Acts 9:31-43

31 So 1the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And 2walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, 3it multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

32 Now 4as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, 5Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.
35 6And all the residents of Lydda and 7Sharon saw him, and 8they turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in 9Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[a] She was full of 10good works and acts of charity.
37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in 11an upper room.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, 12"Please come to us without delay."
39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to 13the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[b] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
40 But Peter 14put them all outside, and 15knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body 16he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and 17many believed in the Lord.
43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days 18with one Simon, a tanner.

Cross References 18

  • 1. [Acts 8:1; Acts 16:5]
  • 2. [Nehemiah 5:9]
  • 3. ver. 35, 42
  • 4. [Acts 8:25]
  • 5. [Acts 3:6]
  • 6. [ver. 31, 42]
  • 7. 1 Chronicles 5:16; 1 Chronicles 27:29; Song of Songs 2:1
  • 8. Acts 11:21; 2 Corinthians 3:16
  • 9. See Joshua 19:46
  • 10. 1 Timothy 2:10
  • 11. ver. 39; Acts 1:13; Acts 20:8
  • 12. Numbers 22:16 (Heb.; Gk.)
  • 13. ver. 37
  • 14. Matthew 9:25
  • 15. See Acts 7:60
  • 16. [Mark 5:41; John 11:43]
  • 17. [John 11:45; John 12:11]
  • 18. Acts 10:6

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle
  • [b]. Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.