Today's reading seems to take us back to the time of the Savior's earthly ministry, telling of a healing...
Today's reading seems to take us back to the time of the Savior's earthly ministry, telling of a healing (vv. 32–35) and a raising from the dead (vv. 36–41). But now these miracles take place through Peter's prayers. This change bears the clearest witness to what changed in the world after Pentecost. Outwardly, everything remains as it was, apart from the emergence in Jerusalem of a new messianic movement that later spread beyond both the city and Judea. Yet only Jewish circles knew of this movement, while the rest of the world went on ignoring it for a long time. People began speaking of the Church only decades later, after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the first persecutions of Christians by the Roman authorities. Even then, however, the Church remained a marginal phenomenon in Roman public life. For several centuries, outwardly, it remained something of very little importance, almost unnoticed. But throughout this time, uninterrupted spiritual work was going on in the Church, invisible from outside. Its purpose was for the Kingdom, as it spread through the world, to embrace ever more people. The spread of the Kingdom was the very reason for the Church's existence; everything else—preaching, healing, raising the dead—was only a means of helping those who sought the Kingdom to find it. Previously, during the Savior's earthly ministry, miracles, including healings and raisings from the dead, bore witness that the Kingdom had come into the world. Now miracles taking place through Christians' prayers became evidence that the Kingdom was spreading through the world and embracing ever more people. The healings and raisings themselves become signs of sharing in the Kingdom, for only those already living in the Kingdom can overcome illness and even death. For those who have not yet heard anything of Christ or the Kingdom, such miracles bear witness to the reality of the Kingdom, in which they can share if they wish. Thus the Kingdom spreads through the world, transfiguring it and bringing closer the day of the Savior's return.
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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.