Peter raised Tabitha, also called Dorcas, from the dead in Joppa.
Acts 9 records that Peter, sent for from nearby Lydda, came to Joppa, prayed over the dead woman's body, and said, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes and sat up, and the miracle became known throughout Joppa, causing many to believe on the Lord. Les Feldick's teaching in the provided clips places Peter in this Joppa/Lydda region as the book of Acts turns back to his ministry.
Acts 9:40 — Records Peter's command 'Tabitha, arise' — the very miracle performed in Joppa.
Acts 9:36 — Identifies Tabitha/Dorcas, the Joppa disciple who was raised from the dead.
Acts 9:42 — Gives the outcome of the miracle — it was known throughout Joppa and many believed.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas — a woman full of good works and almsdeeds. In those days she became sick and died, and after washing her body they laid her in an upper chamber (Acts 9:36-37). Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him not to delay in coming to them. Peter came and was taken to the upper chamber, where widows stood weeping and showed him the coats and garments Dorcas had made while she was with them (Acts 9:38-39). Putting them all out, Peter kneeled down and prayed, then turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. Peter called the saints and widows and presented her alive. The event became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord (Acts 9:40-42).
Les Feldick's teaching in these clips sets the stage for Peter's Joppa ministry without narrating the Tabitha resurrection itself. He notes that after Saul's conversion and return to Tarsus, the Scripture brings the reader back to Peter, who is now ministering at Lydda, right on the seacoast, before the events of Acts 10 (Clip 0). The clips also confirm why Peter in Joppa matters to the book of Acts: when the angel spoke to Cornelius, he was told, "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon." Les points out that Peter would never have gone up to Caesarea on his own, but God made it so evident that he dared not say no — and the Joppa account is what positioned Peter in that city (Clip 5). Les also describes the character of Peter's miracle-working power during this Acts period. In the healing of the lame man at the temple, Peter spoke "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" — without referencing Christ's death, burial, or the power of His resurrection. Les explains that was appropriate because the Twelve were continuing the miracles their Messiah, Israel's promised King and Savior, had been performing, using the power Jesus promised when the Holy Spirit came (Clips 1-3). This is the same apostolic power at work in Joppa.
Acts 9:40 records the moment: Peter put everyone out of the upper room, kneeled down and prayed, then turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. The biblical narrative does not say Peter used any formula at Joppa; the power was in his prayer and his word. Les's comments on the earlier temple miracle show that when Peter acted in these Acts-period miracles, he acted in the authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth — Israel's Messiah — the same authority in view as the Twelve continued the works Jesus had been doing.
The Bible says Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples of Joppa, having heard Peter was there, sent two men to ask him to come without delay (Acts 9:38). After the miracle, Peter tarried many days in Joppa with Simon the tanner (Acts 9:43). Les highlights this location as crucial: it was to Joppa that the angel told Cornelius to send men to call for Simon, whose surname is Peter — and Les observes that God made it so evident that Peter dared not refuse. Joppa, then, is the launching point for the gospel's opening to the Gentiles.
Peter's recorded miracles in Acts include the healing of the lame man at the temple gate (Acts 3:1-10) and the raising of Tabitha in Joppa (Acts 9:36-42). Les describes the temple healing as "a miracle, pure and divine" — performed with a word in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He stresses what is absent as much as what is present: no mention of Christ's death or resurrection; the emphasis is on who Jesus is — Israel's Messiah. That same divine power, exercised at the name of the Messiah, is what raised Tabitha from the dead in Joppa.
Context for Peter's Acts 9 Ministry
Les notes that after Paul's conversion the Scripture brings the reader back to Peter, who is ministering at Lydda on the seacoast — the immediate context for Peter's call to nearby Joppa.
The Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
Les highlights that Peter's healing was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth — not an appeal to the power of Christ's resurrection.
A Pure Divine Miracle
Les describes the healing of the lame man as a miracle, pure and divine — the same kind of apostolic power exercised in the Acts period.
Continuing the Messiah's Ministry
Les explains that the Twelve performed miracles with the power the Messiah had given, continuing what Jesus had been doing during His earthly ministry.
Why Did Jesus Never Heal the Lame Man at the Temple?
He walked and leaped and praising God, and all the people saw Him walking and praising God. And they knew, His fellow Jews, they knew that it was He who sat for alms at the beautiful gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto Him.
Peter in Joppa — Gateway to Cornelius
Les confirms Peter was in Joppa when the angel directed Cornelius to send men there for Simon, tying Peter's Joppa ministry to the gospel's opening to the Gentiles.
What Peter Really Preached in Acts 3 — Israel's Call to Repent
Come on back to the text now in Acts chapter 3. Verse 15. And so Peter says, You killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses, and His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong. What is Peter neglecting to mention? We think His death, burial, and resurrection. He doesn't even allude to it.
What Peter Really Preached in Acts 3 — Israel's Call to Repent
Again, we're going to get right back into the book, Acts chapter 3, because these moments fly so fast. And here we have Peter and John healing the lame man as they go up to the temple to pray. And they raised him by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, in verse 6. And immediately, verse 8, he leaps, stands, walks, entered with them into the temple, leaping and praising God.
Acts 9:36: 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.
Identifies Tabitha/Dorcas and the Joppa setting — the person Peter raised.
Acts 9:38: 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.
Shows why Peter came to Joppa — he was nearby at Lydda when the disciples sent for him.
Acts 9:40: 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.
The miracle itself — Peter's prayer and command, and Tabitha's response.
Acts 9:42: And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
Records the result of the miracle — many in Joppa believed on the Lord.
Peter raised Tabitha, called Dorcas, from the dead (Acts 9:36-42). She was a disciple known for good works who had died and been prepared for burial; Peter prayed and commanded her to arise, and she sat up.
Yes. Acts 9:37 says she became sick and died — those who cared for her washed her body and placed it in an upper chamber, which is why the raising was a genuine miracle rather than a revival from unconsciousness.
Peter had been ministering in Lydda, which the Bible says was nigh to Joppa. The disciples in Joppa sent two men to ask him to come without delay; after raising Tabitha he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon the tanner, where Cornelius's messengers later found him.
Acts 9:42 says the miracle was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
Les places Peter at Lydda near the seacoast as Acts 9 returns to his ministry after Saul's conversion, and he notes that Peter was in Joppa when the angel told Cornelius to send men there for him. Les also teaches that Peter's miracles in this period were performed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Israel's Messiah.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel to Gentiles Is Different From Peter's