Acts 9:39

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.

Then {G1161} Peter {G4074} arose {G450} and went with {G4905} them {G846}. When he {G3739} was come {G3854}, they brought him {G321} into {G1519} the upper chamber {G5253}: and {G2532} all {G3956} the widows {G5503} stood by {G3936} him {G846} weeping {G2799}, and {G2532} shewing {G1925} the coats {G5509} and {G2532} garments {G2440} which {G3745} Dorcas {G1393} made {G4160}, while she was {G5607} with {G3326} them {G846}.

Kefa got up and went with them.

When he arrived, they led him into the upstairs room. All the widows stood by him, sobbing and showing all the dresses and coats Tavita had made them while she was still with them.

So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

Context

Acts 9:39 finds the apostle Peter in Joppa, a coastal city, having recently performed a notable miracle by healing Aeneas in Lydda (Acts 9:34). News of his powerful ministry had spread, leading the disciples in Joppa to urgently send for him upon the death of Dorcas (also known as Tabitha), a beloved and charitable woman. The scene described here is Peter's arrival at the house where Dorcas's body lay in an "upper chamber," a common room often used for gatherings or for laying out the deceased. The presence of the weeping widows, displaying the tangible evidence of Dorcas's kindness, sets the stage for the miraculous event that follows.

Key Themes

  • Compassion and Practical Ministry: This verse beautifully highlights the value of tangible acts of service. Dorcas's life was characterized by "good works and almsdeeds," particularly her dedication to making clothing for the poor and vulnerable, especially widows. Her legacy was not just spiritual but also deeply practical and caring, demonstrating faith expressed through works.
  • Grief and Testimony: The scene of the widows weeping and showing the garments serves as a powerful testimony to Dorcas's profound impact on her community. Their grief was genuine, rooted in the loss of a benefactor who had alleviated their hardship. This emotional display underscores the deep human connection and the value of a life lived in service to others.
  • Anticipation of Divine Intervention: The urgent call for Peter, despite Dorcas being deceased, suggests a glimmer of hope among the disciples, perhaps fueled by the reports of Peter's earlier miracles and the growing understanding of apostolic power in the early church.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Dorcas" is Greek, meaning "gazelle," while her Aramaic name, "Tabitha" (Acts 9:36), also means "gazelle." This dual naming reflects the multicultural environment of Joppa and may subtly allude to her graceful and gentle character. The "upper chamber" (Greek: hyperoon) was a common feature in ancient homes, often used for quiet reflection, prayer, or significant gatherings, reminiscent of the upper room where the disciples gathered after Christ's ascension.

Practical Application

Acts 9:39 serves as a powerful reminder that Christian faith is not merely intellectual assent but is lived out through active compassion and service to others. Dorcas's example encourages believers to identify practical needs within their communities and to meet them with love and generosity, whether through making clothes, providing food, or offering comfort. Her legacy, preserved through the tangible evidence of her work, shows that even simple acts of kindness can have a profound and lasting impact. This passage calls us to consider how our own lives can be a testimony of God's love through our deeds, reflecting the principle of serving Christ by serving the "least of these".

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:3

    Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

  • Ephesians 4:28

    Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

  • Proverbs 10:7

    ¶ The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

  • Proverbs 31:30

    Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

  • Proverbs 31:31

    Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

  • 1 John 3:18

    My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

  • Matthew 17:17

    Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

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