The concluding section of Acts 9 (Acts 9:31–43) is the final preparation before the gospel officially goes out to the Gentiles. Thus far the good news of Jesus Christ has been communicated with Jews and Samaritans in Judea, Samaria and Galilee, all the people who have historically had some contact with the Old Testament Scriptures. All the people who can trace their lineage back to Abraham in some way, or those who have lived in the land for a long time.
We can assume that the example of Peter, travelling from village to village, was the practice of all the apostles. When Saul came to Jerusalem, he found only Peter. Where were the rest? They went to Galilee; they went to Samaria; they went into the towns around Jerusalem. Speaking at synagogues, visiting people in their homes—the church grew as the apostles and evangelists presented and explained the facts about Jesus.
While this growth was real, we must not make the mistake of thinking that the church was in the majority. It is very easy to read the accounts in Acts and get that impression. Especially when we are told of many people coming to faith. Conversions were genuine, but the Christians were still a very small percentage of the Jews and Samaritans at this time. Nothing more than a Jewish sect in the eyes of many. By God’s grace they were found in lots of different places throughout the country. Nevertheless, in most towns and villages, one medium sized home was probably big enough to accommodate all the believers.
There remained much work to be done among the Jews and the Samaritans—the vast majority did not recognise Jesus as the Christ. It would be very natural and strategic even to focus resources and efforts close to home. Grow the church in Judea and Galilee, leave the other areas for the next generation. God’s purposes however are for Gentiles to be part of the mission and not an afterthought or a later development only. To that end he brings Peter to Lydda and then from Lydda to Joppa.
The details of what Peter does and the places in which he ministers are significant. First, when it comes to the miracles, they are meant to remind us of Jesus. Peter’s command, when healing a man who is paralysed, is very similar to what Jesus said when the man was lowered through the roof. Likewise, when it comes to Tabitha, she reminds us not only of Mary and Martha’s request for Jesus to come and help their brother Lazarus, but also the young girl from Mark 5, Jairus’ daughter. Again the words are very similar, the actions as well—in both scenarios we have Peter behaving just like Jesus behaved.
The miracles done through Peter serve to affirm a number of truths. For one, it shows us that Peter is an apostle of Jesus. Jesus is busy working through Peter to do good. He is serving his people through his apostles; they are instruments in the hands of the Saviour. For the people of Lydda and Joppa, Peter’s actions also confirm the truth of his words. When the Jews see Aeneas walking on his feet after eight years of paralysis, when they see Dorcas back at her weaving, they know that a miracle has taken place. They are more willing to take the Christian claims seriously. Finally, there is also a confirmation that Peter’s actions are in keeping with the desires of Jesus. The fact that Jesus is working through him confirms that Peter is not busy with his own plans.
This detail in particular will be very important when it comes to the Gentile mission. For a church that has limited resources and lots of unconverted Jews, it does not make sense to go into new places. Why send someone to go to another culture/people when there is so much work to be done in among the Jews? In our modern day and age, we ask questions about the wisdom of sending people abroad when there are many opportunities at home. Two thousand years ago it would have been exactly the same. Even more so when you are coming from a Jewish background, when you have been taught that your ethnicity makes you better and more deserving than others.
Going to Lydda, going to Joppa: it is important for the church to know that Peter is not busy with his own plans. He is doing the work that Christ has called him to do; his actions are in keeping with the desires of Jesus, confirmed by the miracles which Christ does through him.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.