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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 9:32-43

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Church on the Move, and we are working our way through the book of Acts together. The story of Acts is the story of the church, but you will notice that the focus is on the various people involved. That’s because the church is not so much an institution as it is the people of God. That’s important because when we talk about church on the move, we are really talking about us. We are talking about God’s people on the move, because if we’re not moving, neither is the church! Today we meet two specific people from the church’s story in Acts: Aeneas and Dorcas. (Read Acts 9:32-33, 36-37 and pray.)

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Speaking of people in the church, you will notice that Peter shows up again in today’s passage. For the first five chapters, it might have seemed as though Peter was going to be the main character, but now he has barely been mentioned since chapter five.

Of course, we should know better. Acts is not primarily about Peter or Paul, although they both figure prominently in its pages. The first verse of the book tells us who the main character is. It’s Jesus! So, it should be no big surprise if Peter drops out for a few chapters.

Today’s passage contains two miracle stories, similar to what we find in the gospels with Jesus. This raises an important point. Jesus continued to heal people and raise the dead even after he returned to heaven. That shouldn’t be a big surprise either. Remember, the gospels are a record of all that Jesus began to do and teach before he was taken up to heaven (Acts 1:1). The book of Acts is the record of what Jesus continued to do and teach after he was taken up to heaven.

Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, but that does not mean that he has stopped working. Remember, the book of Acts is not just the Acts of the Apostles. It is the Acts of Jesus through the Holy Spirit working in the apostles.

Jesus is alive and well, and he is still doing miracles today. So, let’s look at Aeneas and Dorcas and see what we can learn from their stories.

I. Jesus heals Aeneas (32-35)

Once again, there are two miracles in our passage today. The first miracle is where Jesus heals Aeneas.

   A. Bedridden for eight years (32-33)

Aeneas was a man who suffered from paralysis. His story begins in verses 32-33:

As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. (Acts 9:32-33)

Peter was mostly stationed in Jerusalem at this time, although we have seen him make visits to the surrounding areas before, for example when he and John went to confirm the reception of the gospel in Samaria (Acts 8:14-25). Now we find Peter traveling again.

He goes to Lydda. Lydda was about 25 miles from Jerusalem. We’re told Peter went there specifically to visit the saints, that is, the Christian believers who lived there. But as Peter travels to Lydda, he is getting closer to Gentile territory, especially when he makes the additional trip to Joppa later in the chapter. Remember, we are in the second movement of the book of Acts, which is the movement of the gospel from the Jews to the Gentiles. We see that reflected even geographically here in Peter’s movements.

When Peter gets there, he meets Aeneas. Aeneas was a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. This was a long-term disability for Aeneas. He’d been on the prayer list for a long time. Whether his condition came about by accident or illness we don’t know. But something happened eight years ago, and this was the new normal for Aeneas—at least until Peter came along.

   B. Healed by Jesus (34-35)

We find Peter’s interaction with Aeneas in verses 34-35:

“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:34-35)

Notice several things here. First, notice Peter addresses him by name. This is not some nameless person in the crowd. He is one of the Christian believers in Lydda, and I’m sure Peter got to know him while he was there. He knew his story. He knew his background.

Then notice what Peter tells him: “Aeneas, Jesus heals you.” There are a couple things to note here.

1) Peter didn’t heal Aeneas; Jesus did. Once again, Jesus is the main character in the book of Acts, even as he is the focus of the entire Bible.

2) Peter didn’t pray for healing; rather he proclaimed the healing. He simply proclaimed to Aeneas, “Jesus heals you.” Peter was an apostle, and so he had been given special authority to heal and work miracles. You and I pray for healing, but Peter was an apostle and simply proclaimed the healing.

3) Similar to what Jesus did with the paralytic in the gospels (Matt. 9:1-7; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26), Peter issues a call to action that demonstrates faith on the part of the person being healed. He tells Aeneas, “Get up and take care of your mat.”

4) Just like the paralytic with Jesus in Mark 4, Aeneas responds by immediately getting up. This is an immediate healing. This is a complete healing. It is not a delayed or partial healing.

What was the result? All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. There was revival! There was a mass turning of people to Christ in Lydda and Sharon. (Sharon was a neighboring town along the coastal plain to the north.)

Throughout the gospels and even into the book of Acts, Jesus’ physical healings always have a spiritual meaning or counterpart. Yes, Jesus heals people because he loves them and wants to heal them, but he is also teaching through his miracles. Paralysis is a picture of our inability to save ourselves, and so the healing of the paralytic is a picture of God’s sovereignty and grace. We can’t save ourselves, but God saves us. That’s the spiritual meaning.

II. Jesus raises Dorcas (36-43)

So that’s the first miracle in our passage today where Jesus heals Aeneas. That would be wonderful enough, but now we get a second miracle where Jesus raises Dorcas. It’s a two-for-one special—BOGO in the Bible! God is always working, he is always on the move, and we should be on the move, too.

   A. Dorcas (Tabitha) dies (36-37)

This second miracle story begins when Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, dies. Look at verses 36-37:

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. (Acts 9:36-37)

Joppa was a seaport town. It was in the same location as modern-day Jaffa, which is a suburb of Tel-Aviv, about twelve miles from Lydda where Peter was at.

Joppa is where Dorcas lived. She was known by two names: Dorcas and Tabitha. They are both the same name, just in two different languages. Tabitha is her name in Aramaic; Dorcas is her name in Greek. Both names mean “gazelle.”

Luke tells us she was a disciple which means she was a follower of Jesus. We have seen a number of names for Christians so far in the book of Acts. They have been called brothers, believers, the church, disciples, the Lord’s disciples, those who belonged to the Way and the saints (1:15-16; 2:44; 4:32; 5:11,12; 6:1,7; 8:1; 9:1,2,19,26,30,31,32,36,38,41). About the only thing they weren’t called yet was Christians, but that will come later in the book of Acts when we get to Antioch in chapter eleven (Acts 11:26).

Dorcas had a reputation for good deeds and compassion. Luke tells us she was always doing good and helping the poor. This is a good reminder to us that we also should have a good reputation as disciples of Jesus. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14,16). That’s what Dorcas did. She let her light shine. People saw the good deeds she did, and they glorified God. They glorified Jesus.

After Dorcas died, her body was washed and placed in an upper room. This calls to mind the resurrection miracles of Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament where the dead bodies were also placed in upper rooms before they were raised (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37).

Luke tells us this incident happened about the same time as Jesus healed Aeneas. In God’s providence, Peter was just twelve miles away in Lydda when Dorcas died.

   B. Peter arrives (38-39)

When the disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was nearby, they sent for him. Look at verses 38-39 next:

Lydda 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!” Peter 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. (Acts 9:38-39)

When the disciples in Joppa hear that Peter is in Lydda, they immediately send for him. They send two men. You can hear the urgency in their request: “Please come at once!” This is a remarkable display of faith. Dorcas is not sick or dying and in need of healing. She has already died, and yet they believe Peter can help her, or more specifically, Jesus acting through Peter can help her. Perhaps they were remembering how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Peter arrives and goes to the upper room. It is a touching scene. All the widows are mourning. They show him the various clothing items Dorcas made while she was still living. Some of these may have been items they were actually wearing at the time.

   C. Tabitha (Dorcas) lives (40-42)

This entire scene must have felt eerily similar to an earlier event recorded in the gospels that happened in Peter’s life with Jesus (Matt. 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:49-56). Peter was there when a man named Jairus pleaded with Jesus to come to his house because his only daughter, a young girl of twelve, was dying. Peter was there when the messengers arrived with the terrible news that the girl had already died. Peter was there when Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” Peter was there when they arrived at the house and saw all the people wailing and mourning for the dead girl. Peter was there when Jesus put everyone out of the house except for Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother, and went in where the child was. And Peter was there when Jesus took the child by the hand and said, “Talitha cumi.” Talitha is Aramaic for “little girl.” Koum or cumi is Aramaic for “get up,” so Jesus took her by the hand and simply said, “Little girl, get up!”

Peter has seen this all before, and so he knows exactly what to do. Look at verses 40-42 next:

Peter 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. He 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. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:40-42)

Peter pretty much did what Jesus did before. However, there are a couple key differences here. Whereas Jesus just went in and spoke to the girl, Peter gets down on his knees and prays first. Smart move! We would do well to do the same before asking God for something. Jesus took the girl by the hand before he performed the miracle. This made it clear that it was his hand that raised her. Peter doesn’t take Dorcas’ hand until after she comes back to life. This made it clear to everyone that Jesus was raising Dorcas back to life, not Peter.

Here’s my favorite part. Did you notice which name Peter used when addressing Dorcas? He doesn’t call her Dorcas. He calls her Tabitha. I can’t help but think Peter is remembering how Jesus addressed Jairus’ daughter in Aramaic as Talitha, or “little girl.” Peter addresses Dorcas in Aramaic as Tabitha, which is only one letter different from what Jesus spoke. Jesus said, “Talitha, get up!” Peter says, “Tabitha, get up!”

And then just like Jesus, Peter calls everyone together. He presents Dorcas to them raised from the dead and alive. This miracle has a different spiritual meaning than the first miracle with Aeneas. Whereas paralysis is a picture of our inability to save ourselves, death is a picture of our separation from God due to sin. Whereas the healing of someone paralyzed is a picture of salvation by God’s grace, resurrection is a picture of being raised spiritually to life in Christ. It is also a reminder that one day we will be raised physically as well.

Once again, as a result of this miracle, many people came to the Lord. Why? Because when the church is on the move, the gospel is on the move—and that means new believers, new followers of Jesus, new disciples.

D. Simon and Simon (43)

We just saw the interplay of the name Tabitha with Talitha. Now we get more fun with names in verse 43 where we read:

Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. (Acts 9:43)

Of course, Peter’s given name was Simon, and so here we have an example of Simon staying with Simon! Simon Peter, who hailed from Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, was now staying with Simon the Tanner, who lived in Joppa on the Mediterranean Sea. There has literally been a sea change in Peter’s life since he met Jesus. He’s gone from being Simon to Peter, from Galilee to Joppa, and from fisherman to fisher of men.

Why does Peter stay in Joppa? Because there are lots of new converts in the area who need to be discipled and taught! Peter stays to do the work of the ministry, sharing the gospel and discipling new believers just as Jesus commissioned all of us to do (Matt. 28:18-20).

And so, Jesus continued to work miracles through Peter and the other apostles. These two particular miracles authenticated Peter as an apostle of Jesus as Luke prepares to share how the gospel went next to Cornelius and the Gentiles—but that’s for next time!

CONCLUSION: As we close out our message, I would like us to focus on just two words from our passage today: “Get up!” Notice Peter says these exact same words to both Aeneas and Dorcas. He tells Aeneas to get up in verse 34, and he tells Dorcas (Tabitha) to get up in verse 40.

You probably set an alarm each morning telling you when it’s time to get up. I would like to close by looking at four ways from the Scriptures that Jesus tells us to get up even today.

   1) You were dead in your sins – get up!
      – Ephesians 2:1,4-6

First of all, the Bible says that everyone of us was dead in our sins. We read in Ephesians 2: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 2:1,4-6).

You were dead in your transgressions and sins, but Jesus said to you: “Get up!” He raised you from spiritual death and separation from God. God made you alive with Christ. He has raised us up with Christ and has seated us with him in the heavenly realms.

   2) Your sins are forgiven – get up!
      – Mark 2:10-11

Secondly, your sins are forgiven. When Jesus healed the paralytic in the gospels, he told the religious leaders who were there: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home” (Mark 2:10-11).

The application for us here is so important. Too often, even as believers, we feel weighed down by our sins, burdened by guilt and shame. How many of us have ever said, “What a lousy Christian I am.” Jesus says to you: “Get up!” Your sins are forgiven. There’s no reason or need to be weighed down by them anymore.

   3) You are called to service – get up!
      – Luke 5:8-10

Thirdly, you are called to service. When Simon Peter saw Jesus work the miracle with the fish and the nets: “He fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ … Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men’” (Luke 5:8-10).

Yes, we should all fall at Jesus’ feet and confess our sin to him. But Jesus doesn’t want you to stay there. He has work for you to do. Just like Jesus told the paralytic to get up and get going, so Jesus called Peter into service. It’s the same for you and me. We are called to be a church on the move, and Jesus calls you to service in the church and in this world. You’ve been lying on your mat for too long. Jesus tells you to get up and get moving.

   4) Your body will be raised – get up!
      – John 5:28-29

And then finally, one day your body will be raised. We read in the gospel of John: “A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear [the voice of Jesus] and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29).

Unless Christ returns first, we will all eventually die and be buried in the grave. But when Jesus returns, he will cry: “Get up!” And all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out. Your body will be raised.

Does Jesus still do miracles today? Absolutely. 1) He works the miracle of salvation in our lives. 2) He works the miracle of forgiveness of sins. 3) He works the miracle of equipping us for witness and service. And 4) he will perform the miracle of raising the dead when he returns. He does many other miracles as well, but those are the big four right there. Just as Peter told Aeneas and Dorcas to get up, Jesus tells you to get up.

Aeneas was bedridden for eight years. How long have you been waiting to get up? How long have you been waiting for Jesus? Not as long as he’s been waiting for you!

If you’re not a Christian this morning, Jesus calls to you—it’s time to get up. If you’re lying around in sin and shame this morning, Jesus calls to you—it’s time to get up. If you’re saved but not serving this morning, Jesus calls to you—it’s time to get up. Jesus was dead and buried in the grave, but on the third day he rose again. Because he got up, you can get up. One day when he returns again, your body will be raised from the grave, and we will all get up for good.

So, rejoice in your new life in Christ. Confess your sins and receive God’s forgiveness. Get up and get moving in service and witness. And rejoice in the future certainty of the resurrection of the dead. Do you hear that alarm ringing? It’s time to get up!

© Ray Fowler

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