Awakening Tabitha

Just like when buying a house, one thing you want to know right away is location, location, location, when reading Scripture, it’s context, context, context. Sometimes that context isn’t just literary context (what comes before or after a particular passage), but geographical context (where it takes place).

            Our story, Acts 9:32-35, takes place in Joppa. Let’s look at our map. Can you find Joppa?

• Joppa is a port on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• It’s not far from Lydda, also mentioned in our text
• It would be known today as Tel Aviv or Jaffa
• Joppa is also referenced in the Old Testament and was the place to which materials to build Solomon’s temple were brought.
• We also read about it in Jonah when God told him to go to Nineveh: “But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port…” Jonah 1:3
• Understanding the location of Joppa and that it functions as a port is important as we get to the end of our story – so we’ll come back to it.

The main character in the Biblical account is Tabitha. What do we know about her?

• She is called a disciple (v. 36)
  • I love that it’s the first thing we read about her
• She was always doing good (some translations “full of good works”).
  • “Many are full of good *words*, who are empty and barren in good *works*; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker.” Matthew Henrey
• She was always helping the poor
  • She showed her faith by her works
• She made robes and other clothing (v. 39)
  • The “robes” were closer to the skin, kind of like tunics. The “garments” were the looser outer cloaks worn over them. (Ellicott)
• She was probably a widow (v. 39, 41)
• She became sick and died (v. 37)

Peter is another main figure in our Biblical account. “When the disciples heard Peter was in Lydda, which was near Joppa, they sent two men to urge him to come at once.” V. 38

Why do you think they sent for Peter? Do you think they just wanted him to come to console them in their loss?  

We know he had just healed someone in Lydda (which we read about in vs. 32-35). They probably hoped, prayed, maybe even had the expectation that Peter could restore Tabitha’s life. If indeed they had this expectation, what GREAT FAITH they showed, considering that up to this point, it doesn’t appear as if any of the apostles had raised anyone from the dead. (Benson)

*Let’s pause for a moment here – when we have something huge happen in our lives, who do we reach out to and do we do it expectantly?

Peter arrived and all the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing Tabitha had made. My guess is that they were actually wearing that clothing, maybe even clutching it in their hands to show Peter the tangible ways Tabitha had blessed them.

Peter sends them out of the room, gets down on his knees and prays. On commentator noted, He goes to God in “submission of a servant who is under direction.” (Benson) Isn’t that how we should go to God in prayer—submitted to His will and direction? If you’d like to read more about that idea, see my post on Surrender vs. Submit.

Peter turns toward the dead woman and says, Tabitha, get up, or Tabita, arise. She opened her eyes (I would have loved to have seen the expression on Peter’s face) and seeing Peter, she sat up.

If you look back in Luke 8:40-56, you will see a similar scenario in which Jesus healed a dead girl and guess who was there as an eye-witness? You got it, Peter! Jesus had modeled this for him .

Peter takes Tabitha by the hand, helps her up and calls for the believers *especially the widows, and presents her to them alive. Can you imagine the widows rejoicing? How surreal it must have felt?

When reading this text, I had to ask, why would God have allowed Tabitha to get sick to the point of death? One commentator wrote, “Removed by Divine Providence in the midst of her usefulness, probably to give Peter occasion, by another and still more remarkable miracle than that just mentioned, of confirming the gospel, and awakening men’s attention to it…” (Benson). It wasn’t just to awaken Tabitha, but to awaken others to the truth of the gospel.

In v. 42, we read, “This became known all over Joppa and many people believed in the Lord.”

Now, think back to where Joppa is located. It’s a port on the coast. If this became known all over Joppa, is it likely it became known far beyond there as well?

Think about all the lives who were impacted as a result of Peter bringing Tabitha back to life.

• Tabitha’s
• The widows
• The other believers
• Peter’s
• People all over Joppa (who as a result BELIEVED) and beyond

When God does something miraculous or supernatural, or answers a prayer in our lives, do the people all over your town hear about it? Does it become known all over? What might happen if it did? Would more people BELIEVE?

Let us go be radiant as we share with others the miracles God has done that they might be awakened to the TRUTH.