Chapter 25—The Ministry of Peter
Peter, in pursuance of his work, visited the saints at Lydda. There
he healed Aeneas, who had been confined to his bed for eight years
with the palsy. “And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh
thee whole; arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And
all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.”
Joppa was near Lydda, and at that time Tabitha—called Dorcas
by interpretation—lay there dead. She had been a worthy disciple of
Jesus Christ, and her life had been characterized by deeds of charity
and kindness to the poor and sorrowful, and by zeal in the cause of
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truth. Her death was a great loss; the infant church could not well
spare her noble efforts. When the believers heard of the marvelous
cures which Peter had performed in Lydda, they greatly desired him to
come to Joppa. Messengers were sent to him to solicit his presence
there.
“Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they
brought him into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him
weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made
while she was with them.” Peter had the weeping and wailing friends
sent from the room. He then kneeled down, and prayed fervently to
God to restore life and health to the pulseless body of Dorcas; “and
turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her
eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand,
and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he
presented her alive.” This great work of raising the dead to life was the
means of converting many in Joppa to the faith of Jesus.
“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centu-
rion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that
feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people,
and prayed to God always.” Though Cornelius was a Roman, he had
become acquainted with the true God, and had renounced idolatry. He
was obedient to the will of God, and worshiped him with a true heart.
He had not connected himself with the Jews, but was acquainted with,
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