In Acts 9:31-35, Peter heals a man paralyzed for eight years, at
least, and was confined by his disability to a bed. Peter takes a look at the
man and announces, "Aeneas, Jesus Messiah is healing you! Get up! Make
your bed!" The result of the miracle is that "everyone living in
Lydda and in the Sharon saw him, and these turned to the Lord." The now-walking
Aeneas is proof that the power of the resurrection has been loosed into the
world.
Then in 9:36-43 the miraculous power of God acts even more
astonishingly.
1. "Now in Joppa (a place close to Lydda) there was a certain
woman disciple whose name was Tabitha. Translated (from Aramaic into Greek)
this means Dorcas" (Acts 9:36a). The word in each language means
"gazelle." Or deer. Naphtali is compared to a hind let loose, giving
goodly words and the wife to the kind and tender husband is as the loving hind,
and as the pleasant roe, Proverbs 5:19.
2. There is a quite
striking linguistic use in that sentence. Dorcas is called a "female
disciple," mathetria in Greek, the only time
that term is used in the entire New Testament. Luke implies by that usage that
Dorcas is fully the equivalent of the male disciples who are named with the
masculine form of the noun in 9:38 and in numerous times in the early
literature of the New Testament.
She was a disciple, one that had embraced the faith of Christ and
was baptized and not only so, but was eminent above many for works of charity.
She showed her faith by her works, her good works, which she was full of, that
is, in which she abounded. Her head was full of cares and contrivances which
way she should do good. She devised liberal things, Isaiah 32:8.
3. Many people today are full of good words, who are empty and
barren in good works but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker: Non
magna loquimur, sed vivimus--We do not talk great things, but we live
them. Among other good works, she was remarkable for her alms--deeds,
which she did, not only her works of piety (devotedness), which are good works
and the fruits of faith, but works of charity and generosity, flowing from love
to her neighbour and a holy contempt of this world.
Observe, She is commended not only for the alms which she gave,
but for the alms--deeds which she did. Those that have not estates wherewith
to give in charity may yet be able to do in charity, working with
their hands, or walking with their feet, for the
benefit of the poor.
4. She was removed in the midst of her usefulness (Acts 9:37): In
those days she fell sick, and died. It is promised to those who consider the
poor, not that they shall never be sick, but that the Lord will strengthen them
upon the bed of languishing, at least with strength in their souls, and so will
make all their bed in their sickness, will make it easy, Psalms 41:1,3.
Her friends and those about
her did not presently bury her, as usual, because they were in hopes Peter
would come and raise her to life again but they washed the dead body, according
to the custom, which, it is said, was with warm water, which, if there were any
life remaining in the body, would recover it so that this was done to show that
she was really and truly dead. They tried all the usual methods to bring her to
life, and could not. Conclamatum est--the last cry was uttered. They laid her
out in her grave-clothes in an upper chamber, that Peter, if he would come,
might raise her to life the more solemnly in that place.
They sent Peter two men, to make the message the more
solemn and respectful, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them not
telling him the occasion, lest he should modestly decline coming upon so great
an errand as to raise the dead: if they can but get him to them, they will
leave it to him. Their friend was dead, and it was too late to send for a
physician, but not too late to send for Peter. Post mortem medicus--a physician
after death, is an absurdity, but not Post mortem apostolus--an apostle after
death.
The commendation (praise) of Tabitha was like her own virtues, not
in word, but in deed. Here were no encomiums (eulogies) of her in orations, nor
poems inscribed to her memory but the widows showed the coats and garments
which she made for them, and bestowed upon them while she was with them. And
here it was the credit of Tabitha, when she was dead, that the backs of the
widows praised her for the garments which she made them. And those are
certainly best praised whose own works praise them in the gates, whether the
words of others do or no. It is much more honourable to clothe a company of
crumbling widows with needful clothing for night and day, who will pray for
their benefactors when they do not see them, than to clothe a company of lazy
footmen with rich dresses, who perhaps behind their backs will curse those that
clothe them (Ecclesiastes 7:21).
It should seem, the widows wept before Peter, as an inducement to
him, if he could do any thing, to have compassion on them and help them, and
restore one to them that used to have compassion on them. Have they heard of the power of resurrection
that Peter seems to possess? The text is silent on that score, but Luke is
intent on demonstrating that Peter is somehow representative of that power.
Peter sends the entire group outside, falls to his knees and
prays.
Then, turning to the body, he said, 'Tabitha, arise!'(Tabitha,
Cumi!) similar to what the Lord Jesus did to the child of the head of the
synagogue (Talitha Cumi!, young girl arise). The dead woman opened her eyes at
this command, saw Peter, and sat back up. He gave her his hand and raised her.
He called the holy ones and the widows. He presented her to them alive (9:40-41).
And, as occurred in the healing of the paralyzed Aeneas earlier in
the chapter, "many believed in the Lord" (9:42, and above 9:35).
In the Gospel story of the raising of a little girl by Jesus (Lk.
8:49-56), we find the use of messengers, weeping bystanders, exclusion of
people from the room of the miracle, the call to rise, and the taking of the
hand. It is clear that Luke wants his readers to be certain that the power
demonstrated by the risen Lord is now manifest in those who follow him in the
early community of faith.
And
other parallels are not difficult to find. The healing of the paralytic and the
raising of a widow have been seen in accounts about Jesus in the Gospel (Lk.
5:17-26, 7:11-16). And of course readers of the Hebrew Bible have witnessed
much older examples of such miraculous healings by the prophets Elijah and
Elisha (1 Kgs. 17:17-24; 2 Kgs. 4:32-37). Peter thus stands in a long line of
prophets who work signs and wonders among the people. What do we learn from the
life of Dorcas?
1.
Faith without good works
is dead
2.
Dorcas
used her talents for God (herself, her time and resources she gave for God in
helping the widows)
3.
God cares for the vulnerable; When we care for what God cares for,
he will honor and reward our charitable deeds. Honor and help those
widows who are truly widowed [alone, and without support]. 1 Tim5:3 AMP
4.
Peter
relied on God’s power (He knelt to show his humility, he learned from Jesus Christ the importance of praying and
calling upon God’s presence and power to change situations.
5.
In
God, there is always hope. The widows did not lost hope. They waited for Peter
to do something. As we’re waiting on God
to perform miracles in our lives, our hearts should be expectant.
6.
Leave
a legacy in the kingdom of God. Dorcas’ faith and charitable deeds left a legacy.
7.
God
has a purpose for everything; even a dead person can serve a mighty purpose. Tabitha’s
resurrection bought many to believe in Christ Jesus in the town of Joppa. It was a
testimony of God’s glory and power.
I don’t think the purpose of the loving power of the
resurrection is for the young girl or for Dorcas. Yes, it made them well and
gave them life. But the Bible says “All those who heard and saw this powerful
deeds marveled and believed in the power of the Almighty God. It was not just
for the benefactors but also to those who were standing there like sheep
without a shepherd. When you see mighty works of God done in this place, it is
God’s authentication for you to believe in Him and works Jesus Christ did on
the cross for you.
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