THE GREAT ADVENTURE Verses 32-33- Now as Peter was traveling through all those THE PHYSICAL PICTURES THE SPIRITUAL regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda Derek Westmoreland Acts 9:32-43 HBC 11-4-18 (lidʹuh). 33 There he found a man named Aeneas (e-neeʹuhs), who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. Turn to: Title: We know very little about Aeneas. We just know that he was The last three weeks we have studied the conversion and call of paralyzed so severely that he could not get out of bed for eight Saul. Today we address the disciple and apostle Peter. Peter is years. one of the Twelve men that traveled with Jesus. After the Peter knew Jesus had healed many who were in physical need. ascension of Jesus, Peter preached and 3,000 were saved that day. Furthermore, Peter had been used by God to heal a lame man in Peter and Saul/Paul had parallel ministries. Both healed people. Acts 3 (vv. 1-10). Remember the paralyzed man that sat at the Both were arrested, put in prison, and miraculously set free. Both gate to the Temple court and begged for alms. Peter, in the were bold before the governing authorities and both were treated name of Jesus, healed him. as gods by the confused (Acts 10:25-26, Acts 14:8-18). As Warren Wiersbe wrote, No one reading the Book of Acts could The physical ailment of Aeneas provides the spiritual picture of end up saying, “I am for Paul!” or “I am for Peter!” (1 Cor. every soul apart from God. We are all paralyzed or were 1:12) “But it is the same God which works all in all” (1 Cor. paralyzed by our sin. You, either are in need or were in need of 12:6). Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 443). being healed. Jesus refers to peoples’ spiritual need while using Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. physical need terms. In Let’s now read and learn about the ministry of Peter. Matthew 9:12-13- …He (Jesus) said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 “But Read: Pray: go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” This morning we examine two miracles done through the Notice, it is the sick who need a doctor and Jesus refers to sinners apostle Peter. as the sick. He used the physical description to address the I. THE MIRACLE IN LYDDA spiritual need. Jesus is the One who can heal the spiritual sick; Verse 32- Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, just as He heals the physically sick. What are those regions? They are mentioned in verse 31 where it says, So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Aeneas was helpless to care for himself. He was totally Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear dependent upon the grace of another to meet his needs. of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to Likewise, we are helpless and we are totally in need of Christ increase. Jesus healing us from the sickness of sin. Those regions are Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. The church was You can’t heal yourself. He must heal you. growing throughout these regions; just as God had promised in Acts 1:8! This is the wonderful message of the Christian faith. We know the true God who delights in healing the sick and lame! Verse 34- Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; Joppa is important in Bible history. Remember Jonah? He was get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. told by the Lord to go to Ninevah; but he instead ran the other In Luke 5:18 we read that a paralyzed man was lowered through way to Joppa to get on a ship and head to Tarshish (Jonah 1:1-3). a roof to be laid before Jesus. There Jesus healed the paralyzed man. Now Peter, follows the example of Jesus and reveals that Jonah went to Joppa to avoid going to the Gentiles, but Peter the power of Jesus is still active through the apostles. while in Joppa, will receive his call to go to the Gentiles! Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 443). Wheaton, As Peter addresses Aeneas, notice his humble state and his desire IL: Victor Books. to serve the risen Lord. Peter made it clear that it was Jesus who was giving Aeneas the ability to stand and make his bed. Peter Verse 36- Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha had full confidence in God; and Aeneas responded by faith and (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was stood immediately. The bedridden Aeneas was bedridden no abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she more! continually did. Tabitha was known for her ministry to others. She was known for The change in this man was not only immediate... it was her deeds and charity. She would regularly provide for others. visible. For 8 years he could not move. But after his transformation he did not continue to lay around and do Verse 37- And it happened at that time that she fell sick and nothing! He became a witness to the miracle working power of died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an Jesus Christ. Those that were in this region took notice. Not upper room. only did they see what Jesus did for him... they wanted what he Physical death, pictures the spiritual reality a person finds him had! Sermon by Kevin L. Jones, Acts 9:31-43, www.sermoncentral.com or herself in. Just as Aeneas was in need of physical healing. When someone is healed, they tell people and people see the You were born with the need for spiritual healing. Just as difference. Tabitha needs to be raised from the dead; sinners need to be May others see the evidence of your spiritual transformation. spiritually raised. Listen to Paul describe the condition the May you be a witness of His healing power shown on your behalf. Christians in Ephesus formerly were in. Ephesians 2:1-2a, 4-6- And you were dead in your trespasses Verse 35- And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked … 4 But God, being they turned to the Lord. rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, The result of this miracle, was that the people of Lydda and 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive throughout the region of Sharon saw the former lame man as a together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and healed man, and they turned to the Lord. raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly That is, they believed on the Lord Jesus unto salvation. places in Christ Jesus, Now let’s look at the next miracle done through Peter. If you are spiritually alive, then once were spiritually dead. If II. THE RESURRECTION IN JOPPA you are not saved, then you are currently dead. Were you dead or are you dead? Verse 36- Now in Joppa Joppa was the main port city of Judea, located on the seacoast, some ten miles beyond Lydda. Verse 38- Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having Please realize that there was no government aid in those days. heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, The widows were needy people that depended upon assistance. It “Do not delay in coming to us.” appears that Tabitha was their primary source of encouragement Peter’s ministry was impactful and his healing power had been and assistance. She was their seamstress and their provider. reported. Peter had recently healed Aeneas and now Tabitha; the faithful servant of the Lord has died. As a result, the disciples in The phrase “tunics and garments,” in verse 39, refers to Joppa seek for Peter to come to them. undergarments and outerwear. Tabitha had made everything they were wearing. They were literally clothed in her Recognize the faith of the disciples in Joppa. They believed compassion. In addition, she designed a piece of clothing with a that God could and would raise Tabitha through His servant Peter specific woman in mind. They were custom made. just as others throughout history had been raised from the dead. For example, Verse 40- But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she • Elijah raised the son of the widow of Zarephath (ZAR eh opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he fath) in 1 Kgs 17:17–24 gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and • Elisha raised the Shun/am/mite woman’s son in 2 Kgs widows, he presented her alive. 4:32–37. Peter’s request for the ladies to leave the room reminds me of • Jesus raised the widow’s son in Luke 7:11-17. And last, Jesus when he was preparing to raise Jairus’s daughter from the • Jesus’ raised Jairus’s daughter in Luke 8:49–56.