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So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 31. The Church visibly proceedeth still with much comfort and patience; she is perfected by persecution, and by means of the promised infallible protection, she has ever proved herself invulnerable to all the envenomed shafts of her adversaries.
As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed.
Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.
All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Verse 35. Saron, or Assaron, is a mountain and city mentioned by Josue, 12:18. From it all the plain from Cæsarea of Palestine to Joppe, is called Saron. It is a rich fertile country. Tirinus.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
Verse 36. Tabitha, in Syriac, means the same as Dorcas in Greek, that is, a wild goat. V.—See here the powerful effects of good works, and alms-deeds; they reach even to the next life. B.—Hence that of the wise man, alms free from death.
“Dorcas” is Greek for “Gazelle.”
In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
Verse 37. Washed. This custom of washing the dead was observed among the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, and most other nations. It is still practised in monasteries, and formerly was observed with much ceremony. S. Chrysostom observes, that our Saviour’s body was washed and embalmed. The same custom is mentioned in Homer and Virgil:
Corpusque lavant frigentis, et ungunt.—And again,
Date, vulnera lymphis abluam.—Æneid. iv.
—Tertullian, in his Apology, testifies, that the Christians performed that office to the dead. It was a proof of their respect for the image of God impressed upon his creature, and for the character of Christian, which these persons have borne during their lives. It was likewise a sign of the confidence they had in a future resurrection.
As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
Reading from NU, TR; MT omits “two men”
Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and other garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
Verse 39. Χιτων was the under garment, Ιματιον the upper.
Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Verse 40. And having put them all out, not to disturb him while he prayed.—Sat up, raised herself a little: and Peter taking her by the hand, lifted her quite up, and calling in the company, presented her to them alive and well. Witham.
He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Verse 41. Raising the dead to life can only be the work of God. This woman was raised to life for the comfort of the faithful, and the conversion of others. She herself might likewise have an opportunity of acquiring greater merit, otherwise the repose of another life is preferable to a return to the miseries of this world. D. Dion. Carthus.
This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Verse 43. In the Greek is added: instructing the new converts, and fortifying them in the faith they had just embraced.