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Peter's Service - An Example for Us

Published since 29. Sep. 2024
Bible passages:
Acts 9:32-43

"Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner." (Acts 9:32-43)

In Acts 9:32–43, we see Peter, the former fisherman, display features of one who is an effective servant of God. Six things stand out as lessons for every follower of Jesus Christ.

  • People-Oriented (vv. 32–33)

"Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There, he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed."

Peter, like his Master, took time for people. A mark of a true servant of God is a genuine care for the sheep. Sometimes, it’s easy to get so involved in the service of the Lord that we lose sight of those we are to serve. Servants down through the ages set a very good example for us. Men like Moses, who nearly wore himself out ministering to the people of God, which is why his father-in-law suggested delegating part of his ministry to others. Stephen was first chosen to serve the neglected saints. Paul was willing to spend and be spent for the saints (2 Cor. 12:15). Of course, the Lord Jesus is the greatest example of a Servant who was people-oriented. He came not to be served, but to serve (Mk. 10:45). He was the perfect Servant of God! Many times, even when tired, he put others before His own needs (John 4; Mt. 9:19–22).

We see Peter involved in the lives of sinners and saints alike. He went to be with the saints but saw a certain man in great need. This term “a certain man” stands in contrast with “a certain disciple” in verse 36. Tabitha is described as a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ, but this man is simply called “a certain man,” indicating that he wasn’t a believer. Peter took time to meet his need! As servants of Jesus Christ, we ought to look out for the needs of those around us. We may not be able to meet every need, but we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10). We’re not saved by good works, but good works are evidence that we have been saved. James writes, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (Jas. 1:27). The apostle John adds: “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17).

Peter was very much involved in the lives of others. He took time to be with the saints and with those who needed both physical and spiritual help.

  • Promoted Christ and Put Self Out of the Picture (vv. 34–35)

"And Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.’ Then, he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. Peter exalted Christ, not Peter!"

He understood his role as an under-shepherd who would give an account to the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1–5). Peter knew he was simply a man (Acts 10:25–26) and that he was simply a channel through which Christ’s power, love, and work could flow. He had heard Jesus’ words, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). Peter knew he was simply a mouthpiece for the Lord as he wrote in 1 Peter 4:11: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Peter saw the paralyzed man and knew that he didn’t have the power to heal or change this man’s life. He declared, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed” (v. 34). The lesson here for us is that when we serve the Lord, there’s no room for pride! James reminds us, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God…Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:6–10). Peter echoes these words in 1 Peter 5:5–6: “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

  • Personally Available (vv. 36–39)

"At Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated as Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds, which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room."

And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

While Peter was in Lydda, a woman named Tabitha became sick and died about ten miles away. Tabitha was known by her Greek name Dorcas. Both names mean “gazelle,” and like a gazelle, she abounded in good works and charitable deeds. This woman was a disciple, a follower of the Lord Jesus. This is the only time the word for disciple is used in the feminine form. She was a woman who walked in a manner “worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10), meaning that the conduct of her life was pleasing to the Lord. When she died, they sent for Peter, who made himself available to come to them. They had washed her body and placed her in an upper room, which was a Jewish tradition.

  • Prayerfully Dependent (vv. 40–41)

"But Peter put them all out and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive."

When Peter arrived, he found the widows mourning. They brought many of the items that Dorcas had made and showed them to him. Peter then put everyone out of the room. He wasn’t seeking to put on a show or a display! He knelt down and prayed!

Even though Peter had often experienced the power of God, he didn’t take anything for granted. He realized the power wasn’t in himself but in the One whom he served. Relying totally on the Lord, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes and sat up! Peter reached out his hand and lifted her up. It’s touching to see Peter’s compassion for the saints who had been grieving. He called them in and presented her to them.

  • Productive (v. 42)

"And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord."

The news of this miracle spread throughout the area, and many believed. Peter experienced the truth of John 15. As he abided in the Lord, he was able to bear fruit in the healing of Aeneas. As he continued to abide, he bore more fruit! Peter was about to experience much fruit in Acts 10, all because he abided in the Vine.

  • Prejudice Free (v. 43)

"So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner."

The last lesson Peter illustrates for us here is that there is no room for prejudice in the Lord’s service. This verse serves as a lead into the next chapter, which deals very much with the subject of prejudice. According to Leviticus 11:35–40, tanners were considered unclean, but the Lord was slowly showing Peter that a servant of the Lord must not have a prejudiced heart at all! In Acts 10, we learn that God doesn’t show partiality to anyone (v. 34). A prejudiced spirit was devastating to the work of Christ in the church then and now. Bigotry has no place among the people of God! The apostle Paul also learned this and was able to write: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Cor. 9:19–22)

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