Peter, Aeneas, and Tabitha/Dorcas
Acts 9:32-43 – December 04, 2022
Review: Acts 8:1-4. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 9:31. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Acts 9:32. As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people (saints/holy ones) who lived in Lydda.
Acts 9:33. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
Acts 9:34. Aeneas was a Greek name and he may have been a Hellenistic Jew, but he appears to have been a believer. Jesus is healing you NOW and this follows what Jesus did in Mark 2:11 when He said the faith of his friends had been demonstrated by their lowering of him through the roof.
Acts 9:35. Purpose of a miracle such as this is to lead people to Jesus.
Acts 9:36-38. Even the best of believers can get sick and die.
Acts 9:39. Not professional mourners.
Acts 9:40-41. This is very similar to the time Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus. There are Dorcas Ministries worldwide. Dorcas was a Greek/Roman name and she may have been part of the Hellenistic Jewish community that so hated Saul, but she was a Christian, a believer.
Acts 9:42. The purpose of miracles being fulfilled.
Acts 9:43. By Jewish law a woman could divorce her husband if he took on the job of being a tanner.
Likely the purpose was to prepare him for his time with Gentiles in the next chapter.
Miracles
When Jesus was alive, He created pictures for us in His healings.
When He healed the leper, it was a picture of how we need to be cleansed of the filth of our sin
When He healed the lame, it was a picture of how as unbelievers we are lame and cannot walk in the ways of God
When He healed the deaf, it was a picture of how it was a reminder as sinners we cannot hear the voice of God
When He healed the blind, it was a picture of how people are blinded by their sins and only Jesus could open their eyes and give them sight.
When He raised people from the dead, it was a reminder we are dead in our sins and it is God who quickens us and gives us new life.
Healings are not to celebrate anyone, but to glorify God.
When our food ministry makes food available for a great number of people that is not to celebrate those of us in the food ministry, but it is done for the glory of God.
Bottom Line: We are helpless in our sins without the help of the Holy Spirit. We might as well be paralyzed or blind or deaf or ….
Peter, Aeneas, and Tabitha/Dorcas
Acts 9:32-43 – December 04, 2022
Review: Acts 8:1-4. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 9:31. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Acts 9:32. As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people (saints/holy ones) who lived in Lydda.
Acts 9:33. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
Acts 9:34. Aeneas was a Greek name and he may have been a Hellenistic Jew, but he appears to have been a believer. Jesus is healing you NOW and this follows what Jesus did in Mark 2:11 when He said the faith of his friends had been demonstrated by their lowering of him through the roof.
Acts 9:35. Purpose of a miracle such as this is to lead people to Jesus.
Acts 9:36-38. Even the best of believers can get sick and die.
Acts 9:39. Not professional mourners.
Acts 9:40-41. This is very similar to the time Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus. There are Dorcas Ministries worldwide. Dorcas was a Greek/Roman name and she may have been part of the Hellenistic Jewish community that so hated Saul, but she was a Christian, a believer.
Acts 9:42. The purpose of miracles being fulfilled.
Acts 9:43. By Jewish law a woman could divorce her husband if he took on the job of being a tanner.
Likely the purpose was to prepare him for his time with Gentiles in the next chapter.
Miracles
When Jesus was alive, He created pictures for us in His healings.
When He healed the leper, it was a picture of how we need to be cleansed of the filth of our sin
When He healed the lame, it was a picture of how as unbelievers we are lame and cannot walk in the ways of God
When He healed the deaf, it was a picture of how it was a reminder as sinners we cannot hear the voice of God
When He healed the blind, it was a picture of how people are blinded by their sins and only Jesus could open their eyes and give them sight.
When He raised people from the dead, it was a reminder we are dead in our sins and it is God who quickens us and gives us new life.
Healings are not to celebrate anyone, but to glorify God.
When our food ministry makes food available for a great number of people that is not to celebrate those of us in the food ministry, but it is done for the glory of God.
Bottom Line: We are helpless in our sins without the help of the Holy Spirit. We might as well be paralyzed or blind or deaf or ….