Chapter

Acts 9:38

ESV Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”
NIV Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, 'Please come at once!'
NASB Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, 'Do not delay in coming to us.'
CSB Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, "Don't delay in coming with us."
NLT But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, 'Please come as soon as possible!'
KJV And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

What does Acts 9:38 mean?

Peter is in the town of Lydda, modern-day Lod near Tel Aviv. He is traveling, checking in on the Jesus-followers who fled Jerusalem when Saul persecuted the church. In Lydda, Peter healed a paralyzed man, but in nearby Joppa, a respected Christian woman, Tabitha—Dorcas in Greek—has died, so disciples from her church have gone to ask Peter to come (Acts 9:32–37).

Although Jews believed the soul stayed for three days, they typically buried their dead before sundown on the day the person died. One reason is that the climate is generally warm, and the Jews didn't embalm their dead. However, they did wrap them with fragrant plants (John 19:38–40), so the smell would be less horrible (John 11:39). Also, the Mosaic law states that "Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days" (Numbers 19:11). That means anything they touch is unclean and every time they touch the body, the clock resets to seven days. They need to get Peter quickly, before Tabitha is buried.

The mention of two men is consistent with the Mosaic law. Two or three witnesses are required for conviction (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15), except for the case of rape outside the city where no one can hear, the expectation being a woman who was being attacked would always cry for help (Deuteronomy 22:25–27). Jesus sent disciples out in twos (Luke 10:1). He also spoke of bringing one or two others along when confronting an unrepentant brother who has sinned against you (Matthew 18:15–20). Saul affirms that accusations against a church member or leader must be brought forward by two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19). In the end-times tribulation, God will send two witnesses to Jerusalem (Revelation 11:1–13). Even when Philip was preaching in Samaria, Peter and John came to validate his ministry together (Acts 8:14).

It's unclear why Peter seems to be alone here, but it's possible he is accompanied by someone Luke didn't feel was relevant enough to explicitly mention. He will be accompanied by others, presumably from Joppa, when he goes to Caesarea (Acts 10:45).
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