Aeneas and Dorcas

³² As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people^(A) who lived in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ³⁴ “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you.^(B) Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. ³⁵ All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon^(C) saw him and turned to the Lord.^(D)

³⁶ In Joppa^(E) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good^(F) and helping the poor. ³⁷ About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.^{(G) 38} Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples^(H) heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

³⁹ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows^(I) stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room;^(J) then he got down on his knees^(K) and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”^(L) She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.^{(M) 43} Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.^(N)

Peter’s Vision^(A)

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof^(B) to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.^{(C) 11} He saw heaven opened^(D) and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. ¹³ Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

¹⁴ “Surely not, Lord!”^(E) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”^(F)

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”^(G)

¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,^(H) the men sent by Cornelius^(I) found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸ They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision,^(J) the Spirit said^(K) to him, “Simon, three^[a] men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”^(L)

²⁸ He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.^(A) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.^{(B) 29} So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”