Week 15, Acts 9:32 43 Hook

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1 Hook Historic Event: The Chicago Fire of 1871 burned from October 8 to October 10, The fire caused an estimated $200 million in damages and took around 300 lives. Legend has it that this disaster began because of the actions of an unlikely culprit. According to lore, a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn and began a blaze that would claim an area four miles long and one-milewide in the Windy City. 1 What other big historical events started with a small act? What life decisions have you made that seemed inconsequential at the time that turned out to make a big impact on your life? 1 1

2 Book Text Summary: Acts 9:32 43 In last week s study, Luke describes how believers in the regions surrounding Jerusalem are experiencing a time of peace after the end of Saul s persecution. The Church is growing in Judea, Galilee and Samaria, and Luke spends the next 10 verses describing two new examples of God s miraculous work through the ongoing ministry of Jesus disciples. He focuses on the work of Peter, who introduces two people to the healing power of God, leading cities to saving faith in Jesus Christ. This account shows us that ministry never happens in a vacuum. The work that God does through our obedience creates a ripple effect that touches everyone in our vicinity and sparks a chain reaction of further breakthroughs in new and unexpected areas. Acts 9:32 35 [Read] Sub-Point: God s singular acts of deliverance have far-reaching effects. Verse 32 Peter continues to obey his calling as a minister of the Gospel (Luke 24:44 49). He and the other disciples have already experienced incredible results thus far, from overnight imprisonment (Acts 4), to the Holy Spirit s judgment (Acts 5), to fiery revival meetings (Acts 2) and miraculous healing (Acts 3). Everywhere the disciples go, God uses their words and actions to make His power known to the crowds in attendance. Not only that, but God equips the disciples to use these amazing moments, both positive or negative, to preach the Good News of the salvation found in Jesus Christ. Q: Describe a time in your life when God used you to carry the Gospel into an unexpected place. Q: How have you seen God work through both positive and negative reactions to the Gospel? Verses Peter s travels lead him to the city of Lydda, where he encounters a man named Aeneas who is in desperate need of healing (v. 33). Bedridden for eight years, Aeneas is wellknown to the residents in Lydda and the Sharon region. 2 Peter speaks to him in the authority of Jesus name, as he has done in the past (Acts 3:6), and Aeneas immediately gets up (v. 34). 3 Luke uses the same Greek word immediately that he and the other gospel writers use to describe responses to Jesus healing miracles (Matthew 20:34; Mark 5:29; Luke 5:13; John 5:9). 2 Marshall Part of the disciples training to join Jesus ministry was speaking and acting in Christ s name (Luke 10:17; John 1:13-14), as it is the only name with the power to save (Acts 4:12). 2

3 Q: Can you think of a time when God led you to an unexpected ministry opportunity? Verse 35 The effects of this healing miracle do not just touch Aeneas life. His healing becomes a testimony of Christ s power that is made known to all the residents of his town and the surrounding area. As a result, numerous people come to believe. 4 The crowd-gathering event of the Pentecost initiated a new era of God s kingdom work on earth. The life-changing works Jesus had displayed before large crowds throughout His ministry were continuing now among His disciples. 5 Peter and the other disciples are now seeing how a single act of deliverance can have an even greater impact. When God saves one person, He uses them to reach many more. Q: How have you seen God s deliverance in one person s life affect others around that person? Q: What is typically your motive for doing good works? How have you seen one good work, done in Christ s name, lead to a ripple effect of great results? Acts 9:36 43 [Read] Sub-Point: God s singular acts of deliverance have far-reaching effects, Part 2. Verses Luke s narrative brings us to the nearby seaport town of Joppa, where a Christian woman named Tabitha lived (v. 36). The story has now reached beyond Jewish territory to an area full of Gentiles, or non-jews. 6 Luke describes Tabitha, who has just passed away, as being known for good works and acts of charity (v. 36). Tabitha is a non-jewish Christian faithfully living in a way that is exemplary of the kingdom of God. Luke s observation of her ministry to widows confirms the offering of her life as true worship to God (v. 39; cf. James 1:27). 7 This illustrates that the Gospel has taken root outside Jerusalem and that Gentiles are encountering the power and life transformation that the Holy Spirit brings. The other Christians in the city send for Peter to come immediately, possibly in hopes that he will be able to miraculously raise Tabitha from the dead (v. 38). 8 The widows whom she cared 4 Peterson summarizes, many unbelievers in Lydda and the surrounding coastal plain of Sharon turned to Jesus as Lord, acknowledging His divine authority and saving power through the actions and words of His apostles (321). 5 The risen Jesus continues to heal through Peter (Peterson 321). 6 Joppa seems to have been a distinctly Greek city. So when Peter reached this point, he was definitely in Gentile territory (Peterson 321). 7 James speaks of pure religion as following the same commands God gave through His teachers and prophets (see Deuteronomy 14:29; Isaiah 58; Jeremiah 3:3 7). Marshall adds, the care of widows and other needy people was a religious duty in the community, and a Christian community would naturally follow Jewish practice in caring for the poor in its midst (191). 8 Marshall notes that Dorcas was laid to rest in an upper room, reminiscent of Old Testament accounts where Elijah and Elisha raised people from the dead (c.f. 1 Kings 17:19; 2 Kings 4:21). 3

4 for are deeply saddened by her departure and greet Peter with weeping upon his arrival at the house (v. 39). The Christian witness of Tabitha s life has already touched many, and the impact is only going to increase. Q: Consider your life: Where are the Gentile regions beyond where you usually minister? Verse 40 Peter sends everyone out of the room, just as Jesus does before resurrecting a young girl (Matthew 9:24 25). Peter kneels and prays to God, just as Elijah and Elisha did, and then commands Tabitha to get up. She opens her eyes, sees Peter, and sits up. It is good to note the difference between Luke s account of this healing and the Gospel accounts of Jesus similar miracle. While Peter (as well as Elijah and Elisha) relied on prayer, Jesus had the power to simply walk into the room and take the dead child by the hand. The identification of prayer in this passage confirms that Peter is not drawing on his own power but on the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ that has been made available to him by the Spirit. 9 Q: Describe an instance in your life when it was clear that it was God s power working through you to achieve a result. Q: How do you ensure that you are working in God s power and not your own? Verses Peter calls the crowd of saints and widows back and presents the resurrected body of Tabitha (v. 41). The miracle is so incredible that the account of her healing is told throughout the city, and in verse 42, Luke tells us that it leads many people to believe in Jesus. From Aeneas and the people of Lydda, to Tabitha s miraculous resurrection, the Gospel message is spreading far and wide through the testimony of individuals. In verse 43, Luke records that Peter decides to remain in Joppa at the home of a man named Simon. Next week, we will see that this home is the starting place for yet another miraculous expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles. For now, we also marvel that, had Peter not first obeyed God s leading to Lydda, he would never have been brought to Joppa nor prepared for his next kingdom assignment. Q: How have you seen God use personal testimony to bring the Gospel to unexpected places? Q: How has God used a time of obedience to lead you to your next ministry opportunity? 9 The same word get up is used in v. 34 and v. 40, though here with reference to an even more remarkable event than the healing of a man who was paralyzed. It is the verb frequently associated with the Resurrection of Jesus (Peterson 322). 4

5 Took Current Event: Would you rather have $1 million today or 1 penny that doubles in value every day for the next 31 days? Thanks to 100 percent return on investment, at the end of the 31 days you would reap $21,474, When we lend our efforts to the Lord, He takes what little we have to offer and multiples it for His glory to incredible results. Lesson Conclusion: God s work always carries us beyond the scope of what we can see or understand. The effects of His actions have miraculous power to spread the Gospel to people and places that we would never expect. Peter exemplifies faithful obedience to God s mission and displays total reliance on the power of God. His example reminds us that it doesn t take much to be used by God in powerful ways. This passage also encourages us in that our acts of obedience are never fruitless, even if the results look different than we expected. When we are on mission for God, He is sure to multiply our efforts for His glory. Challenges Stay moving Ask God to direct your steps every day. There are many unseen, unknown ways that He could be leading you to sow the Gospel in someone else s life. Peter and the disciples didn t stop moving once they were sent. Each location and every person we encounter presents a new opportunity to be on mission for God. Where have you grown comfortable and allowed yourself to stop being on mission? How might the Holy Spirit be inviting you into an unexpected opportunity to touch one life or many more? Kneel in prayer Any work we do for God is only possible through communion with God. We have no power on our own. Jesus spent time in prayer and as did His disciples. What is the next outreach opportunity or discipleship conversation you ve planned? How have you prepared? Did you start with prayer? Ask God to work through you in ways that are infinitely more powerful. His work is more reliable than anything you do on your own. Testify Everything God does presents an opportunity to make Him known to others. When God works in your life, whom do you tell? When you hear stories of God s power at work in others, what is your response? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you humility when speaking of God s work, especially when you are involved. As humans, we can be tempted toward attitudes of pride. Let s celebrate the victories of God in ways that give Him all the glory