Acts 9:42

KJV

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} it was {G1096} known {G1110} throughout {G2596} all {G3650} Joppa {G2445}; and {G2532} many {G4183} believed {G4100} in {G1909} the Lord {G2962}.

Complete Jewish Bible

This became known all over Yafo, and many people put their trust in the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible

This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

American Standard Version

And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 9:42 presents the profound and far-reaching impact of the miraculous resurrection of Tabitha (Dorcas) by the Apostle Peter in the ancient city of Joppa. This verse encapsulates the immediate, widespread knowledge of the divine intervention and the subsequent spiritual awakening, as a significant number of people responded to God's power by placing their faith in the Lord. It serves as a powerful testament to the evangelistic fruit borne from God's manifest presence and miraculous works in the early church.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 9:42 immediately follows Peter's healing ministry in Lydda, where Aeneas, a paralyzed man, was healed, leading to the conversion of many in that region ([Acts 9:32-35](/acts/9-32-35 "Acts 9:32-35 - Peter Heals Aeneas")). News then reached Peter in Lydda that Dorcas (Tabitha), a beloved disciple renowned for her acts of charity in Joppa, had died. Invited by the grieving believers, Peter traveled to Joppa, where he found her prepared for burial. After sending everyone out, Peter knelt and prayed, then commanded Dorcas to "Tabitha, arise!" ([Acts 9:40](/acts/9-40 "Acts 9:40 - Peter Raises Tabitha")). Her subsequent resurrection was not a private affair but became widely known, setting the stage for the mass conversion described in verse 42. This miracle, like the healing of Aeneas, serves as a divine validation of Peter's apostolic authority and the power of the Holy Spirit at work through the early church.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Joppa (modern Jaffa) was a significant ancient port city on the Mediterranean coast, strategically important for trade and travel. Its diverse population would have included Jews and Gentiles, making it a fertile ground for the expansion of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem's initial Jewish focus. In the first century, miraculous signs and wonders were often understood as divine endorsements, validating the message and the messenger. The resurrection of a prominent and beloved figure like Dorcas would have been an extraordinary event, capturing the attention and imagination of the entire city. Such an event would have been discussed widely, contributing to a climate where spiritual claims were often assessed by tangible demonstrations of power, aligning with the cultural expectations of divine intervention.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of Acts. Firstly, it underscores the **Divine Power and Authority** of God, working through His apostles. The resurrection of Dorcas is a clear demonstration of God's life-giving power, validating Peter's ministry and the message of the Gospel. Secondly, it highlights the **Spread of the Gospel** beyond Jerusalem, showing how God uses extraordinary signs to draw people to Himself and extend His kingdom. The news of the miracle becoming "known throughout all Joppa" directly facilitated the widespread belief, demonstrating the evangelistic efficacy of divine intervention. Finally, the verse emphasizes **Faith and Conversion**, as "many believed in the Lord." This belief was not merely intellectual assent but a transformative commitment of trust and allegiance to Jesus Christ, leading to genuine conversion and an expansion of the early Christian community, echoing the growth seen after Pentecost in [Acts 2](/acts/2 "Acts 2 - The Day of Pentecost").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **known (Greek, _gnōstós'_):** From *ginōskō*, meaning "to know" or "to become acquainted with." Here, it signifies that the event of Tabitha's resurrection was not a secret but became "well-known" or "notable" throughout the entire city. This widespread knowledge was crucial for the subsequent mass conversion, indicating that the miracle served as a public testimony to God's power.
* **believed (Greek, _pisteúō'_):** From *pistis* (faith), this verb means "to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing)," implying "to credit" or "to entrust." In this context, it denotes a profound, transformative trust and reliance upon Jesus Christ. It's not just intellectual acknowledgment but a commitment of one's spiritual well-being, indicating genuine conversion and allegiance.
* **Lord (Greek, _kýrios'_):** Meaning "supreme in authority" or "controller," and by implication, "Master." In the New Testament, *Kyrios* is frequently used as a respectful title for God and, significantly, for Jesus Christ, acknowledging His divine authority, sovereignty, and rightful claim over one's life. The phrase "believed in the Lord" therefore signifies belief in Jesus Christ as the divine sovereign.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it was known throughout all Joppa":** This clause emphasizes the public nature and widespread dissemination of the news regarding Tabitha's resurrection. The miracle was not confined to a small group of disciples but became common knowledge across the entire city. This immediate and extensive awareness created a fertile ground for the Gospel message, demonstrating how God uses visible acts of power to draw attention to His work and open hearts to His truth.
* **"and many believed in the Lord."**: This clause describes the direct spiritual outcome of the widely known miracle. The "many" indicates a significant number of people, not just a few, who responded to the evidence of God's power by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. Their belief signifies a turning point, a commitment of trust and allegiance to Christ as their divine Master and Savior, leading to their conversion and incorporation into the burgeoning Christian community.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Cause and Effect** as a literary device. The resurrection of Tabitha (the cause) directly leads to the widespread knowledge of the event and, consequently, to many believing in the Lord (the effect). This highlights the direct correlation between divine power manifested through miracles and the expansion of the early church. Furthermore, there is an element of **Narrative Progression**, as this verse marks a significant advancement in the spread of the Gospel geographically and numerically, moving the narrative forward from individual healings to widespread community conversion. The phrase "throughout all Joppa" also contains a degree of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the news, suggesting that virtually everyone in the city was aware of the event, rather than a literal, exhaustive knowledge by every single inhabitant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 9:42 powerfully illustrates the divine strategy for the early church's growth: God's manifest power through signs and wonders often served as a catalyst for evangelism, validating the message and drawing people to faith. The resurrection of Tabitha was not merely a compassionate act but a public demonstration of life-giving power that pointed beyond Peter to the God who raises the dead. This event underscores that genuine faith is a response to divine revelation, whether through miracles, the preached Word, or transformed lives. The widespread belief in Joppa demonstrates the Holy Spirit's work in preparing hearts and enabling them to respond to the truth, confirming that God's desire is for all to come to Him.

* [John 2:23](/john/2-23 "John 2:23 - Many Believed in His Name")
* [Acts 2:41](/acts/2-41 "Acts 2:41 - Three Thousand Added to the Church")
* [Romans 10:17](/romans/10-17 "Romans 10:17 - Faith Comes by Hearing")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 9:42 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. While miraculous resurrections are extraordinary and rare, the underlying principle remains: God actively works to draw people to Himself, and He often uses powerful testimonies, transformed lives, and the clear proclamation of the Gospel to reveal His truth. The response in Joppa reminds us of the importance of being open to God's work in unexpected ways and places. For us today, it encourages us to be faithful witnesses to the good news of Jesus, trusting that God will use our witness, in conjunction with His Spirit, to bring others to saving faith. Just as the news of Tabitha's resurrection spread throughout Joppa, our lives and words, empowered by God, can have a ripple effect, leading others to encounter the transforming power of the Lord. It calls us to pray for spiritual breakthroughs and to be ready to share the reason for the hope that is within us, knowing that God desires "many" to believe.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the public nature of Tabitha's resurrection in Joppa challenge or affirm your understanding of how God works to draw people to Himself today?**
* **In what ways can your life and testimony serve as a "sign" that points others to belief in the Lord, even without extraordinary miracles?**
* **What does "believing in the Lord" mean for your daily life and commitment to Christ?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of Joppa in the early church's expansion?**

Answer: Joppa was a crucial port city on the Mediterranean coast, making it a gateway for the Gospel to spread beyond the Jewish heartland of Jerusalem and Judea. Its diverse population, including both Jews and Gentiles, represented a broader mission field. The significant number of conversions in Joppa, sparked by Peter's ministry and the miracle of Tabitha's resurrection, demonstrated the Gospel's power to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries, laying groundwork for future missionary endeavors, including Peter's subsequent vision and ministry to Cornelius in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius").

**What does "many believed in the Lord" imply about the nature of their faith?**

Answer: The phrase "many believed in the Lord" signifies more than mere intellectual assent or acknowledgment of a historical event. The Greek word *pisteúō* (to believe) in this context implies a profound, transformative trust and reliance on Jesus Christ as the divine *Kyrios* (Lord). It suggests a turning from former ways and a commitment of one's life and allegiance to Him. This belief was a genuine conversion, leading to a new relationship with God and integration into the community of believers, indicative of saving faith that brings spiritual transformation and eternal life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 9:42, though describing an event performed by Peter, ultimately points to the resurrected Christ as the source of all life and salvation. The power demonstrated in raising Tabitha from the dead is a continuation of the very power that raised Jesus from His own tomb ([Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus")). Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, acted as an instrument through whom Christ's life-giving authority was extended. The resulting widespread belief in Joppa underscores the core purpose of all miracles in the New Testament: to authenticate the message of the Gospel and lead people to faith in Jesus Christ, the true Lord of life. Just as Jesus performed signs to reveal His glory and draw people to Himself ([John 2:11](/john/2-11 "John 2:11 - First Sign at Cana")), the apostles' miracles served to confirm that the resurrected Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah and Savior. Thus, the events in Joppa are not merely historical anecdotes but powerful illustrations of Christ's ongoing redemptive work through His Spirit and His church, drawing "many" to Himself for salvation and new life ([John 12:32](/john/12-32 "John 12:32 - Jesus Draws All People to Himself")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 11:45

¶ Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Acts 9:35

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

John 12:11

Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

John 12:44

¶ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

Acts 19:17

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Acts 19:18

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Acts 11:21

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.