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.
|
Ἡ 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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