Acts 9:31-42
New Catholic Bible
31 Period of Peace for the Church.[a]Meanwhile, the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, building up strength and living in the fear of the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit,[b] the Church grew in numbers.
32 Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. As Peter traveled throughout the region, he went down to visit the saints living in Lydda.[c] 33 While there, he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He immediately stood up. 35 All the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha, or Dorcas in Greek, whose life was devoted to performing good works and giving to those in need. 37 In those days, she became ill and died. After they had washed her body, they laid her out in an upper room.[d] 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, on hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.”
39 Peter immediately set out with them, and when he arrived, they escorted him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and the widows, and he showed her to them alive. 42 It came to be known throughout Joppa, causing many to come to believe in the Lord.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 9:31 Luke gives us a new panoramic picture in which the themes of fervor and growth are stressed. A precarious peace is established, providing the time to contemplate the Church living and animated by the Spirit and planted in the whole land of ancient Israel. In verse 31, Church refers, not to a single Church, as it usually does in Scripture, but to all the communities. Peter visits the various centers, especially those in the area of present-day Tel Aviv. His miracles are recounted in the manner of pages in the Gospels.
- Acts 9:31 Encouraged by the Holy Spirit: this Book stresses the work of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 13:2). Hence, it is sometimes called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 9:32 Lydda: a town about 12 miles from Joppa.
- Acts 9:37 The body was washed in preparation for burial.
