Acts 9:31-43

The Growth of the Church and Two of Peter's Miracles

After Saul went to Tarsus, Luke reported that a period of peace ensued during which the church in Judea, Galilee and Samaria was strengthened, walked in reverent respect for the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. All of this resulted in a further multiplication of the number of disciples. During this time frame, Peter preached his way along the Mediterranean coast. The apostle healed a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years with palsy. Significantly, Peter told Aeneas that it was Jesus Christ who healed him. Those in his own city of Lydda, as well as the surrounding coastal plain of Sharon, who heard the news were also turned to Jesus.

Meanwhile, in Joppa, which was also reasonably close, a hard working, Christian woman, named Tabitha, or Dorcas, who was constantly giving to others, became ill and died. The brethren washed her body and laid it in an upper room. Then, they sent to Lydda to plead with Peter to come as soon as possible. When Peter came, they took him to the upper room where her body laid surrounded by weeping widows who showed him some of her beautiful works. Ash wonders aloud in his writings on this verse if the brethren intentionally failed to anoint her body for burial. Perhaps they were hoping the apostle would raise her from the dead!

Peter caused everyone to leave, kneeled down and prayed. Then, in much the same fashion as he had seen the Lord do, Peter called for Tabitha to arise. She opened her eyes and sat up upon seeing the apostle. He extended his hand to her and helped her up while calling for the brethren to come. Knowledge of this great miracle naturally spread and many believed on the name of the Lord. Peter stayed for a time in Joppa at the house of Simon the tanner. Evidently, he seized the opportunity to preach God's word to an area that had recently experienced two powerful examples of God's working (Acts 9:31-43).