Developing While in Ministry
Acts
9:32-43
32Now as Peter went here and there
among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33There he found a man named Aeneas,
bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas,
Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
35And all the residents of Lydda and
Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now there was in Joppa a disciple
named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and
acts of charity.
37In those days she became ill and
died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the
disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him,
“Please come to us without delay.”
39So Peter rose and went with them.
And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood
beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while
she was with them.
40But Peter put them all outside, and
knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And
she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41And he gave her his hand and raised
her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42And it became known throughout all
Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43And he stayed in Joppa for many
days with one Simon, a tanner.
Our story now shifts back to the ministry
of Peter. It looks like he is simply taking Jesus with him everywhere he goes.
Because of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit we find Peter being used
in amazing ways. He has left Jerusalem and is spending time among the
Samaritans. They need the Lord just as much as the Jews and Peter seems willing
to share with them freely. He also seems to be following in Jesus footsteps
very readily. One cannot help but be reminded of the healing that Jesus did
during His time on earth.
First we learn of a healing that takes
place in Lydda. This is north and west of Jerusalem in Samaria. It would appear that
without prompting or request Peter offers healing to a man who has been
paralyzed for 8 years. He just walks up to him and commands him to rise. A
couple of the healings that Jesus did come to mind as we read of this man in
Lydda. In John 9 a man born blind is healed by Jesus although it appears Jesus
is not asked to do so. Also in Luke 13 Jesus heals a crippled woman who is just
standing off to the side in the temple. This healing performed by Peter serves
to get the attention of the citizens of Lydda and a neighboring village and
souls are saved. Jesus also raised a child who had died (Luke 8) setting the
example for Peter to do the same now with Tabitha. I always feel a little badly
for Tabitha; the poor woman has died and gone to heaven only to be called back
so that she can work some more. But the greater purpose of showing God’s power
to the world is served and many are saved. I’m sure she celebrated the fact
that her coming back from death could help others to see God.
So Peter emulates the Savior and he is
growing in his understanding of just who can be a part of God’s kingdom. The
last verse of this passage is rich with insight. Peter is staying with a
tanner. This would be completely unacceptable if Peter were going to insist on
keeping up good Jewish customs. No self-respecting Jew would stay with a
Gentile, first of all, or be in a house where dead animals were processed. That
just wouldn’t happen. But Peter’s understanding of the scope of God’s love is
growing. The next chapter brings even further challenges to those sensibilities.
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