirit guided his prayer, which was to ask Jesus to raise the disciple. Peter refrained from special movements or words once he realized with certainty that Jesus would glorify His name. He spoke the same words to her which Jesus had spoken to Jairus’ daughter: “Tabitha, arise.”
Amazingly, he did not openly mention the name Jesus, but raised her to life by divine power, using the same words the Lord Himself had used. The most courageous and outspoken among the apostles did not raise the dead woman by his own name, for no one in himself can overcome death. Christ alone, who abides holy and sinless now and forever, triumphed over this deathly ghost. Peter’s faith in Christ Jesus stripped death of its power and brought the disciple back to life.
The believer surprisingly heard the voice of Jesus in the apostle’s words and opened her eyes. She sat up and smelled the perfume around her body. She saw the strange man in her room, praying and looking at her. Peter took her by the hand and helped her to sit up. He explained to her that Jesus still wanted her to serve Him on earth for a while. She was to be a living testimony of Christ’s triumph over death in all the coastal towns and regions around them.
When crowds fearfully entered the room, they were confused and grew ashamed. Some of them prayed, while others knelt down and praised Christ, who had defeated death. The news spread rapidly throughout the city. People came by the droves to join the faith and gain eternal life through trust in Jesus Christ. They did not, however, all stand fast in the Prince of Life. Nevertheless, a great number joined the church and became members of the body of Christ. Because of this revival Peter stayed for a long time in Joppa, serving the flourishing church.
Peter did not stay in one of the stately houses of the community, but lived with a despised tanner, whose house was full of dirty, foul-smelling leather. This tanner lived outside the city, in accordance with a law demanding people not be harmed by the filth produced from an occupation which involved handling dead animal bodies. Peter lodged with this poor believer, whose name is written in heaven.
PRAYER: O Lord, we worship You for the miracle of raising the dead disciple at Joppa. We thank You for the faith of Peter, who obeyed the guidance of Your voice. Teach us to obey and recognize the drawing of Your Spirit for service in Your name, and purify us that we may serve You in Your power.
QUESTION:
- How was Jesus´ command to raise the dead realized in His disciples?