KNOWN AS A DISCIPLE RAISED FROM THE DEAD
Acts 9:36-4
IMAGINE: Knowing you are sick and dying as you close your eyes for the last time, only to open them and find you are still here.
In Joppa there was a disciple
named Tabitha, which is
translated Dorcas. She was
always doing good works
and acts of charity.
Acts 9:36
We are told little, but are able to glean a lot, concerning Tabitha, which is her name in Aramaic and is translated Dorcas in the Greek. Her name change possibly was due to her being a resident of Joppa, a seaport frequented and partially inhabited by foreigners speaking chiefly the Greek language.
She was known in Joppa for something as simple as sewing clothing for the poor and widows. Not necessarily or usually thought of as something particularly remarkable. This does not fall under “great theologian” and yet Tabitha/Dorcas surpasses every other woman in the Bible in that she is called a disciple. Her gift is sewing, and she is the only woman in Scripture called a disciple.
There were women who closely followed and were identified with Jesus and His Apostles and were indeed disciples, which means student or learner, but were not called disciples in Scripture. At the time Dorcas is introduced on to the world stage, Jesus has ascended into heaven. Had she known and/or followed Jesus and thus knew Peter also? Had she been a disciple of His? We are not told.
We do know she is not a teacher of the word or a prophetess of divine revelation. What we know about her is she sews undergarments and long robes for the poor and for the widows. She possibly was a widow herself but whatever her status she does seem to have the means with which to be charitable.
Whether she knew Jesus while He walked the earth or not, none-the-less she knew Him in her heart, and out of gratitude dedicated her one gift to showing Him to others. She was always doing good and helping the poor and widows following the example set forth by Jesus.
She took the one thing she could do and made a ministry out of it in a practical way for those less fortunate. Tabitha saw a need and had a gift and she put the two together.
Joppa, being a port city would have had a high volume of widows and orphans. During bad weather fishermen, merchants, and navel seamen, were often shipwrecked and drowned. These women and children lost husbands and fathers but also lost their incomes. It appears many of the widows of Joppa were walking around in clothes made by Dorcas. Because she focused on doing what she was good at, realizing her potential, she was a beloved person in the early church.
Scripture indicates Tabitha/Dorcas becomes sick and dies. We are not told if this was sudden, premature, or unexpected. The disciples heard Peter was in Lydda, some ten miles out from Joppa, and sent two men to urge him to come at once, which he apparently does. Again, we are not told if Peter and Dorcas had previously known each other or not.
When Peter arrived in Joppa all the widows approached him weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Widows were extremely vulnerable in that generation, as mentioned, and it appears Dorcas had clothed many of them in their desperation.
It was the custom when someone died to bury them immediately. Instead this group of believers washed her body and placed her in a room upstairs. They waited while two of the men from their group travelled some ten miles one way and the same distance back trusting Peter would return with them.
It seems these early church believers trusted in God and had faith Peter could/would raise her from the dead. If that is the case it showed great faith, as it does not appear that any of the Apostles had before this, raised anyone from the dead.
Peter knelt to pray, turned to Tabitha and said “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her hand and helped her to her feet. He then called all in attendance plus the widows and presented her alive. This became known throughout Joppa and many people believed in the Lord.
The Bible mentions only seven people who were raised from the dead. Tabitha is the only adult woman among them. The life, death and resurrection of Tabitha/Dorcas helped spread the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A summary of Tabitha/Dorcas is:
She is called a disciple. She may have known Jesus and Peter personally, but we just do not know this to be fact. We do know Philip the Evangelist had established a church at Joppa, now known as Jaffa, which was known for evangelism and services throughout the community. It may have been that Dorcas came to know Christ as her Savior in this church and there saw how she could serve Him with her needle and thread.
She had many good works helping the less fortunate. She made coats and garments for widows and the needy of her church and community with her own hands showing much love. Dorcas definitely showed her Christian faith by her unending service to others.
The church at Joppa was heartbroken when one of its beloved members died. Her passing appears to be a blow to the church and community both. The members lovingly washed and placed her corpse in an upper room. There is no mention of family around to mourn her passing but she is surrounded by those she had served. Apparently, she died in the midst of being very useful to others.
Her fellow disciples had learned Peter was not far away and sent two men to have the Apostle come with them to Joppa. They hoped he might be able to help in the loss of their loved one. It is not mentioned in what way they thought Peter could help someone who was now deceased, but Peter did not delay in joining the two men to Joppa and the bedside of Dorcas. He prays, tells her to “get up”, and presents her alive to the others there with her.
It is not recorded as to what Dorcas must have thought or wondered. She knew she had been sick and was dying and yet here she is alive and well and ready, with needle and thread in hand, to serve once again. What joy must have prevailed among her, the believers, and the widows now that she was back among the living.
The miracle seen among the mourners was of great comfort to all present, no doubt. But, the greatest miracle, from this event, was many in and around Joppa came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Dorcas being raised from physical death caused spiritual life as many were raised from the depths of sin and unbelief. The church at Joppa may have become a “mega church” quickly as word spread and many were saved as the result of Tabitha-Dorcas’ return from the dead.
Tabitha and Dorcas both mean “gazelle” in their perspective languages. A gazelle is distinguished for its slender, beautiful form and its graceful movements. We are not told if Dorcas is a beautiful woman on the outside, but she lived her life in such a way that the beauty of Christ did show through her in miraculous ways. Tabitha-Dorcas had no idea the far-reaching consequences of what a needle and thread could accomplish and yet the results are still being spoken of today.
This is yet another one of God’s children who was not necessarily versed in theology, with a big Bible and a 4-step track, even though these are useful items. She simply had a needle and thread she used for the glory of God. What are you holding onto: a needle and thread, pen and paper, paint brush, cookbook, some form of electronics, etc. A small pebble can cause a large ripple on the pond of life. It only takes one plus Jesus.
Something to consider:
Be alert, to give service.
Anonymous
BIBLICAL PEOPLE 