Family Devotional: Wednesday, April 29

Acts 9:32-43 (NIRV) Peter Heals Aeneas and

32 Peter traveled around the country. He went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a disabled man named Aeneas. For eight years the man had spent most of his time in bed. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “ heals you. Get up! Roll up your mat!” So, Aeneas got up right away. 35 Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord. 36 In Joppa there was a believer named Tabitha. Her name in the Greek language is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping poor people. 37 About that time she became sick and died. Her body was washed and placed in a room upstairs. 38 Lydda was near Joppa. The believers heard that Peter was in Lydda. So they sent two men to him. They begged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made before she died. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned toward the dead woman. He said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and especially the widows. He brought her to them. They saw that she was alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa. Many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time. He stayed with Simon, a man who worked with leather. This passage speaks to us about a miracle that took place in the lives of Aeneas and Tabitha. A miracle is something only God can do because it goes against how science works. In this story, Peter got to be a very important part of the miracle! Peter didn’t say, “I am the apostle Peter and by my authority and power I heal you.” He knew that only Jesus Christ had the authority and power to heal. After eight years of being paralyzed, Peter spoke and the Spirit of God healed Aeneas. When the people saw that Aeneas was healed, they believed and turned to the Lord. As Peter continues to visit with the saints, he hears of a Christian named Tabitha (“Dorcas” in Greek) who lives in Joppa and needs help. Tabitha became sick and died. Her body was washed and prepared. Hearing that Peter was nearby, messengers came for him and asked him to come to Tabitha’s body. Peter went with the two men and found the house grieving over Tabitha’s death. Peter returned to Joppa with the two men and went upstairs to the room where Tabitha’s body was placed. Some of Tabitha’s friends, who were widows, were in the upstairs room when Peter got there. He could see that Tabitha was a very kind and caring woman- she had helped these poor widows by making them clothes. For the second time in our passage, we see God use Peter as an instrument to perform a powerful miracle. Peter could not raise a person from the dead in his own strength… he needed the Holy Spirit! As we saw with Aeneas’ healing, when people in Joppa heard that Tabitha was raised from the dead many believed in Jesus.

Discussion Questions: • Where was Peter? • Why did Aeneas and Tabitha need to be healed? • How does the author of Acts describe Tabitha? • How could Peter perform these miracles? I wonder… • How it felt for Peter to perform miracles by God’s power. • If Peter remembered watching Jesus raise a little girl from the dead. • If miracles still happen today. • What you can do with what God has given you. Prayer Jesus, thank you for these stories of Aeneas and Tabitha, for the miracles that we can read about in your Word. Thank you for including Peter, and us, in your work! Help us to offer what we can generously and receive it from others graciously. Family Activity

Tabitha was known for the way she cared for the poor in her community. Who are some of the people you know who cares for the poor in your community? Have you ever helped out? I wonder if there’s anything your family can do now to help care for those who are struggling.

Elementary Activity

Find Lydda and Joppa on a map. Begin to map out the places Peter has been since we started learning about him!

Preschool Activity

Here’s a video to review the story of Tabitha!