As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once. 35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. 37 Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. 38 Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. 43 And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.'
The Church was expanding through the ministry of the apostles and Peter’s ministry led him to Lydda and Joppa in Judea (Acts 1:8). Wonders and signs continued to be performed through the apostles (Acts 2:43; 5:12-16). In Lydda Peter healed Aeneas, who had been paralyzed for eight years, by a simple command on Jesus’ authority. The healing was immediate and many in Lydda and Sharon who saw the man healed converted.
A disciple in Joppa named Tabitha fell ill and died. Tabitha was loved by many because of her charitable works. Two men were sent to bring Peter to Joppa which was near Lydda. When Peter arrived, he sent the mourners out of the room and prayed over the body (Lk. 8:51-56). Once Peter was given the authority by Jesus, he commanded Tabitha to “rise up” and she immediately came back to life. This led to many conversions in Joppa.
Peter remained in Joppa and stayed with Simon the tanner. Tanning was considered an unclean occupation by some rabbis and was probably mentioned because in Acts 10 & 11, Peter would have to deal with the issue of what was clean and what was unclean.
Almighty God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you restored human nature to an even greater dignity than before. Bless those you have chosen to guide your flock, and lead those who have strayed back into your grace. This we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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