Atos 9

Atos 9

Calvin observes that God could have kept Dorcas alive to care for the widows. But by raising her from the dead, God gave her two lives. At the same time, he showed the widows the power of his Son as the Author of life. (Ibid) Widows (5503)(chera = feminine of cheros = bereft of one's spouse) means bereaved as would be a widow whose husband had died. Stood by (3936)(paristemi from para = near, beside + histemi = place, set) literally means set beside and here means simply to physically stand by as were the two angels in Acts 1:10+ (cf Acts 23:2, 4). In Acts 9:41 it is used to describe Peter as he "presented her alive" to the disciples. All Luke's uses of paristemi in Acts - Acts 1:3; Acts 1:10; Acts 4:10; Acts 4:26; Acts 9:39; Acts 9:41; Acts 23:2; Acts 23:4; Acts 23:24; Acts 23:33; Acts 24:13; Acts 27:23; Acts 27:24 Weeping (2799)(klaio) means to mourn, to weep, to lament or to wail with emphasis upon noise accompanying weeping. The picture is of these widows lamenting with sobs or wailing aloud and was used to describe the wailing that took place when someone died. Weeping thus was a sign of the pain and grief for the entity or person being wept over Klaio was a term frequently used to describe the actions of professional mourners, which these widows of course were not. And showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them - Used to make is in the imperfect tense indicating Dorcas was making these articles of clothing again and again. The tunics were the close-fitting garments worn next the body, the garments indicate the looser outer cloaks that were worn over them. The fruit of Dorcas' ministry endured even though she was dead. Will the fruit of our ministry live on after our death? Only one life Twill soon pass Only what's done for Christ Will last. This is a good ditty but it needs to be qualified and would be better stated "Only what's done IN Christ" will endure throughout eternity. Christian activity per se will not last, but only that which is borne by abiding in the Vine, relying on the Spirit of Christ's initiating and empowering effect (cf Jn 15:5) Brian Bill - Interestingly, we don’t know anything Tabitha said but we know a lot about what she did. We have no record of her words but we do know about her work because her life of servanthood spoke loudly. (Sermon) (ED: Corollary thought - Some Christians have a lot saying, but not a lot of doing. Doing that pleases God needs supernatural enablement from the Spirit but too much talking can end up quenching the Spirit necessary for "doing." - cf Eph 4:29, 30, Pr 10:19.) Showing (1925) (epideiknumi from epí = upon + deíknumi = make known character of something by visual, etc means) literally means to cause to be seen (the sense in Acts 9:39) and figuratively means to prove to be true beyond a doubt and so to demonstrate convincingly (the sense in Acts 18:28). Tunics (5509)(chiton) is a masculine noun. which refers to a close–fitting inner vest, an inner garment, an undergarment or in some contexts to any garment. At times two tunics seem to have been worn, probably of different materials for ornament or luxury (Mt. 10:10; Mk 6:9; Lu 3:11; 9:3). Garments (2440)(himation) describes a garment of any sort, but especially an outer garment and in the plural (ta himatia) for clothes in general. In contrast the Greek word chiton refers to the garment worn under the outer cloak. The himation was something thrown over the inner tunic (chitin) and in secular Greek was sometimes used for the Roman toga. Brian Bill - The phrase “robes and other clothing” in the original language refers to both their undergarments and their outerwear – Tabitha had made everything they were wearing. They were literally clothed in her compassion. And their custom clothing shows how Tabitha saw each one of them as individuals. (Sermon) Jack Andrews - Dorcas did what she could when she could. She made those tunics and garments when she was with them. Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can and must do today. We need to get busy about serving Jesus now while we are alive. Good intentions will never be a blessing to anyone at anytime. The widows didn’t just say a good word about Dorcas, but they showed the good works of Dorcas. My friend John McDaniel said, “The legacy that we leave depends on the life that we lived.” Dorcas left a living testimony of her faithfulness and fruit for the Lord Jesus. What are you leaving behind? What can others say about you and show about your life and service? Punshon - There are no trifles in the moral universe of God. God has placed you in a position in which you can be honest and excel. Do your duty in the present and God will take care of the future.… Don’t live in the cloudland of some transcendental heaven; do your best to bring the glory of a real heaven down and ray it out upon your fellows in this work-day world. Dorcas is a excellent example of Solomon's wise word in Ecclesiastes (and an excellent example to imitate)... Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Comment - The use of Sheol should not be confused with a state of damnation, because in this context it signifies the "grave" (Eccl 9:10NET, Eccl 9:10NLT, Eccl 9:10NIV), so the idea is that when we enter the grave, our work for God ceases. One is reminded of the words of Jesus "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work." (John 9:4) Criswell - There is no attempt here to describe the nature of the existence of man in the "grave" (sheol, Heb.). Rather, the verse simply indicates that earthly activities cannot be continued beyond this life. Acts 9:40 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. (NASB: Lockman) KJV 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. But Peter sent them all out Mark 5:40; 9:25; Luke 8:54 and knelt down Acts 7:60; 20:36; 21:5 and prayed 1 Ki 17:19-23; 2 Ki 4:28-36; Mt 9:25 And she opened her eyes Mark 5:41,42; John 11:43,44 Acts 9 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PETER DEPENDS ON THE LORD FOR DORCAS' REVIVAL But Peter sent them all out - This verb (ekbállō) is a rather strong verb which literally means "to cast out." Perhaps they did not want to leave so Peter used some gentle pressure ! There was no auditorium full of people like the fake healers on television. This was not to be a "show!" While there is no record that Peter had ever raised someone from the dead, it is worth noting that Jesus at one time had given him the power to raise people from the dead declaring to His disciples "“Heal the sick, raise the dead...." (Mt. 10:8). Arnold adds "notice how Peter raised Dorcas. He did not do it before a crowd. He sent everyone away. He sought no publicity and no personal glory. His only goal was to glorify Christ. How different was Peter than the so-called modern day faith healers who draw only attention to themselves and to these so-called miracles before thousands." (The Miracle Worker) Jesus' raising of Jairus' daughter was also done after putting everyone out... Mark 5:40 They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and *entered the room where the child was. Jack Andrews - Everything we do should be preceded by and permeated with prayer. Without prayer we’ll have no power in ministry. Our serving and singing will be lifeless and fruitless. Our preaching and teaching will be ineffective. Our witness and work will be null and void! Our meetings and music will be boring. Many years ago five young college students made their way to London to hear Charles Haddon Spurgeon preach. Arriving early at the Metropolitan Tabernacle they found the doors still locked. While they waited on the steps, a man approached them. He asked, “Would you like to see the heating apparatus of this church?” That is not what they had come for, but they agreed to go with him. He led them into the building, down a long flight of stairs, and into a hallway. At the end of the hallway he opened a door into a large room filled with seven hundred people on their knees praying. “That,” said, their guide (who was none other than Spurgeon himself), “is the heating apparatus of this church.” There is power in prayer! Do we really believe that? Peter was dependent on the Lord Jesus, are we? David Jeremiah said, “I think Peter wanted to be alone with the Lord, knowing that he had no ability in himself to raise Dorcas from the dead. There is a great temptation in this life after experiencing some successes to think we must really have it together. Trust me— we don’t! If we don’t live in dependency on the Lord, nothing is going to happen in the long run in our lives. If you want God’s blessing, you have to be dependent on Him.” Prayer acknowledges dependence on God. Peter bowed down before the Lord and depended on Him And knelt down and prayed - Peter did not claim power to raise the dead and was not presumptuous (like many of the television evangelists!) Peter had seen Jesus raise the dead, but no apostle had yet performed such a miracle. While Luke does not record Peter's words, clearly his prayer showed his submission to and dependence on God the Giver and Taker of all life. In the OT Elijah also prayed for the life of a child in an upper room. So after "he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray Thee, let this child's life return to him. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah and the life of the child returned to him and he revived." (1 Ki 17:21, 22). When Jesus raised Lazarus He prayed So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”(John 11:41, 42). Related Resource - Apostolic and Other Resurrections And turning to the body - When he prayed he turned away from Dorcas' corpse, presumably so as not to be distracted in prayer. If I see a roach when I am praying it distracts me, so just imagine seeing a corpse. And keep in mind that Peter has never personally been used by God to revive a dead person, so this is new territory for him. Notice that Peter is still on his knees as he turns to Tabitha's corpse, still lifeless. Presumably he has heard from God's Spirit in prayer and so he turns around to issue a command with Spirit enabled confidence. He said, "Tabitha, arise" - After hearing from the Lord, he spoke to the lady. Peter issues a command (aorist imperative) from Tabitha to rise (anistemi) from the dead, the command he had given to Aeneas to get up (see anistemi) from the paralysis (Acts 9:34). Kistemaker notes that "Unlike the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, who raised children from the dead by touching them (1 Kings 17:19–23; 2 Kings 4:32–35), Peter spoke to the body of Dorcas." Steven Ger - Peter had heard Jesus speaking to the dead girl in Aramaic, Talitha cumi, "little girl, arise." Peter, changing only one letter in His teacher's phrase, uttered the words, Tabitha cumi, "Tabitha, arise." The corpse immediately opened her eyes, saw Peter and sat up in the bed. (Twenty-First Century Commentary-Acts) Warren