Acts 9:32-43
Aeneas and Dorcas
32As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34"Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. 35All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"
39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Luke writes about the Acts of the Apostles...Here Luke give us two of St. Peter's miracles...Peter went to visit the Saints in Lydda...A paralyzed man named Aeneas was bedridden for eight years...Peter went to him and said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you...Get up and take care of your mat...Aeneas immediately got up...He was healed...All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the LORD...
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, who was also called Dorcas, who was always good and helping the poor...Dorcas became sick and died...Peter was in Lydda, which was near Joppa...The followers of Christ in Joppa heard Peter was in Lydda and called for him...They urged Peter to come at once...Peter arrived arrived and they were crying and showing him clothes and robes that Dorcas had made while she was alive...Peter went to the room where she laid...Peter told the dead woman, "Tabitha, get up."...She opened her eyes and seeing Peter she sat up...He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet...Then he called the widowers and believers and presented her alive...This became known all over Joppa...Because of this miracle, many believed in the LORD...Peter for some time stayed in Joppa with a tanner named Simon...
Jesus chose for Peter two people, who could not be healed by the common doctor or with traditional healing methods...Aeneas was paralyzed for eight years...Dorcas had died...It would take miracles to heal Aeneas and an even bigger miracle to bring Dorcas back to life...Peter had seen His Teacher heal many...He saw His Master bring the daughter of Jairus back from the dead...He saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead...And the greatest miracle of all, Peter saw His LORD and His God die on the cross and resurrect back to life...So when Peter told Aeneas, that Jesus heals you, he would believe it...And when Aeneas showed his faith in Jesus, he was healed...Dorcas had died...Only one divine could bring her back...Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples after His death (Acts 2:4)...Peter understands that any power he has comes from Jesus...Peter asks Dorcas to get up and she does...Jesus worked through Peter to heal both of these Christians...Peter knew their was great power in Jesus...
Peter was an eyewitness to Jesus' life...Jesus still lives in Peter and in us through the Holy Spirit...Peter after the resurrection completely trusted in the LORD...The apostles could now through the Holy Spirit could heal and did heal many (Acts 5:12-16)...We, like Peter, should trust in the LORD...St. Peter teaches us that salvation is found in no One else...There is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we will be saved (Acts 4:12)...