Transcript

In 2004, a newspaper called the Southeast Outlook published this story: “There are 21,800 patients per year who receive chemotherapy treatments in Louisville, Kentucky, and most lose their hair. When Lynette LeGette discovered this, it brought her to tears.

She also learned that patients complain about being cold during the night and wrap pajamas or towels around their heads to keep warm.

This gave Lynette an idea, but a challenging one. She said, “I thought I couldn’t possibly meet that need. It seemed like an overwhelming project.”

Lynette’s project was to create turbans for cancer patients who lost their hair. Some of her first creations were sent to a mother in Kansas. Lynette made the woman many caps for both winter and spring.

Later, when Lynette met the woman’s 7-year-old daughter, the girl ran up to her, wrapped her arms around her legs, and said, “You made my mom so happy. She has a hat to go with every outfit.”

Lynette is known as the Hat Lady. From July 2002 to December 2004, Lynette and her six volunteers made 1,000 turbans, providing them at no charge to those in need.

Lynette is a modern day Dorcas. She says, “When you ask the Lord what you should do, you need to be willing to listen for the direction and recognize the opportunities He gives you.”

In this episode, we’ll learn more about Dorcas and Peter raising this kindhearted woman from the dead.

Acts 9:36: “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.”

Joppa is well known to us from the Old Testament as being the harbor town that the Prophet Jonah came to many centuries earlier, that he might board a ship to go to far-off Tarshish to run away from the Lord and His will that Jonah go to preach in Nineveh.

Joppa was a major seaport of Palestine, located on the Mediterranean Sea about 30 miles northwest of Jerusalem. It was the ancient seaport for Jerusalem (2 Chron. 2:16). Solomon used this seaport to receive the timber from Lebanon for the building of the Temple.

A Jewish, kingdom believer and follower of Christ lived in Joppa, a woman that Luke describes as “a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas.”

Far from being like Jonah who ran from the Lord, this woman, as a “disciple,” only wanted to follow the Lord and to do His will.

Her name was Tabitha, which was her name in Aramaic. Luke adds that this name “by interpretation,” or translated into the Greek, was “Dorcas.”

This woman had an outstanding reputation for helping people in Joppa. She truly had a servant’s heart. Verse 36 states, “this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds.”

There was nothing lazy about Dorcas. When she believed in Jesus as Israel’s Messiah and began following Him, she worked and found ways to serve her Lord.

She was full of and totally devoted to good works and “almsdeeds,” or charitable deeds, being compassionate and giving towards the poor and those in need.

With her almsdeeds and giving to the poor, she did so without drawing attention to it, as the Lord instructed in the Sermon on the Mount, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:3-4).

We have no record of one word that Dorcas said, but we do know about her work, and her life of servanthood and benevolence spoke very loudly then and still to this day.

In Scripture, a disciple is one who learns from another, a follower, and one determined to be like his or her teacher. In Luke 6:40, our Lord said, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect [or completely trained] shall be as his master.”

And Dorcas was like her Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. She had a heart of compassion just like Christ. And her life of good works imitated Him,

In Acts 10:38, Peter told Cornelius that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good…” And this was the testimony of Dorcas as well, that she too “went about doing good.”

Verse 36 states that “this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds WHICH SHE DID.”

Dorcas put her faith into action. And when she saw a need or something the kingdom church needed to do, she stepped forward and did it. The needs of others not only moved her in her heart, but she moved and acted in response to the needs she saw.

And the construction of these words “which she did” in the original Greek means that she continually did good works and charitable deeds. It pictures Dorcas as doing kind and good things for others over and over, again and again.

It’s been said that “Reputation is what others think about you. Character is what God knows about you! Dorcas had both a good reputation and good character!”

Her testimony was that of what Christ taught in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Dorcas did not do anything heroic like Deborah, the judge and prophetess in Israel’s past that God used to defeat the king of Canaan. She didn’t do anything risky like Rahab in Jericho who hid the spies and helped them escape.

Dorcas simply served her Savior selflessly by ministering to the hurting. She did many good deeds in quiet, sacrificial, and unassuming ways. She was a rich blessing to others. For this, however, she is lauded and honored eternally by the Holy Spirit in His Word.

Acts 9:37-38: “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. 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.”

As Dorcas was still faithfully doing many good works and helping others, she became “sick.” And tragically, this sickness led to her death.

But then following her death, something odd takes place. The custom of the Jews at the time was to bury the body that same day.

They had no means of preserving the body from decay. So they would have typically washed the body and then wrapped it in strips of linen, applying spices between the wraps, in order to contain the smell during decomposition.

Rather than immediately prepare her for burial, however, they just washed her body and “laid her in an upper chamber,” placing her body in the room above the main living quarters. Not finishing the burial preparation and then deliberately leaving the body where they slept and ate just wasn’t done.

In addition, dead bodies were defiling and an unclean thing under the law. Numbers 19:11 says, “He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.” Thus, they didn’t let dead bodies hang around, and they buried them right away.

But with Dorcas’s body, they just washed her, laid her in an upper chamber, and didn’t bury her. Thus, this passage is sending a signal to us that the things normally done for a funeral were not carried out in the case of Dorcas. Instead, what is taking place is that they are preparing the woman for resurrection.

Because the next thing you see that they do is, as verse 38 reads, “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.”

In the verses previous to this section, we learn that Peter was in Lydda, and while he was there, he had healed a paralyzed man named Aeneas.

Lydda wasn’t too far away. The cities of Lydda and Joppa were about 12 miles apart. Joppa was located on the coast, and Lydda was 12 miles inland.

This was about a half-day’s journey on foot. The disciples in Joppa had heard that Peter was nearby in Lydda, so two men were dispatched to call and beg Peter to come.

It was customary in that day to send two messengers, for a few reasons: first, for mutual protection and safety as they journeyed; second, if anything happened to one, the other could still deliver the message; and third, it was also a security against fraud.

In the next chapter, in Acts 10, we again see two men sent to Peter from Cornelius.

What is fascinating is that the message the two men were to relay to Peter from the disciples in Joppa expressed a sense of urgency, asking that Peter “not delay to come to them.” But Dorcas was already dead!

This is unlike when word was sent to the Lord about Lazarus; Lazarus was still alive when Christ was asked to come. But here, Dorcas had already died when Peter was called.

Luke gives us no record or indication that Peter was ever asked to perform a miracle. But we can surmise that this was their hope by calling Peter, knowing that he had a ministry that was marked by powerful miracles through the Holy Spirit.

So in faith they prepared for a miracle: they did not bury Dorcas, they put her in an upper chamber, and then sent two men to beg Peter to come quickly.

Acts 9:39: “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.”

When the two men from Joppa found Peter in Lydda, they told him about Dorcas’s death and asked him to accompany them. Peter agreed to go. Peter was a leader who served God’s people and was ready to respond to their needs and call.

Peter then traveled with these two the 12 miles back to Joppa. When Peter came to the house, he was brought “into the upper chamber,” where the body of Dorcas was laid.

Here Peter saw firsthand how loved Dorcas was and what a loss her death had been for the believers and those in need in Joppa. Verse 39 says, “All the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

Peter met a group of widows who had been helped by her good works and almsdeeds.

We learn more about Dorcas’s ministry by verse 39. Dorcas was a seamstress. She had a ministry to widows, sewing and making coats and garments for them. Widows were often poor at that time and couldn’t afford to buy new clothing.

And even though Joppa was a seaport city, there were no OLD NAVY outlet stores there.
So with her money and sewing ability, Dorcas made clothes for them, being willing to help relieve the poor and bring comfort to the widows who lived in Joppa.

In the chapter about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, she lived out these verses, “She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy” (vv. 19-20).

Dorcas also lived James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction [or trouble]…”

When these widows stood by Peter, they didn’t just say good WORDS about Dorcas, they showed the good WORKS of Dorcas. The widows displayed the gifts she gave them and showed Peter the kind deeds that Dorcas did among them while she was alive.

They were wearing some of the very clothing Dorcas had made, others had brought some to the house, and as they surrounded Peter, the widows were “showing” or pointing out the clothes they were wearing and all the other pieces that she had lovingly stitched, sewed, and made for them. Peter saw the fruit of the ministry of this generous woman.

The “coats” she made were tunics, the close-fitting garments worn next to the body. The “garments” were the looser outer cloaks and mantle that were worn over them.

For some of the widows there that day, Dorcas had made everything they were wearing. And they were literally clothed in her compassion.

What you see here also is that the fruit of Dorcas’s ministry endured after she had died. It’s been said that “The legacy that we leave depends on the life that we lived.” Dorcas left a testimony of kindness, goodness, and fruit for the Lord.

And this is something we each need to stop and consider from time to time: What are we leaving behind? What will others say about us and show after we go home?

Like Dorcas, are we leaving behind a rich spiritual legacy, having impacted others by our kindness and showing Christ’s love and grace?

As Peter was being shown these pieces of clothing, the widows stood by him weeping loudly. The loss of Dorcas was a severe blow to these widows. They loved Dorcas for her love and their grief was great at the passing of such a selfless friend.

And out of their gratitude for her, “ALL the widows” were at the house verse 39 says, all the widows for whom Dorcas had made garments and had helped.

Acts 9:40-42: “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.

“And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.”

Next, Peter “put them all forth.” He used some gentle pressure and sent all the widows and any others out of the room where Dorcas’s body lay. This was not to be a show.

This mighty miracle was not to be done before a crowd. Peter did not want to draw attention to himself. He sought no personal glory. His only goal was to glorify Christ.

In putting everyone out of the room, this is what the Lord did also when He raised Jairus’s daughter. The Lord put all people out of the house before He raised her from the dead. And Peter was present at that miracle and saw it all with his own eyes.

There is no other record in Scripture that Peter had ever raised someone from the dead. But in Matthew 10 when the Lord sent out the twelve apostles, He had given them the power to raise people from the dead,

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, RAISE THE DEAD, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:5-8).

After everyone was out of the room, Peter was alone in that upper chamber with the body of Dorcas. He then “kneeled down, and prayed” next to the bed.

Luke does not record Peter’s words, but just the fact of his prayer and kneeling in prayer showed his submission to God and dependence on Him. Peter looked to the Author and Lord of life to be able to raise Dorcas from the dead.

Finishing his prayer, still on his knees, Peter turned to the body of Dorcas and addressed her by name, and simply said, “Tabitha, arise.”

And through the power and authority of the risen Christ, who has power over death, immediately “she opened her eyes.”

She opened eyes that just a moment before had been closed in death. Her spirit returned and her body was given life by the power of God, completely healed from the illness that led to her death.

And her eyes being opened, “she saw Peter,” and seeing Peter, “she sat up” on that bed. And my thought at that is her wondering, “Where did you come from?”

Sitting up on the bed, Peter “gave her his hand, and lifted her up.” Peter could have let her arise out of the bed on her own, but in kindness, he reached out to assist her.

Then Peter called out to the saints and widows, telling them that they all could come back in. When they returned, Peter “presented her alive.”

And seeing her alive, crying turned to celebrating. Tears gave way to giving of thanks. Gladness replaced sadness. Peter had sent them out weeping, but he called them in to experience the rejoicing of reunion with their dearly loved friend.

I imagine those women were also probably pretty happy that their wardrobe could continue to grow and be provided for too!

And we can be sure that Dorcas, in short order, got right back to work and started sewing and stitching and went right back to her quiet and unassuming service.

God’s greater purpose for raising Dorcas is found in verse 42: “And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.”

When news of Dorcas being raised from the dead spread throughout Joppa, “many believed in the Lord,” and thus many were added to the kingdom church, like at Pentecost.

As seen in this miracle, the power in Peter’s ministry came from Christ, but the manifestation of that power pointed people to the Lord and toward faith in Him.

God used miracles as confirming signs for both the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God during the Acts period.

In this case, it was for the gospel of the kingdom which Peter made known, and it confirmed to Israel the truth of Christ’s resurrection and identity as her Messiah.

Romans 11:15: “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”

In our last episode, we looked at the raising of Eutychus in Acts 20. Eutychus was a young man, and is a picture of the Church, the Body of Christ.

In Ephesians 2:15, Paul calls the Body of Christ the “one new MAN.” And God raised him and gave him life through the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

However, for believers in Israel’s program, they become members, not of the Body of Christ, but of the BRIDE of Christ, one day to experience Revelation 19:7 when she becomes one with her Messiah through marriage, “for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

God had promised Israel in the past, “And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD” (Hos. 2:19-20).

Here in Acts 9, Dorcas, a woman, is raised from the dead. Unlike the raising of Eutychus a young man as a picture of the BODY of Christ, a woman is raised here, which is a picture of the BRIDE of Christ.

And God raised her and gave her life through the ministry of Peter.

Like Dorcas’s life was full of good works, Israel’s program is full of “good works.” Israel operated under a faith plus works gospel and program.

Dorcas demonstrated James’s teaching according the gospel of the kingdom that “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone…that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:17,24).

But then Dorcas became sick and died, and her body was placed in another room. Like Dorcas, Israel became sick through her unbelief and she died, that is, God’s program with her ceased and has been put to the side, in another room you could say.

However, Dorcas was not prepared for a permanent burial; she was prepared for a resurrection. And this is a reminder that Israel and God’s program with her will be raised to life one day.

Stop and think about where this miracle takes place in Scripture. Before this miracle, Israel had fallen at the end of Acts 7, when her leaders stoned Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 9, God raised up a new apostle, the Apostle Paul, to be the Apostle of the Gentiles. God did so because He has temporarily set Israel aside in unbelief and turned to the nations to have a program with us within the dispensation of the grace of God.

The death of Dorcas is a picture of what has happened to Israel. God’s program with Israel has ceased, it has died.

From this point forward in Acts, we see Israel’s continual diminishing, along with the continual rising of God’s working among the Gentiles. We see Peter fade off the scene in Acts 15, but we see Paul rise to prominence in God’s dealings.

But Israel is given hope, by the raising of Dorcas, that she and her program will be raised to life one day. This picture of the raising of Dorcas is what will happen in Israel’s future. It is a picture of hope for Israel.

Romans 11:15 reads: “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, BUT LIFE FROM THE DEAD?”

Following the Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ, God will turn again to Israel. And it will be life from the dead when Israel is restored to her favored position.

The Bride of Christ will once again be in view, and she will be prepared by God for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Like Dorcas, Israel in the future will bring forth fruit and be full of good works.

Like Dorcas was raised through the ministry of Peter, it will be God’s power working through Peter and his ministry and message in God’s Word that Israel will be raised up and given life and power. This is due to Peter being given authority over the kingdom church, because Christ has given him the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Peter’s message and ministry at Pentecost and in early Acts, Peter’s epistles, Peter’s apostleship, Peter’s example in the Gospels will be what Israel will look to and follow after the Rapture.

Dorcas was a tremendous blessing to others, and this reminds us of Israel’s calling to be a blessing to all nations.

Peter reminded Israel of this in Acts 3:25 when he recalled God’s words to Abraham, “And in thy see shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.”

Like Dorcas was raised from the dead, Israel and God’s program with her, will one day be raised from the dead. And like Dorcas was a blessing, Israel will be a great blessing to the world.

And it will result in what God’s purpose always was Israel and her rise: many will believe in the Lord.