What is the meaning of Acts 9:39? So Peter got up and went with them. Peter’s immediate response shows a life already yielded to the Lord’s call. Just moments earlier disciples from Joppa had begged him, “Do not delay in coming to us” (Acts 9:38), and he simply rose and went. • Obedient availability: much like when the Spirit later says, “Get up and go with them without hesitation” (Acts 10:20), Peter keeps no agenda higher than God’s. • Servant‐hearted leadership: he models Christ, who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). • Faith in action: rather than debating what might happen, Peter walks in faith, echoing Jesus’ word, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28). On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. The upper room often marks a place where God meets His people in power. • It is the same type of setting where the disciples prayed after the Ascension (Acts 1:13) and where Jesus shared the Last Supper (Luke 22:12). • Prophets Elijah and Elisha both saw resurrection miracles in an upper room (1 Kings 17:19–22; 2 Kings 4:32–35), hinting at what God is about to do through Peter. • By leading Peter straight there, the believers express expectancy; they believe the Lord still works wonders (Ephesians 3:20). All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. The scene is thick with grief, gratitude, and testimony. • Widows in need: caring for them is “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27) and a clear mandate for the church (1 Timothy 5:3–10; Acts 6:1). • Dorcas’s ministry: the garments are tangible evidence of her love; her works “shine before others” (Matthew 5:16). • Corporate grief: like the mourners at Jairus’s house (Mark 5:38–39) or the widow at Nain (Luke 7:12–13), their tears underscore the sting of death and amplify the glory of the coming miracle. • Living legacy: the display of handmade tunics reminds us that every act of service lives on, echoing 1 Corinthians 15:58—“Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” summary Acts 9:39 captures obedience, community, compassion, and expectant faith converging in one moment. Peter’s swift submission to God’s call, the believers’ faith‐filled urgency, and the widows’ heartfelt witness to Dorcas’s love all set the stage for the Lord to reveal His resurrection power. The verse reminds us that when the church moves in ready obedience and practical love, God often answers with life‐giving miracles that magnify His glory and strengthen His people. |
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