Acts 9

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

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

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

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.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

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

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

What does Acts 9:42 mean?

Explanation

Acts 9:42 is a verse that recounts the aftermath of a miracle performed by Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus.

Peter raises Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) from the dead in the town of Joppa.

Following this astonishing event, the verse reports, "And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord." This passage conveys both the immediate impact of the miracle on the local population and the broader implications for the spread of early Christianity.

The "Lord" referred to in this context is Jesus Christ.

The verse underscores both the persuasive power of miracles in the lives of witnesses and the way that such events contributed to the growth of belief among the early Christians.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts is the fifth book in the New Testament and focuses on the early Christian church and the spread of the Gospel following Christ’s ascension.

Acts 9:42 captures a moment during a period of great expansion and conflict for the new Christian movement.

During this time, evangelists and apostles like Peter traveled to disseminate the teachings of Jesus and establish new congregations.

Joppa, the setting of this incident, was an ancient port city on the Mediterranean coast, now part of modern-day Tel Aviv in Israel.

The historical context centers around the dissemination of Christianity in the Roman Empire, where travelers and trades spread new ideas quickly through port cities like Joppa.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse reflects several key insights:

The role of miracles as a sign of the apostles’ divine authority and a testament to their authentic connection to Jesus.
The concept of faith activated through witnessing God’s power, leading to conversion as people "believed in the Lord."
The fulfillment of Jesus' promise that his followers would perform miraculous works (John 14:12) as evidence of the continuing activity of the Holy Spirit.

Different Christian denominations may focus on various aspects of this, from the charismatic emphasis on the continuing possibility of miracles to a more metaphorical interpretation wherein the 'resurrection' of faith in communities is seen as the real miracle.

Practical Applications

Acts 9:42 offers several applications for daily life:

It encourages believers to share their faith with others, affirming that testimonials and witnessing can be powerful tools for evangelism.
The verse might inspire Christians to seek and demonstrate compassion and aid to others as a reflection of their faith in practice.
For some, it can reinforce the belief in praying for those in dire circumstances, believing in the possibility of divine intervention.

Cross-References

Acts 9:40-41, where Peter raises Tabitha from the dead.
John 11:45, where many believed in Jesus after He raised Lazarus.
John 14:12, where Jesus speaks about his followers performing great works.
Acts 9:35, where the healing of Aeneas leads all of Lydda and Sharon to turn to the Lord.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "known" is translated from the word "γνωστὸν" (gnōston), which means "made known" or "disclosed".

"Believed" comes from the Greek "ἐπίστευσαν" (episteusan), meaning "to trust", "to have faith in", or "to be persuaded of". This word indicates more than a cognitive agreement; it implies a trust and commitment to the Lord, which encompasses both Jesus and the message of the Gospel.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, accounts of miraculous events were not uncommon in various cultures and religions. Comparatively, the resurrection of the dead is a theme that appears in various mythologies and religions around the world.

However, in the Christian tradition, such miracles are associated directly with the manifestation of divine power and serve a specific purpose to validate the message of Jesus and incite belief among the observers.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding does not support the occurrence of miracles as they conflict with the laws of nature. Resurrection from the dead, such as described in Acts 9:42, is not considered a scientifically plausible event.

From a scientific perspective, such accounts are either seen as symbolic, allegorical, or as pre-scientific attempts to explain experiences that lacked natural explanations at the time.

Commentaries

Views on Acts 9:42 vary among biblical scholars and commentators:

Some emphasize the historicity of the event, taking the miracle at face value as a testament to the truth and power of the Christian message.
Other scholars interpret the event symbolically, suggesting that the story of the resurrection of Tabitha serves as a metaphor for the revitalization of Christian communities.
There's a general consensus on the importance of the event as a turning point for the spread of early Christianity and the role Peter’s actions played in affirming his apostolic authority and validating the Christian faith in the eyes of the believers and onlookers.

Acts 9

Acts 9

What does Acts 9:42 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 9:42 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?