After many other healings, the healing of Aeneas no longer surprises us, but the raising of Tabitha is striking even against the background of the “familiar”...
After many other healings, the healing of Aeneas no longer surprises us, but the raising of Tabitha is striking even against the background of the “familiar” miracles. Even today, however, one may encounter such reasoning: should a righteous person’s earthly life be prolonged, or should that person be restored to temporary life, if he or she has earned a place in paradise after death? No one doubts that Tabitha is righteous, but are the widows she cared for interceding with Peter on her behalf only for practical reasons, because their helper has left them?
Such reasoning would be unjust. If earthly life were valuable only as an antechamber to the life beyond, Christ would not have needed either to rise from the dead or to promise people the resurrection to come. But unlike other religious teachings, the Bible speaks not only of a spiritual afterlife, but also of the transformation of the created world and the importance of life on earth. Tabitha was therefore raised not only so that she could continue caring for those who remained. The Lord is the Giver of life, and the gift of raising the dead bestowed upon Peter is a visible sign of the coming victory over death at the end of time.
9
9:35 Lydda was a large town, one day's journey from Jerusalem.It stood in the plain or valley of Sharon, which extended from Cesarea to Joppa, and was noted for its fruitfulness.
9:36 Tabitha, which is by interpretation Dorcas - She was probably a Hellenist Jew, known among the Hebrews by the Syriac name Tabitha, while the Greeks called her in their own language, Dorcas. They are both words of the same import, and signify a roe or fawn.
9:38 The disciples sent to him - Probably none of those at Joppa had the gift of miracles. Nor is it certain that they expected a miracle from him.
9:39 While she was with the in - That is, before she died.
9:40 Peter having put them all out - That he might have the better opportunity of wrestling with God in prayer, said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up - Who can imagine the surprise of Dorcas, when called back to life?Or of her friends, when they saw her alive? For the sake of themselves, and of the poor, there was cause of rejoicing, and much more, for such a confirmation of the Gospel. Yet to herself it was matter of resignation, not joy, to be called back to these scenes of vanity: but doubtless, her remaining days were still more zealously spent in the service of her Saviour and her God. Thus was a richer treasure laid up for her in heaven, and she afterward returned to a more exceeding weight of glory, than that from which so astonishing a providence had recalled her for a season.