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 Since 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 traveled through many regions to preach the Gospel. Peter’s ministry led him to Lydda, a town with a large Christian community located about eleven miles southeast of Joppa. Joppa was a culturally diverse and important port city renowned for its maritime trade. Jonah tried to flee to Tarshish from Joppa when commanded by God to go to Nineveh and proclaim judgment against it (Jon. 1:2-3). Peter encountered Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed. On Jesus’ authority, Peter commanded Aeneas to get up and make his bed. The miraculous healing of Aeneas was immediate and led to many conversions throughout Lydda and the surrounding region of Sharon.
A disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, a devout disciple of Christ known for her charitable deeds suddenly fell ill and died. Tabitha was loved by many because of her good works and the whole community grieved for her. The disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda. Two disciples went and informed Peter about Tabitha's death and implored him to come quickly to Joppa. Peter was greeted in Joppa by grieving widows who told him about Tabitha's kindness and showed him some of the garments she made for them. Peter sent the mourners out of the room and prayed over the body (Lk. 8:51-56). Peter then commanded Tabitha to rise from the dead and she was immediately restored to life. Tabitha's miraculous restoration led to numerous conversions in Joppa,
Peter remained in Joppa and stayed with Simon, a tanner. Tanning was considered an unclean occupation by some rabbis. In Acts 10 & 11, Peter would have to wrestle with the issue of what was clean and unclean.
Almighty God, help us to recognize your presence in our lives and to be instruments of your love and mercy to those in need. Grant us the faith to trust in your healing power. This we pray through Christ our Lord. 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.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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