Acts 9:32 Peter traveled from place to place to visit them, and in his travels came to the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas! Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make your bed.” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord when they saw Aeneas walking around.
Peter has witnessed miracles before. Right after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, God allowed Peter to be a channel of His healing. As Peter walked through the streets of Jerusalem, anyone on whom his shadow fell was healed instantly. At first, Peter was likely unaware of what was happening. There’s no evidence that these miracles of healing continue throughout his ministry. Why do the miracle healings cease? Only God knows. But God is still working through Peter.
Why does Peter speak to Aeneas, proclaiming healing? The Holy Spirit is directing Peter, and as Peter looks at Aeneas, the Holy Spirit tells Peter to lay hands on him. The instant healing of Aeneas sparks a revival in which two entire towns turn to the Lord.
36 In the city of Joppa there was a woman named Dorcas (“Gazelle”), a believer who was always doing kind things for others, especially for the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her friends prepared her for burial and laid her in an upstairs room. 38 But when they learned that Peter was nearby at Lydda, they sent two men to beg him to return with them to Joppa. 39 This he did; as soon as he arrived, they took him upstairs where Dorcas lay. The room was filled with weeping widows who were showing one another the coats and other garments Dorcas had made for them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Dorcas,” and she opened her eyes! And when she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up and called in the believers and widows, presenting her to them.
42 The news raced through the town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, the tanner.
Peter is still in Lydda, where Aeneas has been healed. Now Peter moves to the port city of Joppa when a wonderful believing lady named Dorcas dies and her friends beg Peter to come. The death of Dorcas is a community tragedy, for Dorcas has been making garments for widows. In a time when widows without caring children can go naked or hungry, Dorcas has been an enormous blessing. Dorcas’ friends are devastated, and they decide to beg God for a miracle. Peter agrees, lays hands on Dorcas, only for God to raise Dorcas from the dead. This miracle sets Joppa on fire spiritually, causing many people to trust in Jesus. Peter remains in Joppa, staying with Simon the tanner, another believer. Little does Peter realize that God has moved him to Joppa for an amazing revelation.
The most impressive aspects of these verses are the healing of Aeneas and the resurrection of Dorcas. But if we only focus on the dramatic, we miss the way God is quietly moving Peter like a chess piece on a game board. Peter is moving around to minister to believers, simply going from place to place as the Holy Spirit guides him. Now God is moving Peter to Joppa because it is on the coast and close to Caesarea, where there’s a Roman official hungry for truth about God.
In God’s economy, there are no mistakes and no wasted motions. While we think we are experiencing random events, God is managing everything. Years ago, we were traveling down I-55 from Illinois to Memphis. We briefly pulled off the interstate to use toilet facilities and then proceeded. Somewhere near Sikeston, Missouri, we came upon a fresh traffic accident. A sedan car headed north with 5 passengers had crossed the median, striking a motor home headed south. A man and his wife were traveling to their new retirement home, and the husband was driving a motor home towing a car behind it. The wife was driving a large pickup truck towing a bass boat. As an EMT, my husband immediately moved to the car; unfortunately, everyone in that vehicle was dead. Meanwhile, I examined the husband, realizing that he had suffered an intestinal injury from his seat belt. When the ambulance arrived, the husband and wife rode to the hospital together while my husband drove our vehicle and I drove the large pickup truck towing the bass boat. At the hospital, the husband went immediately to operation, where the surgeon learned that my diagnosis was correct. We comforted the wife, remaining with her until her husband was out of surgery. At that point, we proceeded on to Memphis. God had our schedule precisely arranged so that we would arrive precisely in time.
One of our friends is fond of describing “God-incidences” rather than coincidences. May we all trust that God is arranging our steps and our stops.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remember that You are the One who arranges our lives. Help us to trust You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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