Raised from the Dead to Keep Serving: The Miraculous Story of Dorcas

As a pastor, I was often called upon to conduct funerals. As a matter of fact, I had a conversation with a local funeral director some time ago who asked if I would consider being on call with their funeral home. I agreed to be on the list with the presumption that it might help the funeral director assist bereaved families who had no church or religious affiliation find a minister in difficult times.

Even though it is a morbid and somewhat depressing thought, I sometimes wonder what people will say about me at my funeral. I hope the words will be kind and reflect a life that has been lived in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am certainly attempting to live my life in such a way that whoever preaches my funeral will not find it difficult to do so.

Do you ever wonder what people will say at your funeral? I know we do not like to think about it, but unless Jesus returns very soon, most of us here will experience death. When the funeral director calls on family and friends to write your obituary, will they have to struggle to find something good to say? Or will they gladly speak of your service to God and your world?

Let’s look at a lady in the Scriptures who died. Because of the life she lived, her death deeply impacted the community. The Book of Acts 9:36-42 tells her story,

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

The Bible tells us some key facts about this woman. She is from a city called Joppa, which means beautiful. Luke also gives us her name: Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek). Each of these names translates as female gazelle.

It’s kind of like naming your daughter deer or antelope. That’s not bad, because both are magnificent creatures. In the culture of her day, a gazelle is considered a most beautiful animal. Her name also suggests that Dorcas (Tabitha) was a strong and attractive woman.

Luke tells us Dorcas is “always doing good and helping the poor.” What did that look like? Well, she used her gift as a seamstress and used it to make clothing. Her gift and work were a blessing to Joppa—especially to widows.

Dorcas becomes ill and dies. The Bible gives no insight as to the cause of death, she just got ill and passed away. But Tabitha’s life is much more important than her death, hence the lack of details.

Her friends washed her body and then moved her body to an upstairs room. Students of the Bible should ask, “Why did they put her in an upstairs room?” A cursory study of houses in her time reveals that most homes had flat roofs. I see these kinds of homes in Africa every day. The flat roof was not wasted space but used for sleeping and when celebrating something, like a funeral.

It seems the family is expecting a lot of people to attend Tabitha’s wake. Putting her on the roof offered room to accommodate those people. Dorcas’s service to others impacted so many lives that her family knew the whole community would come out to mourn her.

Now here is where the story pivots. Dorcas is on view for all to see, everyone that comes to see her knew she was dead. But when the disciples of Jesus in Joppa heard of her death, they sent for Peter in Lydda.

Lydda is about 10 miles Northwest of Joppa along the Mediterranean Sea. The disciples decided to send two men to urge Peter to come and pray for their friend (even though she was dead).

Dorcas’s reputation for serving others was so remarkable that men were willing to walk 20 miles (round trip) to fetch a preacher. In that day, the attitude toward women was, well let’s just say not so favorable. Their action speaks volumes about the impact Dorcas made on Joppa.

It is possible that her benevolence ministry was a tool to bring others to faith in Christ. Her willingness to use her gift to glorify God was a tangible way of fulfilling the words of Jesus, “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Earlier in Acts 9, we see Peter preaching in Lydda. Through his ministry, a lame man is healed, and the result is that many put their faith in Christ. Acts 9 contains a play on words I find amusing (or amazing). As I noted before, Joppa means beautiful. But Lydda means strife.

Peter is urged to leave the land of strife to come to a beautiful place to pray for a beautiful gazelle!

Peter is rushed into the city and taken directly to the rooftop where Tabitha lies dead. The widows are weeping and screaming as they held up the garments, she made for them.

The Apostle cleared the room. Now, before you think Peter is a terrible or uncaring person take a moment and put yourself in Peter’s shoes. Funerals in this culture are quiet events. Women are wailing and ululating and falling on the floor. It can get sort of overwhelming.

Now imagine trying to pray and have faith in this environment, especially when the people are expecting you to raise the dead. Honestly, if it were me, I would need some time to focus and get my mind fixed on Jesus.

After Peter puts everyone out, he falls on the floor and begins praying. The Scripture tells us something interesting, “Peter turned to the body.” It seems Peter had positioned himself in such a way he could not see Dorcas’s body.

To me this makes sense! If I was praying for someone to be resurrected, but I was constantly staring at the lifeless body I think my faith might waiver! (Remember Peter’s story about a boat, the sea, and the sinking?)

It seems that until Peter had the courage, through prayer, to speak a word of faith, he removed all distractions (the people, and the sight of death). But when he is ready to act in faith, he turns to Dorcas and says, “Get up!” Immediately Tabitha opens her eyes, sees Peter, and sits up. Peter takes Dorcas by the hand to help her to her feet. Then he calls for the “widows” and “believers” to return and see what God has done.

Acts 9:41 tells us that Peter “presented her alive.” This is an interesting phrase in the Greek. It can literally be translated as, “put her back among them” or “put her back into the crowd.”

In other words, Peter took Dorcas, who was dead but is now alive, and put her back among the people she had been serving!

It’s almost like Peter is saying, “Go ahead and get back to using your gift to glorify God. You were made to do good and bless other people. God has given you more time to make a difference for others.”

The result of this miracle (Acts 9:42) is what should always be the end result of a miracle, “and many believed.” Why did they believe? Because Dorcas was a woman who served her community, and God used her remarkable reputation as a way for the gospel to be preached and many souls saved. This is something, I think, Dorcas was happy about.

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