Sunday, October 10, 2021
Acts 9:32-43
“How Healing Helps”
Service Overview: Healings were a means by which the message of the gospel was authenticated in the early growth of the church. But so were simple acts of kindness and generosity exhibited by disciples like Tabitha. Whatever our gifts, God wants to use them for his glory and for the building of his kingdom.
Memory Verse for the Week: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14 (NIV)
Background Information:
- Lydda is the New Testament name for the Old Testament village of Lod. Lydda is between Jerusalem and Joppa, which was on the seacoast of the Mediterranean, some miles south of Caesarea. Lydda, just a bit north of Jerusalem, is only about five miles from what was once the town of Emmaus. During the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart visited the Holy Land and spent quite a bit of time in the village of Lydda, and there he built a church in honor of Saint George. The ruins of that church remain even today. This is the site where Peter came and found a man whose name was Aeneas. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 144)
- Joppa was the town into which the cedars of Lebanon had been floated to be shipped to Jerusalem and used in the temple construction (2 Chronicles 2:16; Ezra 3:7). The prophet Jonah had left the port of Joppa on his ill-fated trip (Jonah 1:3). (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 165)
- Joppa (Jaffa, Heb. Yafo) is on the Mediterranean coast, about ten or eleven miles northwest of Lydda. It is mentioned in Egyptian records of the fifteenth century B.C., and several times in the Old Testament. Today it is included in a large conurbation with the modern city of Tel-aviv. (F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Acts, 224)
- When this woman died, we notice that they did not bury her right away. Why not? When Ananias and Sapphira died they were buried that very day. Why were Ananias and Sapphira buried at once but Dorcas was not? It is because there was a law in Jerusalem that a body was not allowed to remain around for a second day. It had to be buried at once. Beyond Jerusalem the normal period between death and burial was three days. This was Joppa’s custom. So it was during these three days that those who knew and loved Dorcas sent for Peter, undoubtedly expecting him to do a miracle. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts, 166)
- It was customary to bury corpses before sundown. The believers had only washed her body (without yet giving it the customary anointing), however, and had laid it in an upstairs room, suggesting that they believed that she could be raised. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 165-166)
- The earliest manuscripts have “church” rather than “churches.” This is significant. There are now numerous congregations of believers not only in Judea, but also in Galilee and Samaria. The extension into Galilee is mentioned here for the first and only time in Acts. Nevertheless, the Church is one, under one Lord . (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 111)
The question to be answered is…
What’s so significant about the healings we witness in Acts?
Answer…
Healings affirmed the message of the apostles and served as signs of a greater reality for those belonging to Jesus.
The word of the day is… witness
How do the events in today’s text serve as a witness to Jesus’ kingdom and mission?
- As they confirm Jesus’ conquering of death.
(John 3:16; 11:26; 14:1-4; Rom. 6:23; 14:8; 1 Cor. 15:26; 1 Thes. 4:14; Revelation 21:4)
God never intended for us to suffer physical death or spiritual death. The good news is that Jesus has abolished death in all its forms. He has come so that we might have abundant life, even in the valley of the shadow of death. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 136)
Luke certainly wished to show God’s continual guidance and empowerment for the church. The enemies of persecution (Saul), illness (Aeneas), or even death (Dorcas) could not threaten God and His sovereign plan for His people. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition)
- As they affirm Jesus’ continued presence in and with his people.
(Psalm 16:11; Matthew 28:20; John 14:17-20; 15:4-5; Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 1:3-4)
The Spirit’s gifts are Christlike and Christ-exalting in their operation. Peter claimed no authority of his own; the words to Aeneas were “Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.” The living, present Christ was the Source of power; the human instrument was but a channel. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 112)
Raising people from the dead was hardly a common feature of his ministry. Nevertheless, knowing himself to be an apostle of Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit and probably remembering his Lord’s raising of Jairus’s daughter (cf. Mark 5:21-24, 35-43) Peter responded to the urgent call. As he had seen Jesus do in the case of Jairus’s daughter, he ordered the mourners out of the room and prayed. Then he spoke these words: “Tabitha, get up” (which in its Aram. form Tabitha kumi would have differed in only one letter from Jesus’ command Talitha kumi [“Little girl, get up”] in Mark 5:41) (Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, John and Acts, 382)
- As they are used to impact and point people to Jesus.
(John 12:32; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23; 15:3; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 1:3; Jude 1:21)
The essence of the Church is the action of its mission in the world. For this purpose it is equipped by the Holy Spirit. The Church at rest from persecution is not a static organization; it is strengthening itself internally and purposefully moving forward in its missionary task . (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 111)
Conclusion… How can a text like this inform and impact our faith?
A. As it reminds us of greater realities that are ours in Christ Jesus.
(John 3:16; 11:26; Romans 14:8; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; Revelation 21:4)
God never intended for us to suffer physical death or spiritual death. The good news is that Jesus has abolished death in all its forms. He has come so that we might have abundant life, even in the valley of the shadow of death. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 136)
Every Christian is in the process of sanctification. No two of us begin our Christian walk at the same point; each of us starts out carrying unique baggage. It may take ten years for one to get rid of something that another was rid of in the first three months. No two Christians grow at the same pace. We are to be a fellowship of patient people practicing a love that covers a multitude of sins, because we are altogether growing up into the fullness of Christ into conformity to the image of Christ. He has already saved us from our sins, but He is of sin the double cure. Not only does He remove our guilt and take it upon Himself, but He works with and in us to change us, to bring us from spiritual infancy to maturity, to wholeness. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 145)
B. As it motivates us to be so heavenly–minded that we are of immense, earthly good.
(Matt. 5:16; Gal. 6:9; Eph. 2:10; Col. 3:23-24; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 13:16; James 2:14-17)
[Dorcas] imitated her Master, who also “went around doing good” (10:38), and lived among the poor. She demonstrated the fact that the early Christian church gave itself not only to evangelism, but also took care of the needy (remember 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 6:1). (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition)
Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the middle ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither. (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 73)
Dorcas made an enormous difference in her community by “always doing good and helping the poor.” Specifically, she was known for making robes and other clothing (9:39). When she died, the room was filled with mourners, very likely many of the people she had helped. And when she was brought back to life, the news raced through the town. God uses great preachers like Peter and Paul, but he also uses those who have gifts of kindness, like Dorcas. Rather than wishing you had other gifts, make good use of the gifts God has given you. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 166)
Gospel Application…
Jesus came to bring spiritual healing, wholeness, and purpose to those who will turn to and follow him.
(Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 41:10; 53:5; John 10:10; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:24)
It is not what we are or where we come from that is important. It is what God makes of us. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts, 167)
Physical miracles are visual parables that show us the kind of spiritual miracle God wants to perform in every human being. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 137)
Every Christian has points of spiritual paralysis. We may be able to walk unaided. We may even be able to make our own beds. But there are certain things that grip us with fear and paralyze us from being all that God has created us to be, and that is the point at which we are not whole people. Yet Peter did not hang up a shingle and say, “Come to me and I will make you whole.” No, he said, “Jesus the Christ is making you whole.” Whatever condition you are in today, if you put your faith in Jesus Christ, He is making you whole so that you can make your bed and walk. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 145)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Reread today’s text. How was the power of God demonstrated in this passage?
- What were the results of this demonstration of power?
- How can you become more heavenly minded in order to become more earthly good?
- How do or should our thoughts of heaven and of the kingdom of Jesus impact how we treat others?
Quotes to note…
Peter stayed in the home of a man whose occupation among the Jews was considered unclean. Tanners had to deal with the carcasses of dead animals, a practice prohibited to Jews. So, as Jesus before him, Peter went to places and to people that nobody else wanted to touch. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 147-148)
For His glory, God used an assortment of ordinary people in typical, small Judean villages. These people can be examples to you and me. Aeneas and Dorcas—an invalid and a seamstress—these ordinary people are the stars in this section of Acts. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition)
Behind every work of God you will always find some kneeling form. D. L. Moody (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 166)
What is the greatest miracle that God can do for us? Some would call the healing of the body God’s greatest miracle, while others would vote for the raising of the dead. However, I think that the greatest miracle of all is the salvation of a lost sinner. Why? Because salvation costs the greatest price, it produces the greatest results, and it brings the greatest glory to God. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 354)
The Lord had not come in the incarnation nor returned in the power of the Spirit to establish a new religion, or even just to renew Israel, but to save the world. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 175)
As we have seen before, physical miracles are visual parables that show us the kind of spiritual miracle God wants to perform in every human being. God still performs miraculous physical healings, but today as in New Testament days, miraculous healings are selective and rare. God does not heal everyone who is sick. He heals selectively, and His healings usually illustrate a spiritual truth. Any physical healing is, at best, temporary. Everyone who was ever healed in the New Testament eventually died. Even Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, eventually died and was laid to rest in a tomb. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 137)
God wants to show us that Jesus Christ can heal us from the death—like paralysis of trying to live our lives our own way. He says to you and me, just as Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ heals you!” Now it’s up to us to stand and be strong in His name. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 137)
The gospel spreads. It is like perfume. If you take the stopper out of a perfume bottle, the odor of the perfume soon spreads throughout the room. You can’t stop it. The gospel is the sweet smell of true doctrine, a gospel centered in a gracious, loving God, who sent his Son to die for our salvation. A message like that just can’t be bottled up. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts, 169)
You may feel like an ordinary person. Like Aeneas, you struggle with some physical (or emotional or mental) challenge that keeps you from doing all you would like. Perhaps like Dorcas, you have been working away for years, and only a few people know or care. Continue to be faithful. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition)
There is no record in Acts that any of the apostles had raised the dead, so their sending for Peter was an evidence of their faith in the power of the risen Christ. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 354-355)