Aeneas and Tabitha - Acts 9:32-43

I think I jumped the gun a little bit with Paul going back to Jerusalem, I wrote that one before I realized that he had gone to Arabia for 3 years first. When we come back to Paul in a few chapters, I’m going to pick the account back up in Acts 9:23-32 and start from there. I’m assuming that the rest of the account of Peter in the next few chapters occurs while Paul is out of the country. I’ve been so focused on Paul and what he’s been doing that I don’t even know where Peter and the other apostles are. Let’s backtrack for a second here, after Stephen was martyred, Saul had pursued the rest of the Christians so the point where they all fled out of Jerusalem for safety. We also know that Paul returns to Jerusalem to meet with the other apostles three years later, so clearly they make it back to the city eventually.

I don’t remember where Peter went right after everyone fled Jerusalem, but he ends up in “Lydda.” While there he healed a man “named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.” Peter invoked the name of Jesus Christ and the man “arose immediately.” The result was “all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.” Now we know that miracles don’t convert, but that appears to be the case here. Witnessing the healing didn’t cause the people to suddenly believe in Jesus, but it demonstrated the power held in the gospel of Jesus Christ and made the gospel available to a group of people who already had softened and open hearts. A miracle will not force open a closed mind, but will work as fertile soil in a softened heart.
Journeying on from Lydda to Joppa, “a certain disciples named Tabitha… was sick, and died.” Her friends cleaned her body and laid her “in an upper chamber.” This woman had many friends and admirers because she had made clothes for the people “while she was with them.” This woman was loved because she served, sometimes you serve who you love and sometimes you come to love those you serve. The IM quotes President Thomas S. Monson as teaching, “To me the scriptural reference to Tabitha, which describes her as a woman ‘full of good words and almsdeeds,’ defines some of the fundamental responsibilities of Relief Society; namely, the relief of suffering, the caring for the poor, and all which that implies.”
Tabitha is so loved that when her friends hear that Peter is in the town of Lydda, sent two men “desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.” Peter came back with them to Joppa and the friends of Tabitha showed him “the coats and garments” that she had made for them. Peter “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.” He helped her stand up, and reintroduced her to “the saints and widows… and it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” Interestingly that it said “many” believed in the Lord, instead of “all” like in Lydda. Miracles can not force belief or conversion, but it can strengthen what is already there.
The IM comments, “while ministering in Lydda and Joppa, Peter healed Aeneas and Tabitha (also called Dorcas), illustrating the Savior’s statement, ‘He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.’ Peter’s healing of Aeneas is similar to the Savior’s healing of a paralytic man. Likewise, the raising of Tabitha parallels the Savior’s raising of Jairus’ daughter. Luke’s care in recording these similar events reflects on of his purposed: to affirm continuity between Jesus Christ and the Church and show a continuation of Jesus Christ’s power and authority in Peter.”