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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 9:36-43

Here we have another miracle wrought by Peter, for the confirming of the gospel, and which exceeded the former?the raising of Tabitha to life when she had been for some time dead. Here is, I. The life, and death, and character of Tabitha, on whom this miracle was wrought, Acts 9:36, 37. 1. She lived at Joppa, a sea-port town in the tribe of Dan, where Jonah took shipping to go to Tarshish, now called Japho. 2. Her name was Tabitha, a Hebrew name, the Greek for which is Dorcas, both signifying... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 9:32-43

9:32-43 In the course of a tour of the whole area, Peter came down to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man called Aeneas who had been bed-ridden for eight years. He was paralysed. So Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Rise and make your bed." At once he stood up and all who lived at Lydda and at Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. In Joppa there was a disciple called Tabitha--Dorcas is the translation of her name. She was full of good works and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 9:43

And it came to pass ,.... Or so it was; that he tarried many days in Joppa ; conversing with the saints, confirming the disciples, and preaching the Gospel, to the conversion of sinners; and his abode was with one Simon a tanner ; it seems as if persons of this trade used to dwell in towns near the sea, as fit for their business; so we read of some at Sidon, a city on the sea coast, as Joppa was; "it happened at Sidon that a certain בורסי , "tanner", (the same word here used,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:43

He tarried many days in Joppa - Taking advantage of the good impression made on the people's minds by the miracle, he preached to them the great truths of Christianity, and thus established them in the faith. Simon a tanner - Whether the original word βυρσευς signifies a tanner or a currier, is of little consequence. The person who dealt in the hides, whether of clean or unclean animals, could not be in high repute among the Jews. Even in Joppa, the trade appears to have been reputed... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 9:43

Verse 43 43.When as he saith that Peter dwelt with a tanner, we may hereby gather of what manner of men the church of Joppa did consist, for if the chieftains of the city had been converted to Christ, some one of them would have lodged Peter; for it had been too cruel a thing to suffer an apostle of Christ to be so despised. Therefore, the Lord did gather together there, as every where, a church of the common sort of men, that he might throw down the pride of the flesh; and also thereby... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 9:31-43

Works of peace. It is a bright picture of happy and prosperous Church life that here opens. Peace "lay like a shaft of light athwart the land" of Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria. The work of edification, ever silent and sure like the growth of the tall palm, went on. There was the spirit of reverence and the sense of comfort and of joy in the presence of the Holy Spirit. That nation is happy whose life contributes few incidents that startle, changes that dismay, revolutions and wars that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 9:32-43

The fisher of men. "The Church had rest," we read in Acts 9:31 , "throughout all Judaea and Galilee." Not so the primate of the Church. The Church's rest from persecution was his season of work. A brief glimpse of his work may be edifying to us. We saw something of his ministry at Jerusalem in the earlier chapters of this book—preaching, praying, praising, healing, protesting, resisting, suffering, perplexing his enemies, exhorting and comforting the saints. We saw him carefully building... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 9:32-43

The miraculous and the supernatural. In these verses we have two instances of the miraculous; and we may consider what was the worth of that element then, and why it has passed away; we may also consider the truth that the supernatural—the directly though not visibly Divine—still abides and will continually endure. I. THE RATIONALE OF THE CHRISTIAN MIRACLE , wrought in the apostolic age. Then it was (or seems to us to have been) necessary. 1. It was regarded as of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 9:36-43

The raising of Dorcas. The contrast between the ancient and modern world, changing somewhat the relation of almsdeeds to the rest of Christian life; but the poor always with us. The special province of woman in the Church. The individuality of the charity, not a society, but Dorcas the woman. I. FAITH WORKING BY LOVE . 1. Show that Dorcas was not a mere philanthropic worker, but a true believer. 2. The disciples at once sent for Peter, believing that he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 9:36-43

The emphatic mark of Divine approbation which Christianity puts upon womanly kindness, in what may seem an humble sphere, and upon genuinely felt gratitude for it. The narrative is the more interesting as being the first subsequent to the Ascension, and among the Acts of the Apostles, which brings the deeds, the character, and the fame of a Christian woman into prominence. The share that Christianity has contributed in honoring women, and in raising them to occupy their own proper place,... read more

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