Peter Replicates Jesus' Ministry (Acts 9:31-43)

• Are you healed? From what?
• Since Jesus and Peter (also Elijah and Elisha) healed a paralytic and raised the dead, should we expect this today?
• What "paralyzes" people (Jn 8:34)? What causes them to be "dead" even though they're still alive (Eph 2:1)? 
• If I trust God should I expect to be healed if I have a terminal illness? If "No" why are healings recorded in Scripture?
  

The church continues to expand into new areas--cities on the Mediterranean coast. In preparation for the great event of the conversion of Cornelius [the 1st Gentile convert] in Acts 10-11, Peter travels to Lydda and then to Joppa, moving further and further away from Jerusalem into Gentile territory.

• Distances: Jerusalem to Damascus (Ac 9:2) - 135 miles.
• Jerusalem to Caesarea (Ac 9:30) - 65 miles north.
• Jerusalem to Lydda (Ac 9:32) - 25 miles north.
• Lydda to Joppa (Ac 9:36) - 12 miles northwest of Lydda on the coast.
• Joppa to Caesarea (Ac 10:1, 5) - 35 miles north.

The healing of the paralytic and the resuscitation of the widow parallel and reduplicate the ministry of Jesus (Lk 5:17-26; 7:11-17) and the earlier ministries of Elijah and Elisha (1 Ki 17:17-24; 2 Ki 4:18), showing that the church is truly reliving the life and ministry of Jesus--a major theological core theme of Acts. Peter's Christ-likeness is highlighted as he works signs and wonders among the people, as did the prophets. As he responds to various needs, Aeneas is healed, Tabbitha [Dorcas] is raised from death, and many people turn to Christ. Aeneas and Dorcas had no social status or fame but were ordinary people who suffered greatly. They were healed not for their piety or wealth, but because they needed help. Then Peter is led by God to the house of Simon the tanner, where he receives the vision that will impel him to preach the gospel to a Roman household in Caesarea.

Summary: A church growing in peace and numbers (Ac 9:31). Several summary passages all show that even in times of tumult, the church under the Spirit is flourishing (Ac 2:40; 4:4, 31; 5:14; 6:7). As persecution increases, the power of the Spirit grows exponentially, and this shows all that has transpired. This is the Luke's 1st mention of ministry in Galilee, which was nearly the entire focus in his Gospel, so in Acts he centers on Judea and Samaria. There are 5 areas of growth:

1. A "time of peace" (Ac 9:31a) after all the tumult--the persecution after the death of Stephen. The saints can breathe a sigh of relief.
2. They were "strengthened" (Ac 9:31b) or "built up" in Christ, who is the foundation of God's people. This is a major Pauline metaphor for the beauty and strength of God's people (Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 10:23; 14:3-5, 12; 2 Cor 13:10; Eph 4:12, 29), alluding to Rome's predilection for huge building projects.
3. They are "living [walking] in the fear of the Lord" (Ac 9:31c), literally "advancing in awe," as they experience more and more of Christ, advancing to "the measure of the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4:13). Their church growth is in every area--not just in numbers but also in the spiritual and social arenas, and in their fellowship.
4. They are "encouraged by the Holy Spirit" (Ac 9:31d), being comforted in all life's troubles.
5. As a result, the church "increased in numbers" (Ac 9:31e) as more and more joined the church.

Lydda: The healing of a lame man (9:32-35) is a great miracle. But the greatest miracle is salvation (Ac 10:35). Why? It costs more--the blood of Christ on the cross. It brought the greatest result--the salvation of souls for all eternity. It brought the greatest glory to God. It costs the greatest price, it brought the greatest glory to God and it brought the greatest result.  

Joppa: Raising one who had died (9:36-43). Before the power there must be the prayer. The heating apparatus of Spurgeon's church, the Tabernacle, was the hundreds of people praying in the church.

After his conversion, Saul has a brand new wonderful exciting life ahead for the rest of his life, though fraught with challenges. What's the difference between an optimist, a pessimist and a biblicist. An optimist stays up on New Year's eve and waits for midnight to welcome the New Year in. A pessimist stays up on New Year's eve to make sure the old year goes out. A biblicist goes to sleep and rests because he or she knows that God is in control of all. You can trust an unknown future to a known God.

References:

1. Osborne, Grant. Acts. Verse by Verse. 2019. Peter Ministers in Coastal Cities (Ac 9:31-43).
1. Summary: A church growing in peace and numbers (9:31).
2. Lydda: Healing a lame man (9:32-35).
3. Joppa: Raising one who had died (9:36-43). 
2. Witherington III, Ben. The Acts of the Apostles. A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. 1998. The Petrine Passages (9:32-11:18).
   
1. Peter the Healer (9:32-43).
2. Peter's Vision and Missionary Ventures (10:1-11:18).
3. Stott, John. The Message of Acts. 1990. Through the Bible through the year, Daily reflections from Genesis to Revelation. 2006. Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Tabitha (9:32-43).
4. Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar NT commentary. 2009. The Word Advances in Judea and Syria (9:32-12:25). Peter's Pastoral and Evangelistic Ministry in Western Judea (9:32-43).
1. Healing Aeneas in Lydda (9:32-35).
2. Raising Tabitha/Dorcas in Joppa (9:36-43).
5. Marshall, I. Howard. Acts. Tyndale NT commentaries (TNTC). 1980. The Beginning of the Gentile Mission (9:32-12:25).
1. Peter's mighty works (9:32-43).
2. The conversion of Cornelius (10:1-11:18).
3. The church at Antioch (11:19-30).
4. The imprisonment and escape of Peter (12:1-25).
6. Wright, N.T. Acts for Everyone, Part 1. Chapters 1-12. 2008.
7. Fernando, Ajith. The Message of Jesus in Action. 2010.

• 6:1-9:31. The Church begins to Expand.
• 9:1-31. Saul as the Salient [main, principal, major, chief, important] Jewish Convert. Augustine said, "We owe the conversion of Paul to the prayer of Stephen."
• 9:1-19a. The Assaulting of Paul. Saul's conversion and commissioning.
• 9:19b-31. Saul's Early Efforts.
• 9:32-11:18. The Petrine Passages. The conversion of Cornelius.
• Peter heals Aeneas and raises Tabitha (9:32-43).
• Peter is sent for by Cornelius (10:1-8).
• Peter receives a vision (10:9-23).
• Peter preaches to Cornelius' household (10:23b-48).
• Peter justifies his actions (11:1-18).
• 11:19-15:35. The Antioch Chronicles.

Questions:

1. Why did Peter travel "about the country" (Ac 9:32, 31)? Where is "Lydda" [Lydda is a town located about 35 kilometers (22 miles) northwest of Jerusalem and 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Mediterranean Sea. Lydda is in the coastal plain and is now called by its Arabic name, Lod.]
2. Why was Aeneas healed (Ac 9:33-35)? Did Peter heal him? [Sharon is the name of the coastal plain in which Lydda is located.]
3. What does "Dorcas" (Ac 9:36) mean? [Dorcas is a Greek word that means "Gazelle." "Tabitha" (Ac 9:36) is the Aramaic equivalent of Dorcas and has the same meaning (From the 6th century BC, Aramaic gradually replaced Hebrew as the language of the Jews).]
4. Were the disciples in Joppa hoping Peter would heal Dorcas? Where is Joppa (Acts 9:36)? [Also called "Yafo" or "Jaffa" in Hebrew, Joppa is a city on the Mediterranean Sea and the nearest port to Jerusalem, about 50 km (31 miles) to the southeast. Lydda lies in between Joppa and Jerusalem, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) SE of Joppa.]
5. What were Dorcas' “charitable deeds” (Ac 9:36)? What is Peter raising Tabitha reminiscent of (Mk 5:38-42)? What is the main difference between the two incidents (Ac 9:40; Mk 5:41-42)?