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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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PETER’S MINISTRY
AND MIRACLES (Ac 9:32-43) 6/1/14 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. PETER HEALED AENEAS IN LYDDA (Ac 9:32-35) A. [32] Context - The last time
Luke wrote concerning Peter, he was in Samaria, when he pronounced a curse
upon Simon the magician (Ac 8:14-24). Peter left Samaria and returned to
Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel to Samaritan villages (Ac 8:25).
Nevertheless, we find Peter in an itinerant mission around Judea as he was
preaching through all the regions. All of the apostles appear to have been
engaged in in these missions throughout their lives (cf. 1Co 9:5; 1Pe 1:1). B. The City of Lydda - He came to Lydda, a town in the tribe
of Ephraim (OT “Lod,” 1Ch 8:12; Ezr 2:33; Ne 11:35), where a group of saints
(believers) were living. Though no details were given, the gospel had already
found its way there. Perhaps the people of Lydda heard the gospel from those
who were present on the Day of Pentecost (Ac 2:9-11), from Christians
scattered from persecution (Ac 8:1), or Philip (Ac 8:40). C. [33] Peter Healed Aeneas, the
Paralytic - In his travels, Peter came across a paralytic (paraluō
- to be loosed on the side, unable to walk or move) by the name of
Aeneas. He had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas” (Aineas) is a
Greek name, though it can be presumed that he was a Jew nationally, since the
gospel had not yet come to the Gentiles. Some suggest that he was a believer
among the saints at Lydda. Yet Luke does not explicitly call him a “disciple”
as he does with “Dorcas” (Ac 9:36). D. [34] The Basis of Healing -
Under the influence of the Spirit, Peter healed the paralytic Aeneas. Healing
could only be accomplished in the name of “Jesus Christ.” As in Ac 3:6, 16,
“Jesus’ name” was not a magical formula, but rather the basis of healing. It
was on the basis that Jesus Christ was the risen Savior and on the basis that
the apostles were empowered by Christ to heal. Therefore, it was indeed Jesus
Christ who healed (iaomai - to heal) Aeneas through Peter. Jesus
performed similar miracles in His earthly ministry (Mt 9:6; Mk 2:11; Lk 5:24;
Jn 5:8). E. The Nature of Healing - Aeneas was instantaneously and
completely healed and therefore commanded to “get up” (aor. imperat. of
anistāmi - to stand or raise up). Depending on the cause of
paralysis, there is currently no cure for most types of permanent paralysis.
The aim of treatment is to help a person adapt to life with paralysis by
making them as independent as possible. But even if modern medicine could
cure permanent paralysis, it would not be instantaneous or complete like
Aeneas’ miracle. F. In reference to the phrase, “make your bed” (strōnnuō
- spread out, i.e. prepare bed or mat), it is most likely a similar idiom
to “take up your mat.” The emphasis was not on what Aeneas was to do, but
that for the first time in eight years he now had the ability to do this for
himself. Aeneas miraculously and immediately (eutheōs - at once,
directly) got up. G. [35] The Purpose for Healing - It
is verse 35 that shows us the purpose for signs and miracles in the early
church. For when many in Lydda and Sharon (Plain of Sharon, stretching from
Joppa to Caesarea) saw Aeneas healed, “they turned to the Lord.” It wasn’t
that they believed in the power of miracles in their day. Rather, they
believed the gospel message. Why? Because they heard Peter preach
the gospel as God’s chosen spokesman. H. They “turned” (epistrephō - turn
around, return) to the Lord which means they turned back to God and His
redemption provided in Jesus the Messiah. Peter’s message of the gospel of
salvation was being confirmed by God through “signs and wonders and by various miracles”
(He 2:4). II. PETER RAISED DORCAS FROM THE DEAD IN JOPPA
(Ac 9:36-43) A. [36] The City of Joppa -
Luke records Peter’s ministry in Joppa. This is the modern city Jaffa. It was
an ancient seaport for Jerusalem, being situated thirty five miles to the
northwest. Through Joppa Solomon brought cedar beams from Lebanon to build
the temple (2Ch 2:16); from it Jonah sailed for Tarshish (Jon 1:3). B. A certain “disciple” (mathātria -
feminine of mathātās, disciple) lived there. Her Hebrew name was
Tabitha (Tsebiya, Sol 4:5; 7:3) while her Greek name was Dorcas (Dorkas)
and both mean a gazelle or deer. C. Characteristics of believers (Dorcas) - As a believer in the Lord Jesus,
Dorcas had an amazing testimony. She was “abounding” (adjective,
plārās - full or richly endowed) in good deeds. Her
deeds had the characteristics of being excellent, benevolent, helpful, and
full of goodness (agathos). They were charitable” (eleāmosunā - mercy, pity, cf. Mt 6:2; Lk 11:41) which means that she gave to the needy and others
because she was compassionate, sympathetic, and encouraging. It was a
continual practice with her to do these acts of kindness and encouragement (imperfect
- poieō - lit. was doing (continually). Dorcas became the great
example of a Christian woman, then and now. D. [37] Though it doesn’t describe the
illness (astheneō - without strength, weak ,or
sick), Dorcas became ill so that it caused her death. On an interesting
note, her body was washed and then placed in an upstairs room. E. [38] Peter’s Availability -
Normally the body would have been prepared for immediate burial, but vs. 38
suggests that they were hoping for a miracle from Peter. The disciples heard
about Peter healing Aeneas in Lydda. Since Lydda was approximately 10 miles
from Joppa, they sent two men to bring Peter to Joppa. By their urging him to
come quickly (mā oknāsās - do not delay or waste not time),
it seems apparent that they were doing more than inviting Peter to Dorcas’
funeral. Instead, they were hoping that Peter would heal her. F. [39] When Peter arrived at Joppa, they
took him upstairs where Dorcas’ body had been kept. Gathered in the room were
all the widows (chārai - bereft of a hsuband) whose lives had
been touched by Dorcas. The widows were “weeping” (klaiō - weep with
strong inner emotion) and showing Peter the charitable gifts of clothing
that Dorcas has made for those in need. G. [40-41] The Model of Healing
- Following Jesus’ example in Mk 5:40-41, Peter dismissed everyone out of the
room. Then in humility of heart and dependence upon Christ, Peter knelt and
prayed. Peter then addressed the dead body and said, “Tabitha arise.” Dorcas instantaneously was raised from the dead,
for she opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. Peter reached out
with his hand and raised her up. He then called all the saints back in the
room and presented Dorcas to them alive. H. [42] The Purpose for Healing - Though
Dorcas would have been greatly missed by the widows and the saints; it was
not solely for this purpose which God raised her from the dead. When news of
the miracle of raising Dorcas from the dead circulated throughout Joppa,
“many believed on the Lord.” By this miracle God confirmed Peter’s ministry
and message. Therefore, the people believed that Peter’s message from God was
that Jesus was the Messiah and had made atonement for sin. The truthfulness
of the gospel was verified by Peter’s miracle to raise someone from the dead. I. [43] Peter remained in Joppa for a
considerable amount of time. The expression, “many days” (hāmeras
hikanas) was the same expression used for Paul’s hiatus in Arabia (Ac
9:23 cf. Ga 1:17). J. Peter’s Transformation - It is noteworthy that Peter stayed
with a “tanner” (Burseus - a
person who prepares animal skins) by the name of Simon. Tanners were
regarded as an unclean trade by the rabbis since it involved contact with
dead animals. By Peter lodging with Simon it suggests that Peter was becoming
less scrupulous concerning Jewish ceremonial traditions in light of the
gospel. It also set the stage for Peter’s acceptance of Gentiles into God’s
redemptive program. This will involve the Gentile Cornelius who was from
Caesarea not far from Joppa (Ac 10:9-26). I. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Peter’s Character was being Transformed by the Holy Spirit unto the image of
Christ. Like Christ, we can observe Peter’s active ministry of the gospel,
his imitation of Christ’s example, his desire to feed Christ’s sheep, and his
ministry in personal relationships. B. God’s Purpose for Healing is
Misunderstood Today 1. The purpose for healings in the N.T was
for the acceptance of the gospel. Jesus’s primary purpose for His earthly
ministry (other than His atonement) was to preach the gospel, even though He
also healed (Mk 1:34-38). 2. The purpose of raising Dorcas was far
more than merely keeping the widows’ clothed. It was in fact so that many
would be attentive to the gospel and believe. 3. If healings would have been God’s sole
purpose, then the raising of the dead would have been Jesus’ and the
apostles’ main preoccupation. As it was, it is only recorded that Jesus
raised three (Ruler’s daughter - Mt 9:18; Widow’s son - Lk 7:11; Lazarus - Jn
11:43) and the apostles (Peter - Ac 9:40; Paul - Ac 20:9) raised two from the
dead. 4. If healings and raising the dead are
bona-fide gifts for our day, then why are there so many false accounts of
healing by those who claim to be Christ’s representatives? |
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