Acts 9:32-43 Peter the Apostle and Missionary
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aene′as, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aene′as, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas [“gazelle”.] She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, rise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
This begins Luke’s new pivotal section of Acts: Peter’s missionary work that culminated in the first Gentiles—Cornelius and his family (Acts 10:1-11:18)—receiving the Gospel, being baptized and entering the Christian community.
Peter, as leader of the apostles and not unlike bishops of today, spent much of his time not only preaching, teaching and healing, but “going here and there” among the disciples, strengthening them in their faith, checking-up on their good order, building personal connections with them and between them. It’s no accident that Luke mention so many names of the disciples or with whom they stay on their travels. He mentioned that Saul stayed with one Judas in Damascus (Acts 9:11), and in Joppa he says that Peter stays with Simon the tanner (tanners were treated almost as outcasts, since their work was regarded as unclean.)
The Lord had promised that his disciples would continue with His ministry, and “even greater works” would they do. So Peter’s message is also accompanied by powerful acts of healing—as with Aeneas and Dorcas. Both of these parallel the Lord’s own healing of a paralytic and raising of the dead (Luke 5:17-26, 8:40-56). Peter was clear that it was not his own power that heals, “but Jesus Christ heals you.” It was this demonstration of healed—changed—lives that left a deep impression on many others and brought them to turn to the Lord.
Naturally, both Aeneas and Dorcas eventually died. Their healings were temporary, and signs of the Lord’s ultimate gift of eternal life in the resurrection. St John Chrysostom draws attention here to the prayers for the departed in the Divine Liturgy, through which we remain connected with each other—living and departed—and through our prayers, alms and good deeds continue to mutually benefit each other in the Lord as we look to partake of Him more perfectly in the never-ending Day of His Resurrection.
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(Saint John Chrysostom, from Homily XXI on Acts.)
Not in vain are the oblations [of the Divine Liturgy] made for the departed, not in vain the prayers, not in vain the alms and deeds: all those things has the Spirit ordered, wishing us to be benefited one by the other…
It is not for nothing that the Deacon cries, “For them that are fallen asleep in Christ, and for them that make the memorials for them.” It is not the Deacon that utters this voice, but the Holy Spirit…Angels are there present, Archangels, the Son of God is there: all stand with such awe, and in the general silence those stand by, crying aloud: and do you think that what is done, is done in vain? Then is not the rest also all in vain, both the oblations made for the Church, and those for the priests, and for the whole body? God forbid! But all is done with faith…
This is the time of celebration of a victory. For, [as we say in the Divine Liturgy], “so often as ye eat this bread, you show forth the Lord’s death.” Then let us not approach indifferently, nor imagine that these things are done in any ordinary way. … We make mention of martyrs, and this, for assurance that the Lord is not dead: and this, for a sign that death has received its death’s blow, that death itself is dead.
Knowing these things, let us devise what consolations we can for the departed, instead of tears, instead of laments, instead of tombs, our alms, our prayers, our oblations, that both they and we may attain to the promised blessings, by the grace and loving-kindness of His only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit together be glory, dominion, honor, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.