Peter
Performs Two Miracles
Introduction:
For a short while,
the churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace as a
result of its main persecutor being converted. (Acts
9:31)
“Then the churches
throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were
edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of
the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”
(Galatians
1:22-24)
“And I was unknown by
face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were
hearing only, ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith
which he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God in me.”
NKJV So while Saul is preaching
the gospel in Tarsus, Cilicia, and Syria, the apostle Peter is
preaching in western Judea, near the Mediterranean Sea. While in
this area, he performs two miracles.
Text:
Acts 9:32-43
Body:
I.
Peter Heals A Paralytic
Acts
9:32-35
“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. 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.” NKJV
·
Because all these regions were experiencing peaceful
conditions, Peter visited congregations edifying them. He was
fulfilling the charge Christ had given him. (John
21:15-17)
“So when they had
eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do
you love Me more that these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know
that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ He said to him
again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said
to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him,
‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him
the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You
know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him,
‘Feed My sheep.’ ” NKJV
·
Peter visits the saints in Lydda. This city
was an important commercial center at the intersection of two
highways connecting Egypt to Syria and Joppa to Jerusalem. It was
formerly known in the Old Testament as Lod.
·
Peter finds a man named Aeneas whose paralysis was so
severe that he had been bedridden for eight years. We don’t know if
he was a Christian or not. Peter calls upon the power of Jesus’
name to heal him. Note
Acts 4:8-10.
“Then Peter, filled
with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders
of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a
helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known
to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.’ ” NKJV
Aeneas is healed immediately and
completely. No one could doubt a miracle had been performed! This
healing is similar to Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in
Luke 5:17-26.
“25
Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying
on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.” NKJV
·
This miracle confirmed that what Peter was preaching
was truth. (Mark
16:20)
“And they went out
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming
the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” NKJV
This led many to “turn to the Lord.” They
turned away from sin and turned toward Christ. (Acts
3:26)
“To you first, God,
having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in
turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” NKJV
II.
Peter Raises the Dead
Acts
9:36-43
“At Joppa there was a
certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. 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. 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. 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.” NKJV
·
Joppa was located on the Mediterranean coast
about eleven miles northwest of Lydda. The prophet Jonah had
departed from here on his famous journey. Today it is known as
Jaffa, a suburb of Tel Aviv.
·
A disciple of Jesus is there named Tabitha [her
Aramaic name] or Dorcas [her Greek name]. Both names mean “antelope
or gazelle,” an animal of beauty and grace. She was known for
her good works and acts of kindness. She had devoted herself to
doing good for others. (Matthew
6:2-4)
“Therefore, when you
do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may
have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their
reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed
may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself
reward you openly.” NKJV
·
Dorcas becomes sick and dies while Peter is
in Lydda. She is so beloved that the disciples send for Peter to
come without delay. It would probably take about three hours
to get there and three hours to walk back.
·
When Peter arrives, he goes to the upper room
where her body is. He is met by several crying widows who had
received clothes Dorcas had made for them. These were greater
memorials than marble and bronze monuments would have been!
·
Peter clears the room, kneels down and
prays. Up to this point, there is no record of an apostle having
raised the dead, even though Peter had witnessed Christ raising
three people from the dead.
1.
The daughter of Jairus (Mark
5:40-42)
“And they ridiculed
Him, But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and
the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered
where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and
said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I
say to you, arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she
was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great
amazement.” NKJV
2.
The son of the widow at Nain (Luke
7:14-15)
“Then He came and
touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And
He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ So he who was dead sat
up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.” NKJV
3.
Lazarus (John
11:43-44)
“Now when He had said
these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’
And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes,
and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose
him, and let him go.’ ” NKJV
Dorcas’ life returns to her lifeless body and she sits up.
·
Peter then stays in Joppa with Simon who was a
tanner. A tanner worked with animal hides, turning them into
leather. Tanning was a smelly business so the ocean breezes would
be very helpful. Working with animal carcasses would quite often
leave him in an unclean state. (Leviticus
11:35-40)
“And everything on
which a part of any such carcass falls shall be unclean; whether it
is an oven or cooking stove, it shall be broken down; for they are
unclean, and shall be unclean to you. Nevertheless a spring or a
cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but
whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean. And if a part of
any such carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it
remains clean. But if water is put on the seed, and if a part of
any such carcass falls on it, it becomes unclean to you. And if any
animal which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be
unclean until evening. He who eats of its carcass shall wash his
clothes and be unclean until evening. He also who carries its
carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.” NKJV
Conclusion:
The effect of the two miracles was that
many “turned to the Lord” and many “believed in the Lord.” This is
just two ways of saying the same thing. One places his faith and
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, turns from sin to Christ, and obeys
Him fully. (John
3:36)
“He who believes in
the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” NKJV
Bobby Stafford
November 15, 2015
Acts: Lesson 25
Acts 9:32-43
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