Verse of the Day

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Peter to Joppa: Two Miracles of Healing during a Period of Church Growth (Acts 9:31-43)

Peter to Joppa: 
Two Miracles of Healing during a Period of Church Growth
Acts 9:31-43


 
Introduction:

31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 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. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Outline:

I.  An Abnormal Oasis in the History of the Early Church (9:31)
II.  The Healing of Aeneas at Lydda (9:32-35)
III. The Resuscitation of Tabitha at Joppa (9:36-43)

Transition:   

As the page turns, the focus changes, and one of the key persons is on the move.
In these concluding verses of the chapter we are confronted with a major personal and geographical shift in the account from Saul to Peter and from Jerusalem to Lydda and then to Joppa.  This sets the stage for the Gentile “Pentecost” in chapter ten. 

I.  An Abnormal Oasis in the History of the Early Church (9:31)

31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

1.  The Churches Had Rest - A Window Of Opportunity For Growth
2. The Churches Were Edified - Vertical Qualitative Growth (Upward)
3.  The Churches Were Multiplied - Horizontal Quantitative Growth (Outward)

[Note:  See appendices below on the text, grammar, and translations of this verse.]

1.  The Churches Had Rest - A Window Of Opportunity For Growth

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,

2. The Churches Were Edified - Vertical Qualitative Growth (Upward)

and were edified;

3.  The Churches Were Multiplied - Horizontal Quantitative Growth (Outward)

and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

II.  The Healing of Aeneas at Lydda (9:32-35)

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

1.  The Occasion for the Healing Miracle (9:32-33)
2.  The Event of Christ’s Healing of Aeneas (9:34)
3.  The Reaction of the Saints at Lydda (9:35)

1.  The Occasion for the Healing Miracle (9:32-33)

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

2.  The Event of Christ’s Healing of Aeneas (9:34)

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

3.  The Reaction of the Saints at Lydda (9:35)

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

III. The Resuscitation of Tabitha at Joppa (9:36-43)

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

1.  The Reputation and Death of Tabitha (9:36-37)
2.  The Request to and Arrival of Peter (9:38-39)
3.  The Resuscitation and Presentation of Tabitha (9:40-41)
4.  The Report of and Response to the News (9:42-43)

1.  The Reputation and Death of Tabitha (9:36-37)

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

2.  The Request to and Arrival of Peter (9:38-39)

38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

3.  The Resuscitation and Presentation of Tabitha (9:40-41)

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. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

4.  The Report of and Response to the News (9:42-43)

42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Conclusion:

I.  An Abnormal Oasis in the History of the Early Church (9:31)

1.  The Churches Had Rest - A Window Of Opportunity For Growth

2. The Churches Were Edified - Vertical Qualitative Growth (Upward)

3.  The Churches Were Multiplied - Horizontal Quantitative Growth (Outward)

II.  The Healing of Aeneas at Lydda (9:32-35)

1.  The Occasion for the Healing Miracle (9:32-33)

2.  The Event of Christ’s Healing of Aeneas (9:34)

3.  The Reaction of the Saints at Lydda (9:35)

III. The Resuscitation of Tabitha at Joppa (9:36-43)

1.  The Reputation and Death of Tabitha (9:36-37)

2.  The Request to and Arrival of Peter (9:38-39)

3.  The Resuscitation and Presentation of Tabitha (9:40-41)

4.  The Report of and Response to the News (9:42-43)

[Sermon preached 19 JAN 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Resources:

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
                                                  
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

Appendix 1:  Text of Acts 9:31

TR
BYZ
MT
NA
αι μεν ουν
εκκλησιαι καθ ολης της ιουδαιας και γαλιλαιας και σαμαρειας ειχον ειρηνην οικοδομουμεναι και πορευομεναι τω φοβω του κυριου και τη παρακλησει του αγιου πνευματος επληθυνοντο
Αἱ μὲν οὖν
ἐκκλησίαι καθʼ ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχον εἰρήνην οἰκοδομούμεναι, καὶ πορευόμεναι τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐπληθύνοντο.
1Αἱ μὲν οὖν ἐκκλησίαι καθʼ ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας 1εἶχον εἰρήνην 2οἰκοδομούμεναι, καὶ πορευόμεναι τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος 2ἐπληθύνοντο.
μὲν οὖν
ἐκκλησία καθʼ ὅλης τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχεν εἰρήνην οἰκοδομουμένη καὶ πορευομένη τῷ
φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐπληθύνετο.

Note:  The textual issues all have to do with a difference between the Byzantine/Majority evidence for the plural forms, and the Eclectic/Alexandrian evidence for the singular forms.

Appendix 2:  Grammar of Acts 9:31

εἶχον - Imperfect active indicative 3rd person plural

οἰκοδομούμεναι - Present passive participle nominative feminine plural

πορευόμεναι - Present deponent (middle or passive) participle nominative feminine plural

επληθυνοντο - Imperfect passive indicative 3rd person plural

Appendix 3:  Translations of Acts 9:31

KJV
NASB
ESV
HCSB
NIV
NLT
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,
  
and were edified;
  
and walking
in the fear of the Lord,


and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost,


were multiplied.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace,
  
being built up;
  

and going on in the fear of the Lord


and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
  

it continued to increase.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace
  
and was being built up.
  
And walking in the fear of the Lord


and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
  

it multiplied.
So the church  throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace,
  

 being built up
  

and walking
in the fear of the Lord


and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit,

and
it increased in numbers.
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.
The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria,
  

and it became stronger

as the believers lived
in the fear of the Lord.

And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit,


it also grew in numbers.

Note:  The NIV and perhaps the NLT seem to take the KJV approach to the treatment of the two present passive participles found between the two main verbs in the imperfect indicative.  This apparent inconsistency in translating the two coupled participles when compared to other translations which treat them both as English participles (NASB, ESV, HCSB)  is seen:

1) primarily in translating the first participle as a verb, and also,

2)  in translating the second as either an English participle (KJV, NIV) in agreement with the other translations, or as a verb in a clause which is nevertheless subordinated to the first (NLT).

Perhaps a related issue is that in the case of the KJV and the NIV the first of the two participles is seen as directly associated with the first of the two main verbs, while the second is linked to the final main verb.  This appears to be indicated by the punctuation found following the first of the two, which is a a semi-colon in the KJV, and a period in the NIV.  Both of these punctuation decisions are also found in the NASB and the ESV respectively despite the differing treatment of the two participles.  Therefore in four of the six English translations considered the punctuation employed in the middle of the verse indicates a severing of the Greek participles into the two separate sentences or clauses associated with the two main verbs.  This may set the stage for a different understanding of how each of these participles function in its respective sentence or clause.

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