The raising of Tabitha, or Dorcas, Acts 9:36-43

Verses 36-37: Luke moves to the next account, establishing the reason why the disciples called Peter to come to Joppa. At Joppa dwelt a disciple named Tabitha (in Hebrew) or Dorcas (in Greek).[1] Not “just” a disciple, “this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did” – she showed her faith by her works (I Timothy 2:10; 6:18; James 2:18).

Joppa was a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, only about ten miles from Lydda.[2] In the Old Testament, it is the place to which temple materials were brought by sea (II Chronicles 2:16; Ezra 3:7), and where Jonah headed to flee from the Lord’s call to Nineveh (Jonah 1:3). The Old Testament name of Japho may also represent the same city (see Joshua 19:46).

In this period coinciding with Peter’s visit to the town of Lydda, Tabitha became sick and died (cf. II Kings 13:14).  The disciples washed her and laid her “in an upper chamber” (probably in anticipation of burial).

Verse 38: However, the disciples in Joppa knew that Peter was nearby in Lydda, and that he had performed miracles by the power of God. It may seem surprising that these disciples would expect Peter to raise the dead, since no apostle had done so before (only Jesus had). Nevertheless, Jesus gave the apostles power to do so, Matthew 10:8. The Joppan disciples sent by two men an urgent message for him to come to them without delay (cf. John 11:1-6).

Verses 39-41: Upon receiving the two men, Peter went with them without delay. When they arrived, the disciples “brought him into the upper chamber” where Tabitha was laid. Luke describes the scene: Love and sorrow mingled together. Widows, who perhaps came in with Peter, stood by him weeping. They displayed and talked about coats and garments that she had made. Likely these were samples of the good works and almsdeeds Tabitha had done for widows.

Peter put the observers out, to deal with Tabitha alone (cf. Mark 5:40; Luke 8:54). Peter kneeled down, prayed, and said, “Tabitha, arise.” Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. The lifeless body returned to life. Peter gave her his hand and led her out to present her alive to “the saints and widows.” This phrase “and widows” (and the fact that Peter had put them out of the chamber) may suggest that the widows that Tabitha helped were not saints (i.e., disciples). However, the mention might only emphasize the correspondence to the weeping widows in verse 39.[3]

As Peter’s instruction to Æneas is reminiscent of the instructions of his Lord, so Peter’s words to Tabitha (“Tabitha, arise”) reminds us of Jesus’s words to the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, recorded in Mark 5:41, “And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” Jesus can speak so the dead will hear (cf. Luke 7:14-15; 8:54; John 5:25-29; 11:43), and in this case an apostle of Jesus does so as well.

Verse 42: “many believed in the Lord” the raising of Tabitha resulted in more believing in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. The demonstrated power of God effected results like those in Lydda.

Verse 43: Simon Peter stays “many days” at Joppa in the house of Simon, a tanner. That Peter spent his time here indicates that this Simon the tanner was also a disciple of Jesus.

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[1] The name, in either language, means antelope, gazelle, or roe (cf. Song of Solomon 2:7, 9, 17). This is the only direct reference in the New Testament to a female as disciple (μαθητρια). Bock, Acts, p. 377.
[2] “Joppa” and “Lydda,” D. F. Payne in The New Bible Dictionary, pp. 654-760. Cf. Baker’s Bible Atlas.
[3] Some have taken the reference to widows to suggest Tabitha was also a widow.