Chapter 39 — THE MINISTRY OF PETER

"Peter traveled everywhere. On one occasion he went to visit God's people who lived in Lydda. There he met a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had not been able to get out of bed for eight years.SRme 1.1283

"'Aeneas,' Peter said to him, 'Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up and make your bed.' At once Aeneas got up. All the people living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord" (Acts 9:32-35).SRme 1.1284

The city of Joppa was near Lydda. Tabitha, who was also called Dorcas, lived in Joppa. Dorcas died while Peter was in Lydda. Dorcas' body was laid in a room upstairs.SRme 1.1285

Dorcas had been a faithful disciple of Jesus. Dorcas' life had been filled with acts of love and kindness, especially to poor and sorrowful people. Dorcas was dearly loved, and her death was a great loss to the church at Joppa. The church needed Dorcas' cheerful, noble influence.SRme 1.1286

The church members had heard of the wonderful healing that Peter was doing in Lydda. The church members immediately sent messengers asking Peter to come to them at once.SRme 1.1287

"So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, he was taken to the room upstairs, where all the widows crowded around him, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats that Dorcas had made while she was alive" (Acts 9:39, TEV).SRme 1.1288

Peter asked the sad, crying friends to leave the room. Peter then knelt down and prayed earnestly to God to again give life and health to Dorcas. "Then he [Peter] turned to the body and said, 'Tabitha, get up!' She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Peter reached over and helped her get up. Then he called all the believers, including the widows, and presented her alive to them" (Acts 9:40, 41).SRme 1.1289