Verse 37: “And it came about in those days that she became sick and died. They washed her and set her in the upper room.”

Came about in those days: In that same period of time that Aeneas was healed. These words tie the two events together.

She became sick and died: Sometimes obedience causes us to be physically or spiritually tested.

Washed her and set her in the upper room: This is unusual, because when someone was washed, after dying, they were usually buried fairly quickly and not placed in a room. This is not an act of tradition, but was an act of faith. They believed that God was going to move.

Verse 38: “Lud was near to Jaffa; the disciples heard that Peter was in it (in that city) and they sent two men to him to implore him that without delay to come unto them.”

Verse 39: “Peter stood up and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room and all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and the garments which Dorcas was making when she was with them.”

Was making: This is written in the imperfect tense.

Verse 40: “Peter cast all of them out outside. He set the knee, he prayed, and he turned to the body and he said, ‘Tabitha, rise up.’ She opened her eyes and she saw Peter, and she sat up,”

Cast all of them out outside: The text emphasizes the severity of Peter’s action. He put them out because the weeping of the widows suggests faithlessness. They had also been showing Peter all of her good deeds (garments etc) and Peter does not want the reader to think that it is because of her good deeds that she is going to receive a miracle. Miracles are always an act of God’s grace/mercy and are not dependant on our good deeds.

Set the knee: He bowed down.

Turned to the body: This shows that she was dead. He did not turn to “her”, because her soul was not there – only her body was present.

She sat up: Experienced resurrection (related to the Kingdom of God – in the Kingdom we walk in a full expression of faith. In the Kingdom we do not have to think about lack or shortage).

Sat up: Peter had told her to rise up. She sat up, so she is halfway there.

Verse 41: “He gave her a hand and he stood her up. He called to the saints, and the widows, and he presented her living.”

He stood her up: He assisted her. She had enough faith to sit up but then the man of God acted to help her to finish obeying the full commandment.

Living: She has life

Verse 42: “It came about that it was known throughout all the region of Jaffa, and many believed upon the Lord.”

Many: Those who witnessed this – testimony is powerful!

Believed upon the Lord: This belief in Yeshua was foundational to them. It brought about a change in their lives, in their circumstances, and in their community.

Verse 43: “It came about that many days he (Peter) remained in Jaffa at a certain one who was called Simon the Tanner.”

Remained in Jaffa: There was a purpose for Peter to remain there.

Simon the Tanner: Simon the Tanner worked with dead animals. He made leather, and that made him ritually unclean. We are going to see a transformation where unclean is going to be made clean. Peter remained there, because the One who is in him is greater than death. He was going to receive a message of life which was tied to that which was commonly thought of as unclean.