Acts 9: 32-42.
When Peter burst through the bedroom door, his eyes immediately fell on the body of Dorcas, which had been carefully washed, wrapped and placed on the floor encircled by lit candles.
Apostle Peter had rushed to the old port city Joppa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea when two town’s people found him in nearby Lydda. They told him about the death of the disciple Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, and urged him to come to her home. She had been a community favorite because of her gift of sewing, and her compassionate heart that always had her doing kind things for others and helping the poor.
In the Jewish community, once death has been established by a doctor or the family, mirrors are covered in the dead person’s house, to diminish reflection on the beauty and ornamentation of the flesh. When Peter was taken to the upstairs bedroom, mourners and distraught widows were jammed inside wailing and eagerly showing the coats and other garments Dorcas had made for them.
Peter immediately jumped into action, asking everyone to leave the room. When he was alone with the body, he knelt and prayed at a distance. To touch the body would have made Peter “unclean” according to Jewish law.
Under Jewish custom, there are three major stages to preparing a body for burial: washing (rechitzah), ritual purification (taharah), and dressing (halbashah). The body is washed with clear water and wrapped in a simple cloth shroud or robe (for men, a kittel), preferably white and of linen. No jewelry or cosmetics are applied to the body.
After praying, Peter turned to the body. “Get up Tabitha,” he commanded, using the Aramaic version of the name. Dorcas is the Greek version. Both names mean gazelle. An equivalent Hebrew name is Zibiah or Tsibiah.
She opened her eyes. She sat up when she saw Peter,” according to Acts 9:40.
Peter offered his hand and helped her up.
When he called in the widows and all the believers to present Dorcas alive, a plethora of emotions erupted. There was joy, amazement, awe, thanksgiving wonder.
A few doubted. Lydda, where Peter was staying, was 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem and a day’s journey by foot from Joppa. Dorcas had to have been dead a total of three days before her resurrection, they reasoned.
Despite this, news of the seamstress’s resurrection spread like wildfire throughout the town. Many people believed in the name of the Lord based on this miracle.
Industrious, committed Dorcas continued her consistent, selfless ministry to both Jewish and Hellenistic believers and the marginalized citizens in the city near the heart of modern Tel Aviv. She engaged in the needs of her community during a time in history when women generally centered on daily survival for themselves and their families. She could be viewed as the first Mother Teresa described in Scripture because she cared about real people with real problems.
Written by TMCH
Sources:
Adams, Heather. Five Inspiring Lessons from Life (Death) of Dorcas. May 26, 2021. Bible Study Tools. heatheradamsworshipwalk.com
@Joshuainfantado
Brown, Caddabra. The Faith Space. Thefaithspaceblog@Googlemail.com.
Gallaher Branch, Robin. Tabitha in the Bible: A disciple known for doing good/ March 1, 2023. Bible History Daily.
Question: “Who was Dorcas in the Bible?” GotQuestions.org
3 thoughts on “Seamstress Dorcas is raised from the dead, honored for community service”
These items/lessons/tidbits give offer more knowledge and understanding about subjects that we might often have heard about. They are always enlightening. Thank you!
HALLELUJAH! Another excellent, informative, inspiring account of one of my favorite women in the Bible. In addition to being a display of God’s love, mercy and miracles, Dorcas reminds me of my own dearly beloved Momma who quilted by hand, cooked and fed any/everybody ‘our’ last little food, and proved- kind hearted to many! Not just my momma, but the lives of countless Christlike faithful women who put hands and feet to their faith in daily living in our little rural Mississippi community. These women were skilled, didn’t shy away from difficulties, hard work, and knew how to created something beautiful from scraps and pieces! They recognized the value in people and things, used what they had and trusted God to take their ‘meager’ 2 fish and five loaves bathed in fervent prayer, diligent efforts and consistent love and make miracles!
Thank GOD for using and answering Peter’s prayer! That same obedience that prayed to The LORD Almighty not what I want nevertheless our Father Your will be done lived in Dorcas ! That same sacrificial love not nails that compelled our Savior JESUS to remain on that cruel cross caused Dorcas to live again, continuing her ministry! That same mighty power that raised JESUS and conquered death, hell, and the grave lives in modern day women and men who live, follow, and serve God as Dorcas did!
It is amazing that there is so much to learn.