The Engaging Ministry of Peter

Acts 9:32-43     

The Apostle Peter, the courageous preacher of Pentecost, has moved his engaging ministry to Lydda.  We left Peter in Acts 8:25 in his return to Jerusalem with John after visiting Samaria.  Acts is a book of actions and we have seen how God used Philip, the evangelist (Acts 21:8) in the regions of Samaria and Gaza as he shared the Word.  Now, Peter comes to the forefront as he moves to Lydda as he confronts a sick man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, sick of the palsy.  The apostles of the early church had sign gifts and these gifts confirmed their message.

In Acts 9:32-35, Peter miraculously healed Aeneas, which resulted in many believing the gospel.  Peter had previously healed a cripple in Acts 3:1-10.   This paralytic man was instantly healed and was commanded to make his bed.  Yes, this man who had been bedridden for eight years was commanded to make his bed.  He laid in the bed for eight years, now it was time to make his bed!  Not only did he aid Aeneas in his sick condition by healing him, but Peter will leave Lydda and go to Joppa, where he will raise Dorcas from the dead.

Dorcas was a wonderful Christian woman who did many charitable acts for the poor (Acts 9:36-37).  According to verse 38, Peter was dispatched to Joppa because Dorcas had died.  Upon arriving at the place where Dorcas was, Peter dismissed all of the mourners, and then he kneeled down and prayed for Dorcas.  He simply commanded that Dorcas would rise and she was instantly restored (Acts 9:39-41).  This miracle of raising Dorcas from her dead state resulted in many in Joppa to believe in the Lord (Acts 9:42-43).

Thus far, we have seen that wherever Philip and Peter went, they were engaged in presenting the gospel of the grace of God.  The message of both Philip and Peter was confirmed through sign gifts.  As stated before, these sign gifts were only exercised by the apostles in the early church.  These gifts served as evidences that their message was true.  As believers today, we do not possess such gifts; however, we can share with power that Christ is the answer to the spiritual plight of mankind.  And like Peter and Philip, we can serve to meet the various spiritual challenges of a dying age.

I am glad that someone told me about Jesus and now I have the blessed assurance of my salvation.  As stewards of the grace pf God, let us be faithful as we minister to others, for we do have a definite charge to serve this present age.  To emphasize our charge to do God’s will, a hymn writer wrote:

A Charge to Keep I Have

A charge to keep I have,

God to glorify.

A never dying soul to save,

And fit it for the sky.

To serve to present age,
My calling to fulfill.
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!

May God Bless.