Greater when led

Acts 9:32-43

³² Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. ³³ There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. ³⁵ Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶ There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. ³⁷ About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. ³⁸ But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”

³⁹ So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes 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, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! ⁴¹ He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.

⁴² The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.

In these verses today we see Peter being involved in another amazing miracle. Reading this passage made me think of another passage where Jesus does almost the exact same thing see Luke 8:49-56. In that passage Peter was present in the room with Jesus. Did that miracle come to Peters memory? Did Jesus’s words in John 14:12 also echo in Peters mind when he was brought into the dead woman’s room? You will do greater things … in the passage before this, Peter spoke to a paralysed man and Jesus healed him, Peter’s faith would have been high, but this is dead person … a whole different thing.

I’m seeing a different Peter here in Acts to the one in the gospels … Peter is still a bold leader, but he is now a man led by the Holy Spirit, doing the works of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. I too have opportunity to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, remembering scripture Jesus’s words to build my faith.

Lord, thank you that we have your words and scripture to build us up. I ask for courage like Peters to hear the Holy Spirit and step out to pray for impossible situations and see you bring healing and freedom for your glory.  Amen

Written by Suzie Hodgson