Chapter

Acts 9:39

ESV So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
NIV Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
NASB So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the room upstairs; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
CSB Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
NLT So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.
KJV Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

What does Acts 9:39 mean?

Since Saul left his chosen profession of destroying the church and every Jesus-follower, and became a Jesus-follower himself, things have quieted down for the church—so much so that Peter is traveling, building up those who escaped Saul's wrath in Jerusalem and sharing Jesus' message to those who haven't heard (Acts 9:1–32). He makes his way to Lydda, called in the Old Testament and today "Lod," and heals a paralyzed man (Acts 9:32–35). While he is still there, two men from the nearby town of Joppa arrive and quickly explain that a devout, respected Jesus-follower named Tabitha has died. They urge Peter to come, believing he can raise her (Acts 9:36–38). They must go quickly, however, because Jews bury their dead before sundown.

There are some interesting contrasts to the stories of Tabitha and Jairus' daughter in Mark 5:35–43. The family of the girl and friends of Tabitha love them deeply. Both groups have faith that Jesus can heal their loved one. The mourners, however, are very different. In the case of Jairus' daughters, professional mourners arrived, causing "a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly" (Mark 5:38). Their feelings were insincere—when Jesus told them the girl was not dead, they laughed at Him. Jesus had to remove them and take only her parents, Peter, James, and John into the room.

Peter now meets a very different group. Widows from the community are genuinely distraught. They show him evidence of Tabitha's generosity, as if trying to prove she deserves to be raised. It's a striking example of how a rule-based culture can devolve into an insincere display of works; the community that truly has faith in Jesus is characterized by love and hope.
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