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BIBL 104
Name: Adam Cook
BIBLE STUDY PROJECT: CORRELATION
Passage: Acts 9:36-43
1)
How does this passage from Acts fit within the metanarrative of the Bible?
The metanarrative of Acts 9:36-43 is that of a New Creation. In the story Luke writes “When
they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.” Acts 9:37 (NKJV) The believers and
widows that mourned Tabitha had not immediately buried her which was customary for Jews.
Instead they followed what other healers in the Old Testament had done. For instance “And he
said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of his arms and carried him to the Upper
room where he was staying.” 1 Kings 17:19 (NKJV) There Elijah prayed over the son and they
boy was resurrected from the dead. It seems that the widows were hopeful for a similar miracle.
Tabitha is very important in that they call her Disciple. The widows also take the time to show
Peter all of the garments that Tabitha had made for them. Luke also tells of all the good works
she had done for her community. “And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics
and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.” Acts 9:39 (NKJV) What makes
this a New Creation is that Tabitha does indeed rise from the dead. “And she opened her eyes,
and when she saw Peter she sat up.” Acts 9:40 (NKJV) The story of Tabitha doesn’t just stop at
her new chance of life but Luke goes on to say that, “And it became known throughout all Joppa,
and many believed on the Lord.” Acts 9:42 (NKJV) This verse shows that through her
resurrection of life it also brought new life to those who heard of what happened to her. This
passage not only features Tabitha’s renewal of life but also hints at the transformation of the
Apostle Peter from someone who thought Jesus had only come for the Jews but also for the
Gentiles. The reader can see this by the fact that he willingly stayed with a Tanner. “So it was
that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.” Acts 9:43 (NKJV) A tanner works with
all aspects of a dead animal. This practice would be considered unclean by a Jew. “And
everything on which part of any such carcass falls shall be unclean.” Lev. 11:35 (NKJV) Peter’s
willingness to stay in a house that would be unclean shows him pulling away from his old ways
and habits and stepping closer into a new era. God was preparing him essentially making him
into a new creation to further the gospel.
2)
How does your principle from Acts 9:36-43 fit with the rest of the Scripture?
As I mentioned above Elijah was commanded by God to Zarapeth to find a widow who would
take care of him. While there the son became ill and died. Elijah takes the boy, “and carried him
to the upper room.” 1 Kings 17:19 (NKJV) After praying over the boy three times the boy is
brought back to life. In the same way Tabitha was also brought back to the upper room and their
also brought back to life. At the end of her story it says that “many believed on the Lord” Acts
9:42 (NKJV) In the story of Elijah it too ends in a similar manner. “Then the women said to
Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of God in your mouth
is the truth.” 1 Kings 17:24 (NKJV) Both stories show the principle of new creation by bringing
the word of God to those who witnessed or heard of the miraculous resurrection of those who
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were dead. In 2 Kings 4:18-37 (NKJV) the Prophet Elisha also raises the Shunamites son from
the dead. “The woman carried the body of her son to Elisha’s room and laid him on the bed.” 2
Kings 4:21 (NKJV) This room happened to also be an upper room of the house. “He went
therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.” 2 kings 4:32(NKJV)
The boy then sat up alive. Thus adding to the metanarrative of new creation and how God
restores us to new life. In the same way Peter was venturing into a new way of life by leaving
behind his own Jewish customs. Also by changing his belief that Jesus had only came to save the
Jews but also that of the Gentiles. In Acts 10: 12-14 (NKJV)God gives Peter a vision. “What
God has cleansed you must not call common” Acts 10:15 (NKJV) This vision is a sign that God
is giving Peter permission to go into an unchartered area of belief. That it is okay to go into
Cornelius’s household to preach for the first time to the Gentiles. “In truth I perceive that God
show no partiality.” Acts 10:34 (NKJV) Then while he “was still speaking these words, the Holy
Spirit fell upon those who heard the word.” Acts 10: 44 (NKJV) Peter goes on to defend God’s
grace towards the Gentiles in Acts 11. Teaching the other disciples about his vision in Joppa and
his visit to the Centurions house. When he had finished his story those who “heard these things
they became silent, and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has granted to the Gentiles the
repentance to life.” Acts 11:18 (NKJV) By trusting God Peter was able to extend the gospel to
the Gentiles. Ushering in a new era of creation where anyone can believe in Christ and be made
new through him.
3)
How does this passage from Acts reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ?
This passage reflects the life of Jesus and his works in several ways. John 11 (NKJV) tells the
story of Lazarus and how Jesus rose him from the dead. What I find very amusing is unlike the
three stories from above where everyone is rushing to get to the dead person Jesus does not.
“They sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and
went with them.” Acts 9:38-39 (NKJV) Here we see that Peter responded immediately. In 1
Kings 17 (NKJV) Elijah also immediately takes action by putting the boy in the upper room.
Also in the story of Elisha he sends ahead of them a servant to lay his staff upon the child, “Now
Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child.” 2 Kings 4:31 (NKJV).
There is immediate action taken in all three stories. However when Jesus hears the news of
Lazarus he “stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Those who are with him are
confused and think that Lazarus is only sleeping. “So when Jesus came, He found that he had
already been in the tomb four days.” John 11:17 (NKJV) In this story Jesus is teaching and
proving himself to those who are there. “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you
would see the glory of God” John 11:40 (NKJV) After Lazarus if risen from the dead the story
ends similarly to that of Tabitha in that “Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary and had
seen the things of Jesus did, believed him.” John 11:45 (NKJV) This story also describes how
Jesus openly wept for Lazarus. “Jesus wept” John 11:35 (NKJV) Jesus spends a lot of his time in
ministry telling people to not weep. In Luke 7 (NKJV) he sees a large crowd and realizes its for a
funeral of a boy. He tells the mother, “Do not weep” Luke 7:13 (NKJV) Then he resurrects the
young boy from the dead.
He doesn’t need to take them to an upper room or close the doors he
does so in the open for all to see. Jesus also was always an outlier. Doing things that were almost
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taboo for that time period. For instance in Luke 19:3 (NKJV) Zacchaeus “who was a chief tax
collector” Luke 19:2 (NKJV) climbs a tree to get a better glance of Jesus. Jesus sees him and
calls him down and asks to stay at his house. Those who saw “complained, saying. “He has gone
to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Luke 19:7 (NKJV) He was the first of his kind to go
into a sinners house and openly dine with them. Then not because Jesus reprimanded him but
because Jesus showed him love Zacchaeus will “give half of my goods to the poor” Then Jesus
offers him salvation Luke 19:9 (NKJV) Just how Peter was the first to stay at a tanners house.
The house of an unclean person which is very taboo for a Jew. Which then lead him to going to
Cornelius’s house and offering them salvation.
Bibliography
John Cartwright and Chris Hulshof, Everyday Bible Study: Growing in the Christian Faith, ed.
Gabriel Etzel and Ben Gutierrez, 2nd edition., Everyday Bible Series (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2019)
Holy Bible: The New King James Version
. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. As found in the
Logos Bible study software program.
Jason Gish, “Peter the Apostle,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary
(Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
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