PETER THE PASTOR - ACTS 9:32-43

We last saw Peter in Jerusalem, having returned from Samaria where he and John went to follow up on the ministry of Philip. (8:25) Returning to his story in verse 32, we see him traveling around Judea visiting the churches. These churches were likely started by those who fled the persecution in Jerusalem that led to the execution of Stephen. Because of the current peace, and respite from persecution, Peter was able to travel through the region, ministering to the churches. 

On one trip, he went to Lydda, which is the Greek name for the city of Lod. It was on the road between Jerusalem and the coastal city of Joppa. There in Lydda, Peter met a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed for 8 years. (33) He was probably a member of the group of believers in that city. Peter healed him in the name of Jesus Christ and told him to rise and make his bed. (34) The story is reminiscent of Jesus healing a paralytic in Capernaum and tell him him to take up his bed and go home. (Mark 2:9) Maybe Peter remembered the event and patterned his healing after that of Jesus. The residents of the city saw the man healed and believed in Jesus.

While in Lydda, two men from Joppa came to get Peter and bring him to Joppa, on the Mediterranean coast. The men brought him to a house where the body of a woman was laid. She was a respected woman of the church. Her name in Aramaic was Tabitha, meaning “gazelle”. In Greek, her name was Dorcas. She was know for her works of charity to widows and other friends. In fact, widows were standing around the body weeping. When Peter came in they showed him the tunics and other garments she had made for them.

Peter ushered the mourners from the room, knelt and prayed, then commanded her to rise. She opened her eyes and got up. Again, this story is reminiscent of one from the ministry of Jesus. (Mark 5:41). When Jesus went to Jairus’s daughter who had died, he said “Talitha Qum”, or Tabitha rise. Peter said “Tabitha qum” , or Tabitha rise. 

This event became known in the city and many came to faith in Christ. Peter stayed for a good while, living with a tanner. That is interesting because a tanner deals with the skins of dead animals and must at times become ceremonially unclean.