Character Studies #8 - Dorcas

“Dorcas – Kindness Personified”

Photos in God’s Album Series

—Dorcas/Tabitha—

Acts 9:32-43 

INTRODUCTION:

Our story picks up with Peter and John in Samaria checking out Philip’s revival, recorded in Acts 8:25. “So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.” Then, the story skips to Acts 9:32 where it continues… 

Verse 32: Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

·       Lydda (modern Lod, the principal airport in Israel).

·       It was a small village 3 miles north of the road linking Jerusalem to Joppa on the Mediterranean coast.

·       Thirty-eight (38) miles separate Joppa from Jerusalem.

·       There are 12 miles between Joppa and Lydda.

·       N.B. Peter went there to visit the “saints” (lit. holy ones), meaning the Christians. 

TRANSITION:

Verse 33: There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.

·       The sad story of Aeneas - paralyzed and bedridden for 8 years.

·       Did he fall? Did he have a disease? We don’t know the details.

·       His story reminds me of Joni Eareckson Tada, quadriplegic since 1967. 

Verse 34: Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up.

·       N.B. “Jesus Christ heals you. Arise!” Jesus gets all the credit.

o   Watch out for “faith healers” who take credit with hysteria, hype, spectacle, crowds, etc.

o   “Immediately.” This was FAITH in action. His nerves reconnected, feeling returned, and atrophied muscles awoke. This was a genuine, solid gold miracle, not merely a psychosomatic parlor trick. 

Verse 35: And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

·       Observation: The people did not turn to the healer but “to the LORD.”

·       Just like the physical awakening in Aeneas’ body, there occurred a spiritual awakening in the hearts of many. 

NOTES on the Text:

Verse 36: Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

·       Now the story moves to the village of Joppa (modern Jaffa, a suburb of Tel Aviv). It is still the major seaport of Judea, located on the coast, 38 miles from Jerusalem.

·       Here we meet Tabitha. In both Aramaic and Hebrew her name means “gazelle.” Her name in Greek was Dorcas, with the same meaning.

·       She was a female disciple of Jesus (Greek μαθήτρια, matheítria). This is the only usage of this word in the New Testament, thus a hapax legomenon.

·       She was “abounding” in deeds of kindness and charity (i.e., helping the poor). This word means full and running over.

·       “…which she continually did” – Not just occasional acts of charity but a lifestyle of kindness and compassion. She was a true Christian putting her love into action the way Christ did. 

Verse 37: And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.

·       But then she “got sick and died.” We are not told the cause or if she had been feeling poorly. It sounds, however, like it happened without warning, without time for anyone to say their goodbyes.

·       Questions we ask in these situations:

o   “Doesn’t God care?”

o   “Is this beyond God’s control?”

o   “Is there any meaning to this tragedy?”

·       For a correct perspective on sickness and death see John 9:3 and 11:4. “They washed her body” – This was the normal custom. This ritual washing was done by her dear grieving lady friends.

o   In Jerusalem by law, they had to bury the person within 24 hours.

o   Outside of Jerusalem they had up to 3 days. 

Verse 38: Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”

·       Two messengers were quickly dispatched by the disciples in Joppa to go find Peter in Lydda where he had been staying.

·       Lydda was near Joppa – just 12-miles away.

·       They begged Peter to return with them to Joppa, entreating him with the message, “Do not delay coming to us.”

·       WHY? Did they expect a miracle, or only want him to conduct the funeral? 

Verse 39: So, Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping, and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

·       “Peter arose and went with them.” Apparently, they left immediately for Joppa.

·       When they arrived, they went into the upper room where the crowd had gathered.

·       The widows were all weeping and lamenting. Evidently Dorcas had given special attention to ministering to those who were the poorest and most needy in that culture.

·       The widows showed Peter Dorcas’ handiwork, i.e., the dresses and cloaks that she had made for them. These garments served as silent testimonies of her love. 

Let me ask you a personal question. When you die who will weep for you? What will they show as proof positive of your love for Christ and for His people? Will there be anything concrete to live on after you die? If it suddenly became a crime to be a Christian and you were brought up on charges in court, would there be enough evidence to convict you? 

Verse 40: But Peter sent them all out 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.

·       “He sent them out.” - N.B. if Peter had been seeking power or fame, he would have wanted lots of witnesses.

·       Peter had seen Jesus raise three (3) dead people:

1.    Mark 5:22-43 – Jairus’ little daughter (Jesus sent the crowd out)

2.    Luke 7:11-17 – The son of the widow of Nain (Jesus raised him in plain view)

3.    John 11:1-44 – The raising of Lazarus (in plain view)

·       “Peter knelt and prayed.”

o   Seeking guidance and direction from the LORD.

o   He prayed for wisdom.

o   He prayed a prayer of faith. 

Observation: When a true miracle of God happens there are certain elements that are always present:

1.    The LORD alone is glorified.

2.    There is no showmanship, only integrity and authenticity.

3.    The unsaved are impressed and often trust Christ for salvation.

4.    Biblical principles are never contradicted. 

·       Peter “turned to the body (i.e., the corpse).” Dorcas was as dead as a stone, not merely sleeping, or in a coma as some have claimed.

·       “Tabitha, kum!” Peter used her Hebrew name. Notice that there was no yelling! No stunts! No potions or magic! Just the words “Tabitha, arise!” Compare this with Mark 5:41 and the story of Jesus raising Jairus’ little 12-year-old daughter. He said to her, “Talitha, kum!” meaning “Little girl, arise!”

·       Tabitha immediately opened her eyes, looked at Peter, and sat up. PRAISE GOD!

Verse 41: And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

·       Peter helped her up like a gentleman should.

·       He called in the “saints” (i.e., the believers) and widows and presented her alive! 

Verse 42: It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

·       This story became known all over Joppa. The old grapevine, the coconut wireless, got the news out to everyone in the community. Dorcas was well known and much-loved.

·       N.B. “Many believed in the LORD.” Not in Peter, but in the LORD. Credit was given where credit was due.

·       See John 12:9-11, because this is the same thing that happened after Lazarus was raised from the dead. 

Verse 43: And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

·       “Peter stayed many days in Joppa!” This wonderful miracle opened the door to extended effective ministry in that place, which is exactly the role of signs and wonders.

·       “…with a tanner named Simon.” – This little bit of the story about Peter staying at Simon the tanner’s house is another miracle. God was working in Peter’s life, loosening him up, opening his eyes, and changing his prejudices and preconceptions. Normally, Peter, as an orthodox Jew would not come anywhere near a person who dealt in dead carcasses and hides because tanning was considered an unclean profession and rendered anyone who came close to it as unclean and prohibited from entering the Temple Courts or offering a sacrifice. But here we find Peter staying at Simon house, sleeping in his bed, and taking meals at his table. That was a completer sea change for Peter and a lead-up to what God would ask him to do in Acts 10. 

CONCLUSION:

Dorcas –

·       A true disciple of Jesus Christ.

·       She showed kindness in action, not merely in words.

·       She left a legacy of love.

·       She served her LORD with needle and thread.

·       She was content with serving those who had little to return.

·       She brought people to her Savior, both in life and in death.

·       She got a second chance at life.

·       She discovered what life’s real priorities are.

·       She valued ministry to the “saints” in the Body of Christ.