Tabitha, Arise!

Acts 9:31-43

Good morning! It is good to be back. It is good to be in the Word of God together. 

Today’s passage is Acts 9:31-43, primarily about the miracle of Tabitha’s resurrection. 

In the last few weeks, the story of the early church has been hopping around a bit. In chapters 6 and 7, we have the account of Stephen and his martyrdom. Subsequently, there was a great persecution of the believers, and they were scattered into the surrounding area of Judea. In chapter 8, we heard about Philip the evangelist and his ministry in Judea and Samaria beyond Jerusalem as well as Peter and John visiting the Samaritans and seeing God moving among this people who were not entirely Jewish. 

Last week, Fred shared on the first portion of Acts 9, which gives us the account of Saul’s (or Paul’s) conversion. Saul had persecuted the believers in Jerusalem harshly, traveling door to door, arresting men and women, and putting them in prison. He sought out “warrants” to go to Damascus and continue the same effort there, pursuing the believers who had fled Jerusalem to the nearest large city. 

You remember and know the story, how Jesus appeared to Saul out of a bright light on the road at midday. Then, Saul was left blind. Ananias, a believer in Damascus, was sent to Saul so that his sight would be restored and he would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Saul experiences a dramatic transformation, going from a most relentless persecutor of the church to a powerful apologist, defending the faith. 

After fleeing Damascus because other Jews were trying to kill him, Saul goes to Jerusalem and meets the apostles with Barnabas’ help. He reasoned with the Greek or Hellenistic Jews there that Jesus is the Son of God, and then they tried to kill him. So, the believers sent Saul to his hometown of Tarsus in the area of Asia Minor, or modern Turkey today.

That brings us to today’s passage. It’s important to have this backstory because we are going to start today with the word “then.” What happens in today’s passage flows out of what came just before it. Let’s pray and we’ll jump in. 

Lord Jesus, I pray that You would teach us today from Your Word. Help us to see the truth and encouragement that You have for us. We look to You and we need You to speak to us. Glorify Your Name, Jesus. Amen. 

Acts chapter 9, starting in verse 31: 

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. – Acts 9:31 

Now that Paul has been saved—has come to Jesus—the church has a time of peace. 

This verse gives us the both-and picture of the life of the church. Sometimes, persecution will cause the church to grow or spread out. Here, we have a time of peace, and the result was that the church was strengthened and it continued to grow. 

What is most important is that the church was living in the fear of the Lord and it was encouraged or filled up with the Holy Spirit. That is what gives life to the church. 

The extent of the church is now expanded. We see Judea, Samaria, and now Galilee in the north. Though they aren’t mentioned here, the church is also growing beyond these to Damascus, Tarsus, and Ethiopia. 

As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord's people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. – Acts 9:32-35 

Well, what’s a message by John without a map, right? Let’s take a look at where the cities are located that come up in today’s passage. 

Lydda is east and a bit north of Jerusalem in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea. The distance is about 25 miles. It was a prosperous city in what was called the Valley of the Craftsmen. Due to its location on the land route from Egypt to Babylon and Persia, its economy was based on supporting that trade and included the manufacture and repair of sacks, saddles, straps, buckles, clasps, cloth, leather and metal goods. At the time of the early church, it was part of Judea rather than Samaria, but, as the map obviously shows, it was at the border. 

Even in this opening phrase, we see that there was an ongoing ministry by Peter throughout Judea. The last time we saw Peter in the middle of Acts chapter 8, he was on his way back from Samaria to Jerusalem together with John, preaching in the Samaritan villages on the way. Now, Peter is traveling about the country and visiting the Lord’s people. 

Peter finds Aeneas. Aeneas is paralyzed, and has been for eight years. Aeneas is another person we see in Scripture who seems to be beyond hope, like the man born blind in John 9 or the invalid at the Bethesda pool in John 5 (38 years) or the woman who had been crippled for 18 years in Luke 13. Jesus heals Aeneas as He had healed the others. Peter even tells the man to take up his mat, reminiscent of the healing at the Bethesda Pool. I think Peter enjoyed saying things like Jesus did. Aeneas was healed, and he did get up. This healing had a powerful effect even beyond Aeneas’ life. It seems likely that many had seen Aeneas, as he likely was placed out to beg. Isn’t it interesting that this man whom many people tried to ignore is suddenly the trigger that causes everyone in town and the region beyond to turn to the Lord? We should not underestimate the work that God wants to do even in the humblest of circumstances. 

Sharon is not a town, but a region. The Plain of Sharon extends from Lydda up to Caesarea. Next, Peter will go to Joppa, which you also see on the map. It’s just a day’s journey from Lydda, at 12 miles further along a line extended from Jerusalem to Lydda. 

The modern-day city of Tel Aviv stands on the location of Joppa. Joppa has had its highs and lows throughout its long history. It is recorded as an outpost of Egypt back to antiquity. During the time of the early church, it was part of the territories controlled by the Herod dynasty, but prior to that, it was controlled by the Phoenicians and others rather than the Israelites or the Philistines. It was the first “port city” for Judea on the Mediterranean. It became strongly Jewish during the time of the Maccabees but was devastated at the time of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. 

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" – Acts 9:36-38 

Tabitha and Dorcas mean gazelle or doe, graceful and beautiful. It’s interesting that Luke focused on her name in two languages. We certainly can see how Tabitha’s life exemplified beauty and grace. She was always doing good and helping the poor. 

But this beautiful saint of God gets sick and then she dies. Apparently, there were different norms about handling bodies after death. In Jerusalem, they would bury people immediately, even the same day. In the outlying areas of Judea, the body would be laid in an upper room for as many as three days. This was enough time for them to send for Peter, who was a day’s journey away or less if you really hurried.

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. – Acts 9:39 

I find it interesting that the women mourning Dorcas were the widows. Not just some of the widows were there, but all of them. In that society, as in many still today, widows are among the poorest and most disadvantaged people. Dorcas in some way had cared for them all, including making clothes for them. 

Was Dorcas a widow, too? We don’t know. I also find it interesting that she is described in the preceding verses only as “a disciple.” That was the most important way to describe her: Disciple. Follower of Jesus. That’s the most important thing about you, too: That you are a disciple of Jesus—that you follow Him. 

How does Peter respond in this situation? 

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. – Acts 9:40-43 

The similarity of this scene to Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter is remarkable. Let’s read through that account as recorded in Luke 8. 

A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. "Who touched Me?" Jesus asked. 

When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against You." – Luke 8:40-45 

But Jesus said, "Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me." Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." – Luke 8:46-48 

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the Teacher anymore." Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." When He arrived at the house of Jairus, He did not let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But He took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" [Talitha, koum] Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. – Luke 8:49-56 

There are similarities even down to the words that Jesus says to the little girl: “Talitha, koum.” Peter says almost the same: “Tabitha, koum.” 

And yet, there are differences. Jesus simply takes the girl by the hand and tells her to get up. Peter, rather, gets down on his knees and prays. Jesus is God, Peter is not. 

Jesus orders them not to tell anyone what had happened. Peter calls for the believers, especially the widows, and presents Tabitha to them alive. Jesus is risen, and this resurrection is another testimony to the great power of Jesus over death. The result of this miraculous event has a profound impact all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord as a result. 

This question of impact is important for us to consider. How will the truth of the gospel impact us? How will we think about our circumstances? What will we think about what Jesus is doing and what He desires to do in the world? 

Christina and I went on a bit of a whirlwind trip last week. Our trip started as an idea when she graduated high school. She has done a considerable amount of dance over the years. She studied French a bit in high school. I said it would be neat to go to Paris as a graduation trip. But her high school graduation was June 2020… COVID. No Paris in 2020. 

Fast forward to 2023, Tina was graduating from that university in Columbia. It felt like it was kind of now or never for a father-daughter trip. So, we decided to go for it. We saw a lot of neat things and went to places neither of us had ever been before. God was incredibly gracious with the travel and the weather. It was a sweet time. 

One of the places we went was Paris. There, we saw this really interesting painting. It’s interesting in a lot of ways. For one thing, it’s simply huge: fifteen by thirty feet. The painting was made in the time period of 1570-1572. It’s hard to believe that you can go look at a painting that’s 450 years old. The artist was an Italian, Paolo Veronese. 

The painting is of the feast of Simon the Pharisee: Le Repas chez Simon le Pharisien - Google Art Project.jpg.

The story is told in Luke 7:36-50. Of course, it is a Renaissance painting, and it has a lot of features which aren’t consistent with what things would have looked like in the first century. The thing that stood out to me was the reaction of the people to what is happening which is likely consistent with what happened. 

Jesus looks peaceful; His hand is simply held out. He’s putting the question to Simon: “Do you see this woman?” Simon isn’t facing us, but it doesn’t look like he has a dramatic expression. He seems to be holding it together, but look at his hand. His arm is not resting on the chair. Rather, he’s got this animated grip on the armrest. There is this sense of incredulity. 

Meanwhile, at the other table, a couple of guys are out of their seats. They look like they’re ready to pull the poor woman out of there. You have to take my word for it, but the guy that’s standing looks shocked and possibly horrified. His mouth is open. He’s ready to take action. 

Elsewhere, there are people on the left watching the scene and talking to one another in pairs or small groups. The equivalent of the maître d’ seems to have been too busy to notice until the moment of the scene. He’s waiting to take a platter from another servant, but then he seems to get the idea that something unusual is happening. Then, on the right side, the guests seem to be rather oblivious to what is going on. They’re talking to each other or looking down at their plates. 

The connection to what we’ve been talking about today is reaction. How do we react to what Jesus is doing? When Jesus came to Jairus’ house and told the over-the-top weeping and wailing mourners that the little girl who had died was merely sleeping, they laughed at Him. The King James Version says they laughed Him to scorn. What a stunning reversal. They were supposed to be grieving the death of this poor twelve-year-old girl. When Jesus proposed that she wasn’t dead, the reaction wasn’t to correct Him or deny His assertion. They laughed. Weeping and moaning to coarse laughter… It just doesn’t fit unless the people weren’t actually mourning but rather putting on a show. 

Jesus desires that none should perish but all should come to the knowledge of Him (II Peter 3:9). Tabitha is a powerful example for us. She was a follower of Jesus. A disciple. She was always doing good and helping the poor. She touched all the needy people she came in contact with. 

How do we react? Do we put Tabitha on a pedestal, or do we look to her as an example to follow? What about Peter? Do we think like Peter thought? He didn’t always travel around visiting with the believers from the beginning. But in Acts 9, we see him start doing that. Is that an opportunity for us? Do we visit the Lord’s people? Do we visit people in the Lord? 

We didn’t touch on the last line of our passage, but it says Peter stayed with Simon the tanner in Joppa for some time. That’s going to flow right into next week’s passage. Think about what a tanner does. A tanner deals with animal hides. It’s a pretty unclean profession. An observant Jew would probably avoid staying at a tanner’s house if he possibly could, but here is Peter staying with Simon. It’s interesting what God will reveal to Peter at Simon’s house, but like I said, that’s for next week. 

God puts each of us into unique circumstances of His own design. I think we all have the opportunity to have more impact in those circumstances than we typically realize. It’s not that we necessarily need to radically change the places we go or the people we interact with. Rather, do we “make the most of every opportunity,” as Paul exhorts us in Colossians 4:5? 

Let’s consider these things and “let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Whatever we do, may we glorify the Lord. 

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, You are the forerunner of our faith. May we follow Your example and the examples You give to us in the lives of other believers around us. God be glorified, we pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.