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The First Dorcas, November 23
Acts 9:36-42
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by
interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and
almsdeeds which she did.
Acts 9:36
.
At Joppa, which was near Lydda, there lived a woman named Dorcas, whose
good deeds had made her greatly beloved. She was a worthy disciple of Jesus,
and her life was filled with acts of kindness. She knew who needed comfortable
clothing and who needed sympathy, and she freely ministered to the poor and
the sorrowful....
“And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died.” ... Hearing
that Peter was at Lydda, the believers sent messengers to him.... “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.” ...
The apostle’s heart was touched with sympathy as he beheld their sorrow.
Then, directing that the weeping friends be sent from the room, he kneeled down
and prayed fervently to God to restore Dorcas to life and health.... Dorcas had
been of great service to the church, and God saw fit to bring her back from the
land of the enemy, that her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others,
and also that by this manifestation of His power the cause of Christ might be
strengthened
Let the children and youth learn from the Bible how God has honored the
work of the everyday toiler.... Let them read of Jesus the carpenter, and Paul
the tent-maker, who with the toil of the craftsman linked the highest ministry,
human and divine. Let them read of the lad whose five loaves were used by the
Saviour in that wonderful miracle for the feeding of the multitude; of Dorcas the
seamstress, called back from death, that she might continue to make garments
for the poor; of the wise woman described in the Proverbs, who “seeketh wool
and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.” ... who “stretcheth out her hand
to the poor; yea, ... reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” ...
Of such a one, God says: “She shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her
hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
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The Acts of the Apostles, 131, 132
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52
Education, 217
.
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