Acts 9:36-43

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Chapter XXI, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
  • Concerning Works and Almsgiving -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Peter clearly declares, by raising up a dead body through the name of Christ, that he preaches the glad tidings of life."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Many are full of good words, who are empty and barren in good works; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "The kingdom of God suits itself to external circumstances, without any violence, as air yields to all bodies, and yet pervades all."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Perhaps that his whole soul might be fixed on the Lord in prayer."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Acts 9:36-43 (Easter 4C), James Boyce, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
    • "...the details of this story will find immediate recognition in the experience of those who grieve at the death of a loved one. As such, it provides the preacher the opportunity in the midst of the season of Easter, in the context of worship, to witness to the promise and the power of the resurrection of our Lord to enter into the real places of daily life, to address even those darkest times of human grief and loss."
  • "Life-Giving Acts," Kate Huey, Weekly Seeds, i.UCC.org, 2010.
    • "This is no peaceful meditation on the goodness of God, this book of The Acts of the Apostles."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year C First Reading Acts Passages from the Lectionary," Easter 4, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "The good news is about bringing life where there is death, love where there is hate, healing where there is brokenness."
  • Blogging toward Sunday, Acts 9:36-43, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century. Walter Brueggemann.
    • "The church is entrusted with the power to create new life. . .bodily, concretely, locally. It is no wonder that in the Book of Acts, the church is always before imperial authority, for the capacity to bring life out of death threatens every status quo."
  • "HIV / AIDS," Resources for Prophetic Worship, Speaking to North Carolina Justice Issues, North Carolina Council of Churches, 2007.
  • "What about Dorcas?" Jon M. Walton, The Christian Century, 2007.
    • "But why Dorcas? What is it about her life and death that made her death the occasion for Peter to do what Jesus had done with Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:39)--a miracle that Mark tells us Peter himself witnessed?"
  • "Clothed With Compassion," Heidi A. Peterson. The Christian Century, 2001. Religion Online.
    • "In God’s new world order, it is possible to be a widow and prosperous rather than poor. It is possible to be self-possessed rather than powerless. It is possible to be an agent of ministry instead of an object of ministry."
  • "Aeneas and Dorcas," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Acts 9:36-43, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "Here is a wonderful definition of a disciple of Jesus: devoted to good works and acts of charity."
  • "Is Cleanliness Next to Godliness (Acts 9:32 - 10:23)" by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "The important changes which took place in Peter were those pertaining to his theology and understanding of the relationship between the “clean” and the “unclean” and the Jews and the Gentile. Notice, with me, the sequence of events which God brought about in Peter’s life, and the progressive realization on his part as to what all this meant."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Tabitha: the Gazelle of Joppa," Rick Strelan, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2009.
    • "The article argues that the name Tabitha (Acts 9:36), which means "gazelle," when read as a metaphor for a proselyte in the Acts narrative, highlights the issue of boundaries in some early Christian communities."
  • "Vier Gestalten einer Totenerweckungserzählung (1 Kön 17,17-24; 2 Kön 4,8-37; Apg 9,36-42; Apg 20,7-12)," H.-J. Stipp, Biblica 80 (1999). Abstract (in English).
    • "The four successive versions of the story of the raising from the dead in 2 Kgs 4,8-37; 1 Kgs 17,17-24; Acts 9,36-42 and Acts 20,7-12 are very differently constructed narratives, tailored to diverse aims."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Moessner, David P., "'The Christ Must Suffer': New Light on the Jesus -- Peter, Stephen, Paul Parallels in Luke-Acts," Novum Testamentum, 1986.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Panikkar, Maimundo, "The Crux of Christian Ecumenism: Can Universality and Chosenness Be Held Simultaneously?" Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Peterson, Heidi A., "Clothed with Compassion," The Christian Century, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tannehill, Robert C., "'Cornelius' and 'Tabitha' Encounter Luke's Jesus," Interpretation, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Troeger, Thomas H., "Resurrection Weavings," Journal for Preachers, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Walton, Jon M., "What about Dorcas?" The Christian Century, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Saints and Widows," the Rev. Dr. Laurie Ann Kraus, 2004. Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
• With Children:
  • "Dorcas," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Peter Raises Tabitha," Fr Max Bowers, Kids Church.
  • "Beloved Seamstress," Linda Edwards, The Children's Chapel.
  • "Peter Raises Tabitha from Death," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Peter Raises Tabitha," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • Crossword on Acts 9, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
  • "Raising Tabitha," Jane and Mark Lewis, Potted Jam.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Acts 9:41. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Healing
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts