Peter Visits The Churches

"Meanwhile, the Church had peace.  It was building up throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, with eyes turned to the LORD, and filled with comfort from the Holy Spirit.

As Peter traveled around, he went to visit the saints who lived in Lydda.  There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed, and had been bedridden for eight years.  Peter said to him, 'Aeneas, JESUS CHRIST heals you; get up and make your bed!'  And the man got up at once.  All the people living in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the LORD.

There was a disciple in Joppa named Tabitha, which means Dorcas, or Gazelle.  She was always doing good works and helping the poor.  At that time, she fell sick and died.  After having washed her body, they laid her in the upstairs room.

As Lydda is near Joppa, the disciples, on hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, 'Please come to us without delay.'

So Peter went with them.  On his arrival, they took him upstairs to the room.  All the widows crowded around him in tears, showing him the clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.  Peter made them all leave the room; and then, he knelt down and prayed.  Turning to the dead body, he said, 'Tabitha, stand up.'  She opened her eyes, looked at Peter and sat up.  Peter gave her his hand and helped her up.  Then he called in the saints and widows, and presented her to them alive.  This became known throughout all of Joppa; and many people believed in the LORD because of it." - Acts 9:31-42 

   

(Peter appears in his role of "inspector" of the churches [the word bishop means inspector].

It is said here that he visits the saints.  In the years prior to CHRIST, the word "saints," namely, those consecrated to GOD, was used especially to designate the new people of GOD since the coming of the Messiah [see Daniel 7:27].  Christians are the new people of GOD since they are the Church [see 5:11]; they are also the saints.

The raising of Tabitha is similar to what JESUS did.  It is an echo of the Resurrection of CHRIST, as the raising of Lazarus [John 11] or the widow's son had been [Luke 7:11].

GOD wished to grant these signs to strengthen faith in JESUS' resurrection.  Besides the people who had been witnesses of HIS Resurrection, it was necessary that, in various places, the communities could see for themselves that GOD "raises the dead" [see Hebrews 11:19].  Similar resurrections have been seen in the Church even in recent years.)   

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