Changing Lives

Introduction

By the time we get to the end of Acts 9, almost 10 years has passed from Acts 2. Because of the way Luke writes and because his time clues are obscure or unknown to us, we read Acts as if this were the unfolding of a series of events that happened one after the other. Paul’s entrance to Damascus was about 5 years after Pentecost in Acts 2. Threats against him in Acts 9:23 came about after he had been preaching for sometime. According to Paul in Galatians, he left Damascus and preached for about 3 years in other places before returning. Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion was almost 5 years later. This brings us to the end of chapter 9.

There is a gap of information about what has been going on in and around Jerusalem since the persecution of Acts 8 is mentioned. Approximately 4 years after Pentecost, there is a great persecution of followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. While many are scattered to preach and teach in other places, the apostles remain in Jerusalem. But they are not just waiting. They continue to preach and teach. By the time we get to the end of Acts 9, it is almost 10 years after Pentecost and Peter is traveling. Luke begins that verse with the hint that Peter has been doing this traveling for awhile. He has probably traveled around to check on followers of Jesus. To help establish other congregations.

So in this particular section, his travels take him to Lydda and Joppa. Lydda was about 20 miles from Jerusalem. This would have taken Peter a full day to walk. Once in the city, he would have spent time visiting with believers and time preaching. What happened in that city, leads to what will happen in Joppa and what happens in Joppa will lead to what will happen in Caesarea in Acts 10. Did Peter know when he arrived at Lydda that he would travel to Joppa? Did he know that his travel to Joppa would lead him to Caesarea Maritima? When he left Jerusalem did he know Aeneas, Tabitha, and Cornelius were waiting for him? Do you know who is waiting for you?

Two Miracles

Peter comes to Lydda. It is close to A.D. 40. Luke tells us that he has come to this city to visit the saints. Largely he is there to encourage and support. A smaller city of Sharon also was part of the visit. Luke simply tells us that Aeneas has been bedridden for 8 years. Paralyzed probably because of an accident, Peter crosses paths with him. With a simple declaration that Jesus who is the Messiah is at work, Aeneas is told to get up off of his mat and to roll it up. He no longer needs it. This miracle has a profound affect on the two towns leading many to believe that Jesus is worthy to be followed.

Luke then tells us that disciples in Joppa (about 9 miles away) hear that Peter is in Lydda. One of the saints has died. Tabitha or Dorcas is a giver in that community. She has used her skills to make clothes for so many especially the poor and widows. It appears that her efforts were done without charge. Such community service would have been noticed and her death would have brought many people together to mourn her loss.

Two men are sent to Lydda to politely demand that Peter come to Joppa. I would tell you that these disciples had great faith. The custom was to bury someone before sundown on the day of death. Decomposition starts quickly in the human body. Instead they had taken her body to an upper room and the body had been washed and prepared for Peter’s visit. In all likelihood her body had been anointed with spices and perfumes to diminish any effects of decomposition. With Peter’s arrival, he is taken immediately to the body. Everyone in the room mourning is sent out. Peter prays and Tabitha is raised from the dead. This miracle results in many more becoming believers in Jesus. There is no commentary from Luke about these two events.

So What?

In this brief section, the question begins with why are these two events here? Of all the things that possibly could have been written about in the 10 years since Pentecost, why these two stories from Luke? The answer seems to be to explain how Peter meets Cornelius. So as Luke writes, what are we supposed to get from this section? There are two things — one direct; the other more obscure

First, God directs the path. Peter went to Lydda to encourage the saints. He heals a man there. He goes to Joppa and with the power of God raises her to life. God was directing the process. There is no indication that Peter knew about the paralyzed man in Lydda or about Tabitha in Joppa. But God used him in both places. Each day God wants to use you. You don’t know what is going to happen from day to day. You have no idea who will meet or who will cross your path. But as God’s saints we anticipate that whatever or whoever that is, God is giving us opportunities to reveal his nature and character.

Peter clearly identifies that it is Jesus who has the power to make Aeneas better. The disciples in Joppa had faith that through Peter God could turn grief into rejoicing. We try to plan and live predictable lives and we are created for that. Spontaneity has its place, but most of us want enough predictability that we can live a stable life.

You might enjoy spontaneity but you want your car to run when you are ready to drive. Predictability and spontaneity are two sides to the same coin for the saint of God. In the experience of life, we encounter people and God through us can use those as opportunities to reveal our faith and point people to Jesus. Whatever Peter thought would happen on this journey, he went prepared to make Jesus real for people.

Second and more obscure, the last verse jumps out. Peter stays in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. What makes this obscure verse so telling is that in Peter’s world, a person who handled dead bodies including animals was considered unclean. Peter was not a Pharisee. He was a fisherman. But he knew what expectations were in his world and even the law that demanded that God’s people stay away from handling dead bodies. So for him to be staying with Simon says something about Peter’s heart.

Perhaps after almost 10 years of preaching and teaching, Peter is learning something deeper about God’s heart. Maybe Peter is learning that God’s heart is open to so much more than what Peter thinks.

Peter knew what it was to be criticized. He had been criticized for not washing his hands; for harvesting grain on the Sabbath day; for wanting Jesus to avoid death. What had he learned? That what’s on the inside matters more than the outside. He learned that taking care of life was more important than rigidly following rules. And he learned that God’s plans and his plans were not always the same and the only thing that really mattered was God’s plan.

What are learning about God’s heart?

     (1) Are you learning that as God has forgiven you so you must forgive too?

     (2) Are you learning that just as God reached out to you, that you, too, can reach out to others?

     (3) Are you learning that thinking less of your self is not humility but thinking of yourself less is?

     (4) Are you learning that God's heart in you is far more welcoming and gracious than your own disposition and strength?

     (5) Are you learning that God's love is so deep and rich that your own heart cannot contain that love and so you must share it with others?

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