Thematic Bible: Joppa


Thematic Bible



And this [miracle] became known throughout all of Joppa and many people believed in [Jesus as] the Lord. Verse ConceptsFaith, Origins OfMany In The ChurchKnowing Facts



AM], while he was wide awake, he had a vision in which an angel of God came to him [and spoke his name] "Cornelius." As they were traveling the next day, and were coming close to the city [of Joppa], Peter went up about noontime [Note: Or He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while lunch was being prepared he was overcome by a "trance" [i.e., a semi-conscious, vision-like state] read more.
and could see the sky open up and a huge sheet-like container being lowered to the ground by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, crawling [reptiles] and birds. A voice then directed Peter with the words, "Get up; kill and eat [one of] them." But Peter answered, "No, Lord, I cannot. I have never eaten any such ordinary or [ceremonially] unfit creatures." So, the voice spoke again, saying, "What God has made [ceremonially] acceptable, you must not consider ordinary [and therefore defiled]." And after this was done three times, the huge sheet-like container was lifted back up into the sky. Now while Peter was much perplexed over the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius, having learned where Simon [the tanner] lived, arrived at the gate [of his house], and asked if Simon Peter were staying there.

Now at Joppa [Note: This was also a town on the west coast of Palestine, today called "Jaffa," and is now a part of Tel Aviv] there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (she was also called Dorcas, which means "Gazelle"). She practiced many good deeds and always gave money to poor people. But as time went on, she became [very] sick and [eventually] died. Her body was washed [by the women attendants] and placed in an upstairs room [during the mourning process]. And since Lydda was very close to Joppa, the disciples [at Joppa], hearing that Peter was at Lydda [See verse 32], sent two men there to urge him, "Do not delay your coming [here] to us." read more.
So, Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived they took him to the upstairs room [where Dorcas' body lay]. All the widows [i.e., her friends] stood near Peter, crying and showing [him] the coats and [other] clothing which Dorcas had made when she was alive. Then Peter asked them all to leave [the room]; he knelt down and prayed over her body, saying, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Peter then reached out his hand and raised her up; he called the saints [i.e., God's holy people] and the widows [back into the room] and presented her [to them] alive. And this [miracle] became known throughout all of Joppa and many people believed in [Jesus as] the Lord. And Peter lived for some time in Joppa with Simon, who was an [animal hide] tanner.



Now at Joppa [Note: This was also a town on the west coast of Palestine, today called "Jaffa," and is now a part of Tel Aviv] there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (she was also called Dorcas, which means "Gazelle"). She practiced many good deeds and always gave money to poor people. Verse ConceptsActs of KindnessExploitationsAttitudes, to other peopleGood WorksPoverty, Attitudes TowardsPoverty, Remedies ForAlmsgivingAltruismCharityMeaningDeer Etc.Helping OthersHelping The PoorDeerHelping Others In Needmakeup

And now send men to Joppa to get Simon Peter;

and after explaining the whole situation to them, he sent them on to Joppa.