What is the meaning of Acts 9:42? This became known Acts 9:42 opens with, “This became known…,” pointing back to Peter’s raising of Tabitha (Acts 9:36-41). News of God’s power does not stay hidden. • Similar moments: the crowd spread word of Jesus resurrecting the widow’s son (Luke 7:16-17) and of Lazarus (John 12:17-18). • Each time, the miracle itself is real and historical, serving God’s purpose of revealing His glory (John 11:4). • Scripture consistently shows that testimony—whether of the shepherds (Luke 2:17) or of the healed demoniac (Mark 5:20)—is God’s chosen vehicle for spreading truth. all over Joppa The reach is city-wide: “…all over Joppa….” • Joppa, a major port (Jonah 1:3; 2 Chronicles 2:16), teemed with travelers, making it strategic for the gospel. • God often stages His works where they will ripple outward: Pentecost drew nations to Jerusalem (Acts 2:5-11), and the Ethiopian eunuch carried the message southward (Acts 8:27-39). • Peter remains in Joppa afterward (Acts 9:43), underscoring the city’s importance in the unfolding mission (Acts 10). and many people believed The result: “…and many people believed….” • Miracles validate the messenger (Hebrews 2:3-4), but belief rests on hearing the word (Romans 10:17). Peter’s message always directs attention to Christ, not to himself (Acts 3:12-16). • Earlier patterns—3,000 at Pentecost (Acts 2:41), 5,000 at Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 4:4)—show that God multiplies faith through public witness. • Belief here is genuine, evidenced later by a thriving church that hosts Peter (Acts 9:43) and welcomes Cornelius’s messengers (Acts 10:5-6). in the Lord Saving faith is fixed “in the Lord.” • The phrase centers belief on the risen Jesus (Acts 2:36; 1 Corinthians 12:3). • It signals repentance and surrender, echoing Paul’s later summary: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). • By tethering faith to the Lord, Luke distinguishes true conversion from mere amazement at miracles (John 2:23-25). summary The raising of Tabitha became public knowledge, spread throughout a strategic port city, and led many to authentic faith in Jesus. God orchestrated the miracle, the publicity, and the belief, demonstrating again that He uses visible acts of power to point people to the invisible yet living Lord who saves all who trust in Him. |
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