Peter heals a paralyzed man and raises Tabitha from the dead.

Acts 9:32-43

• Peter heals a paralyzed man in Lydda.
• Tabitha, full of good works and charitable deeds, dies in Joppa.
• Peter came to Joppa from Lydda at the request of the friends of Tabitha.
• Peter raises Tabitha from the dead.

Peter heals a paralyzed man in Lydda.
“Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.” Acts 9:32

Wherever the Apostles went to, they always made time to visit the brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. That is the desire of every Believer, to be in the company of fellow Believers. In today’s world, that is a rare occurrence as fellowship in the name of Jesus seems to be countered with disruption and barriers of all types.

On the map below, Lydda is seen circled in yellow [the bottom yellow circle]. The Plain of Sharon is seen in the oblong yellow circle.

“There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” Acts 14:33-35

To be bedridden and paralyzed for eight years would be known by everyone then and also nowadays. Nowadays, paralyzed people receive disability checks for their handicap, home health aide etc. If they got up and walked after eight years of collecting government subsidies they would be put in prison for fraud and made to pay back every dollar given to them over eight years. Today’s culture would never accept that a miraculous physical healing had occurred. Actually, handicapped people would be more inclined to say “No” to a physical healing but yes to the miracle of receiving the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. The gift of Salvation and eternal life has nothing to do with money. When Christians are going to be arrested, it won’t be for disability fraud, it will be for our faith in Jesus Christ.

Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” And Aeneas did! He began to walk. There was no disability checks or government oversight involved. More importantly, Aeneas began to walk in Jeus Christ as he began to share his belief in the Lord. Aeneas returned home a Believer, not a worker of physical healings. The physical healing of Aeneas led many to believe in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. The focus of our faith must never be on physical healings but on Jesus Christ who forgives unbelief, gives the Holy Spirit, and grants eternal life. The Gospel is this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Today, the beast has power over physiology and every single cell of the body and is able to give physical healings. This is the same beast that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel. Today’s atheistic culture supports anything this beast does and health professionals will even provide scientific reasons why the miracle took place and is not fraud at all. These healings are done to mock the Living God, scoff at the need for Jesus Christ, and blaspheme the presence of the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus Christ, belief in God, living for Jesus Christ, and embracing the holy Spirit is far more important than any physical healing.

Tabitha, full of good works and charitable deeds, dies in Joppa.
“At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.” Acts 9:36a.

In the previous section, Peter’s ministry reached Lydda and Sharon. Now, there is a woman in the nearby city of Joppa [named Tabitha], who had died. Joppa is circled in yellow between Lydda and the Plain of Sharon. Tabitha was a follower of Jesus Christ.

“This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.” Acts 9:36b-37

Tabitha was a woman whose faith was in Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. She was full of goodwill, kindness, love, gentleness, meekness, peacefulness, faith, and goodness. Those are qualities of the Holy Spirit that led her to be filled with good works and charitable deeds. That is exactly the way our Lord Jesus has taught us to be, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

The culture we live in today, which is global, puts to death the good works and charitable deeds that comes through the Holy Spirit. They live for the beast that opposes the presence of the Holy Spirit. That beast has power over physiology and demands that people do according to its will. That is the same beast that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel. Because of its opposition to the good works of the Holy Spirit, today’s culture has become cold. They show negativity and hostility to the fruit of the Spirit. As our Lord Jesus says, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” –Matthew 24:12

Today, speaking about the United States, all needs of the population come through government subsidies, community charities, and other such organized efforts. Homelessness is rampant in the city where I live, in the surrounding cities, and all across America. Walls are built against individuals giving aid to those people in the name of Jesus. In fact, apartment managers, landlords, and neighborhood watch groups have policies against anyone “encouraging” and attracting the homeless by showing the love of God to them. People could lose their place of residence and face the wrath/persecution of neighbors by attending to the homeless. Today’s culture coldly refers to the spread of disease and sickness that come through the “uncleanness” of the homeless.

The churches have become a partner with the agenda of the community culture and are just an arm of organized giving. The ministry of the love of God through the Holy Spirit is not present towards those in need. Like Tabitha, they have become sick and died to the good works that come through the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus has several things to say to the churches of today, which are revealed in the letters to the “Seven Churches” of Revelations 2 through Revelations 3. A couple issues are that the church has left their first love [the Gospel of Jesus Christ], and that they allow a false prophetess to have influence over the congregation, as quoted below,

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Revelations 2: 2-6

 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants…” Revelations 2:18-20

The masses of people who live for beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel are those who fill the seats of the churches. They have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to partner with the community agenda. The beast they serve as God gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through them. By what they are given to say and do they are groomed to the mark of the beast, “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:5

“When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.”

Peter came to Joppa from Lydda at the request of the friends of Tabitha.
“And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.” Acts 9:38-39

Disciples of Christ, who were friends of Tabitha, traveled to Lydda to implore the Apostle Peter to return with them to Joppa, where Tabitha had died. The cities of Joppa and Lydda are shown on the map below, circled in yellow.

Those who came to believe in Jesus Christ did so through the signs and wonders that Peter did by the Spirit of God. When the disciples heard that Peter was nearby in Lydda, there was hope that he would be able to raise Tabita from the dead. Their hope was in Jesus whose name the power of God was working through Peter. When they first came to Jesus Christ through the signs and wonders of Peter, they returned home as Believers not performers of signs of wonders.

While we would all like to be physically healthy and live on this earth forever, that is not the case, we grow old and die. Even so, the Holy Spirit in us is a reality and so is our born-again experience in the name of Jesus. That is the miracle of life that our faith is in, which brings eternal life in the New Jerusalem of the new heaven and earth. The Holy Spirit in us is our guarantee of our eternal inheritance, as quoted, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 We are the “purchased possession”, purchased by the blood that Christ shed on the Cross to atone for sin. Our redemption comes when we are raised from the dead into eternal life with an eternal body.

We who die after living for Jesus Christ die with the goodwill, love, and kindness of the Holy Spirit within our heart and soul. Tabitha died as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ and her good works and charitable deeds to those of the way of Christ were evident. “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10⁷ But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:8-10

In the same way that the friends of Tabitha sought Peter in their hope of her being resurrected, we seek Jesus Christ in His mercy and in the hope of the resurrection from the dead. We mourn for those who die with their faith in Jesus Christ, and whose good works and charitable deeds were focused on Christians. In today’s culture, which is global, they rejoice at the passing of Christianity, as our Lord Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” John 16:20

Like Peter who brought all the Believers to the upper room, our lord Jesus brings us to the “Upper Room” where our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant…” Hebrews 12:22-24

Peter raises Tabitha from the dead.
“But Peter put 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. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.” Acts 9:40-43

Peter put all of the other Believers out of the room where they had placed the body of Tabitha. Peter was about to resurrect Tabitha from the dead. The resurrection power found in Jesus Christ is not a community event nor to be a public spectacle. Being born-again is a personal experience of the resurrection power working within our heart and soul. Our resurrection from the dead is solely based on our belief in God through Jesus Christ and has nothing to do with community attendance. When it comes to being born-again and resurrected from the dead, Jesus Christ puts the community out to make our relationship with him personal.

Peter knelt down and prayed, the same as our prayers are a personal communion between us and God through the Spirit. God knows the heart and mind of every person and each prayer is personalized, not something that community attendance can help facilitate. Peter turned to the dead body and said, “Tabitha, arise.” When Jesus turns to us, He says, “_______Arise”. When He says that to us, we arise in the Spirit and we will arise from dead into eternal life, just like Tabitha who arose and sat up.

Like Peter, who gave Tabitha his hand to lift her up, our Lord Jesus gives us His hand to lift us up so that we walk with Him in the newness of the born-again and resurrected life. In Jesus, we do not need the hands of the members of the community to help us to walk because only Christ can help us to walk in the Holy Spirit. Fleshly hands are very much different than the hand of the Spirit.

Our Lord Jesus lifts us up, like Peter lifted up Tabitha, and He presents us alive to the family of Jesus Christ. That is our born-again testimony to our brothers and sisters in Christ, that no community effort is needed to bring new life in the Spirit and to fill us with the hope of eternal life.

In today’s culture, which is global, they put a huge, huge emphasis on human touch, social love and belonging, feeding a person’s esteem, dignity, respect, and “self-identity”. Instead of putting the community out of the room when trying to heal a person’s heart and soul, they put God the Creator, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit out of the room. They serve the creature instead of the Creator and discard Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life. Today’s culture lives for humanism, which is the fig leaf they wear in service to the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. Humanism is “…an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems…”

The Gospel of Jesus Christ spread to global proportions from the time of Jesus Christ up to the global falling away [around 1945], as described in 2 Thessalonians 2. Today, as followers of Jesus Christ, we will continue to let the light of Jesus Christ shine in us through the Holy Spirit. We will remain in spirit with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are being afflicted, imprisoned, and killed around the world. Our Lord Jesus says, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5 “Do not prattle,” you say to those who prophesy. So they will not prophesy to you; They will not return insult for insult.” Micah 2:6

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11