Bible Study Peter and the raising of Dorcas/Tabitha Acts 9

[GodIsMySavior]

Let me first present the first mention of Simon/Peter in the 4 Gospels

Mat 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
Mat 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Mar 3:16 Simon,[fn] to whom He gave the name Peter;
Mar 5:37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

Luk 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
Luk 6:14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

Jhn 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Jhn 6:68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
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The raising of Dorcas/Tabitha from death:

Acts 9:
38 Now Lydda being near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was in it, sent-out two men to him urging, “Do not delay to come to us”. 39 And having arisen, Peter went with them— whom[c], having arrived, they brought up into the upper room. And all the widows stood near him, weeping and showing him tunics[d] and garments— all-that Dorcas was making while being with them. 40 And Peter— having put everyone outside, and having put down his knees— prayed. And having turned to the body, he said, “Tabitha, rise-up”. And the one opened her eyes! And having seen Peter, she sat up. 41 And having given her his hand, he raised her up. And having called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many put-faith upon the Lord. 43 And it came about that he stayed considerable days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
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Pulpit Commentary
Verse 40. - Turning for turning him, A.V.; he said for said, A.V. Peter's action in putting them all forth seems to have been framed on the model of that scene at which he had been present when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus (see Luke 8:54 [T.R.]; Matthew 9:25; Mark 5:40). Privacy for the more earnest concentrated prayer was doubtless what he sought. Kneeled down; θεὶς τὰ γόνατα. The same expression as in Acts 7:60; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5; Luke 22:41. It occurs also in Mark 15:19. Tabitha, arise. Exactly the same address as our Lord's "Talitha cumi" (Mark 5:40), but, as Lange observes, with this difference, that in the case of Peter it was preceded by prayer; comp. also Luke 7:14 (where the Aramean address was probably in the same form); John 11:43.

Meyer's NT Commentary
Acts 9:40-43. The putting out (comp. Matthew 9:25; Mark 5:40; Luke 8:54) of all present took place in order to preserve the earnestness of the prayer and its result from every disturbing influence.

τὸ σῶμα] the dead body. See on Luke 17:37. On ἀνεκάθισε, comp. Luke 7:15.

The explanation of the fact as an awakening from apparent death (see particularly Eck, Versuch d. Wundergesch. d. N. T. aus natürl. Urs. z. erklären, p. 248 ff.) is exegetically at decided variance with Acts 9:37, but is also to be rejected historically, as the revival of the actually dead Tabitha has its historical precedents in the raisings of the dead by Jesus.[253] Ewald’s view also amounts ultimately to an apparent death (p. 245), placing the revival at that boundary-line, “where there may scarcely be still the last spark of life in a man.” Baur, in accordance with his foregone conclusions, denies all historical character to the miracles at Lydda and Joppa, holding that they are narratives of evangelical miracles transferred to Peter (comp. also Zeller, p. 177 f.); and that the very name Ταβιθά is probably derived simply from the ταλιθά κοῦμι, Mark 5:40, for Ταβιθά properly (?) denotes nothing but maide

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Peter Raises Dorcas (Tabitha) While Peter was in Lydda, some seven or so miles away a woman named Tabitha (Greek for Dorcas) became ill and died. Like many others in the region, she was possibly a convert of Philips. She was well known and highly respected in the community for her multiple “good deeds and acts of charity”. (Acts 9:36) As was the custom, they washed and anointed her body and then placed it in an upstairs room in readiness for burial. When other disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they hurriedly sent two men to urge him to come quickly to Joppa. Their intentions were unclear! Perhaps they simply wanted him to join them in prayer before her burial the following day or maybe they had heard of his miraculous works and believed he could restore her to life! When Peter arrived, they brought him to the upstairs room. The women stood around weeping and showing him the clothing and tunics Dorcas had made while alive. Peter, after removing the women from the room, “knelt down and prayed”. Then he turned to the dead woman and said, “Tabitha” (Meaning, get up). Immediately, by the power of Jesus, Dorcas “opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, sat up”. Peter then took her by the hand and led her out to the mourning women. When the news spread of Dorcas’ miraculous raising from the dead throughout Joppa and the surrounding area, many believed that Jesus was the Messiah and were baptised. Peter remained in Joppa for “many days,” staying with Simon, a tanner. (Interestingly, many Jews considered the job of tanner unclean because of the contact with dead animals and blood. Peter, however, held no dislike for anyone!) (Acts 9:36-43)

As I think of Peter praying on his knees, I imagine him recalling the day when Jesus took his own mother-in-law by the hand and raised her back to health and the day He took Jairus’ daughter by the hand and raised her back to life! Where there is faith, Jesus continues to work miracles, so that “we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing we may have life in his Name”. (John 20:31) Lord Jesus, increase my wisdom so that I may overcome all my faith-challenges and praise you more and more at the beginning and end of each new day. Amen. A pure heart, create for me, O God.Put a new and loyal spirit within me.Do not send me away from your presence,nor deprive me of your Holy Spirit.