The+Death+and+Resurrection+of+Dorcas

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=**Acts 9:36-43 **=

Who was Dorcas/Tabitha?
She was a widow, and a servant of the Lord. She used her own resources to make garments and tunics for the poor and other widows. She had a significant ministry of charity and care for the poor because she is characterized as being “full of good works and acts of charity.” We can ascribe extra importance and significance on Dorcas simply because of how quickly we see Peter respond to heal her. The fact that he came without hesitation shows her importance to the saints at that time. [|[1]] The people had confidence in the power of God and the ministry of the Apostles. They had probably heard about other miracles of resurrection and hoped that Peter could bring Dorcas back. We know this because typically they would immediately preserve and bury their dead, but it specifically says that they washed her body and laid her in the upper room. This is a sign of the faith of those surrounding Dorcas. The most significant role of Dorcas’ resurrection within the narrative is to display God’s work in uniting Jew and Gentile under his name and within the Church. Peter undergoes quite a transformation in the book of Acts. He essentially goes from being a zealous Jew who excludes the Gentile believers, to someone who is lead by the Holy Spirit to untie Jew and Gentile.

Dorcas is a significant part of Peter’s transformation, and ultimately the working of God within the Church to bring unity of heart and mind. In Acts 11:5-12 we see Peter’s vision where God is working to command Peter not to hold on to the old covenant, but to obey his call to include the gentile believers among them. This then leads him to minister to Cornelius, and even to enter his house, which was unheard of. [|[2]] However, in the case of Dorcas’ death, Peter is still being called to bring unity between Jew and Gentile. Dorcas died in the city of Joppa. Joppa was a Gentile city, and Peter could have delayed for that reason alone. Because of Dorcas’ good works and her love for the Lord, Peter was convinced to travel to Joppa. We can clearly see Gods plan unfolding here, Dorcas is a Gentile, Dorcas dies in a Gentile city, and Peter is called to minister to her and the other Gentile believers in Joppa. This is why we see this happening in Joppa as opposed to another city. This is all part of God’s unfolding plan to include the Gentiles in his plan for the Church. God is trying to help Peter understand the significance and worth of the Gentiles in his Church. [|[3]]

This account of Peter parallels Jonah. Jonah was unwilling to obey God’s call to proclaim him in Nineveh and in the same way Peter was unwilling to include the Gentiles in the ministry of the Gospel. We see that Peter was ultimately changed and softened by his experiences with the Gentiles in his willingness to remain in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. Peter did not have to do this, and working with a tanner was disgusting work and against rabbinical law.[|[4]] Peter was truly transformed by God and his heart and attitudes were being conformed to that of Christ.

As a side note, part of Dorcas’ role in the narrative was to provide the Church with encouragement. The Church was greatly encouraged by Peter’s miracle, they took the death of Dorcas particularly hard, she was a beloved member of their congregation. Another role was to demonstrate God’s power and saving ability through the apostolic ministry, that is, a confirmation of the power of those sent by Christ. The miracles performed by apostles were used to confirm their position of authority in the Church, and authenticate their claims about Christ. Also miracles of healing were an evangelistic tool in the early church. Ultimately the death and resurrection of Dorcas’ shows Gods ultimate plan to include all peoples in his Church, united as one body.

[|[1]] Laurin, Roy L.. //Acts: life in action//. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1985.) 203. [|[2]] Gutzke, Manford George. //Plain talk on Acts//. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1966.) 105 [|[3]] Hughes, R. Kent. //Acts: the church afire//. (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1996.) 143 [|[4]] Hughes, R. Kent. //Acts: the church afire//. (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1996.) 143.

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