BIBL104 Bible Study Project Interpretation
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Feb 20, 2024
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BIBL 104
Name: Tracy McIntier
B
IBLE
S
TUDY
P
ROJECT
: I
NTERPRETATION
T
EMPLATE
Passage: Acts 9:36-43
A.
Summarize: Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (200-400 words) explain what you think the author is trying to communicate in this passage. Remember two things. First, this passage is made up of both action and dialogue. Thus, this passage is both showing
and telling us something. Second, words like “I,” “We,” “Us,” and “Our” are application words and not interpretation words. Thus, they should not be used in your answer for this question. Interpretation is about “then and there” and not “here and now.” We were not there so the passage is not about us. Our “part” in the passage is the application or how we will respond to God’s Word.
This passage provides an example of the omnipotence of God through His apostle Peter. Many miracles had been performed from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and up to this point. The original twelve disciples and the Apostles had healed the blind, lame, and lepers, but up to this point only Jesus had raised someone from the dead. Peter was able to use this as a testimony to the power and might of God. Through Peter’s faith and obedience, he raised Tabitha and presented her to the others. Her story and witness spread
throughout the surrounding area and many more people came to believe in the Lord. This passage also shows the importance of serving one another. This is shown in two different aspects in the passage. First, Tabitha is characterized as “always doing good and helping the poor” in Acts 9: 36. (NIV, 2011). Through her acts of service, she supports the widows in her community and has established herself as a patron and servant
of those around her. In turn, when she dies, her community immediately feels her loss and reaches out to Peter for help. This brings us to the second example. When the two men go to Peter, he immediately responds to the request to leave Lydda and come to Joppa. Peter’s ministry was based on serving Christians (both Jews and Gentiles) and supporting those who needed to see and feel God’s power and mercy. He did not hesitate
to help Tabitha. He had not raised someone from the dead before, but he knew he needed
to help; and he immediately set about going through the process to bring her back to life. He knew that through his service, God’s power would be shown to all in the area, and He would be glorified. Peter knew that this would further the kingdom of God.
B.
Identify: Based on your answer above, write out one principle from this passage. You should be able to express this principle in 1-3 sentences. Please remember that words like “I,” “We,”
“Us,” and “Our” are application words and not interpretation words.
Peter was allowed to raise Tabitha from the dead to demonstrate God’s power, authority, and mercy to the Gentiles. C.
Check: Consult at least one scholarly resource in order to offer support for the principle that you believe the passage is teaching. In 1-2 paragraphs (200-400 words), cite and interact with
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BIBL 104
this scholarly resource in order to demonstrate that it supports your interpretive conclusion. Please consult the “Commentaries” as well as the “Bible Dictionaries & Handbooks” tabs found on the research guide provided by the Jerry Falwell Library in order to access academic and scholarly resources. The research guide can be found by following the link below:
According to The Moody Bible Commentary
, Luke uses the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha from the dead as a way to disarm the prejudice that existed in the region toward the Gentiles and readies disciples to spread the gospel. Specifically, it states, “The miracles gave evidence that the power of the gospel is not in bondage to geography, and these miracles served to establish the authority of Peter as an apostle to open the door of the gospel to the Gentiles.” (Rydelnik & Vanlaningham, p. 2732). As one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, Peter has a unique authority and credibility within the Jewish community. This allows him, as a leader of the church, to begin a ministry among the Gentiles with less controversy. He paves the way for those who come after him.
In Acts 9:41b-42, it says that once Peter had raised Tabitha back to life, “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.” (NIV, 2011). This miracle confirms Peter’s authority in Christ and displays the power, authority, and mercy of God toward his people – Jews and Gentiles alike. The healing of Tabitha shows that Peter is an appointed apostle, demonstrates the power of the God over sickness and death, and shows
mercy toward the Christian community in Joppa by restoring their beloved benefactor. The ripple effect of this miracle produced “many” more believers in the region.
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REFERENCES
Rydelnik, Michael & Vanlaningham, M. G. (2014). The Moody Bible Commentary
(Rydelnik & M. G. Vanlaningham, Eds.). Moody Publishers.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Bible Gateway, by Biblica, Inc.
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