SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH”
TEXT: ACTS 9:32-43
TITLE: “A TALE OF TWO BEDS”
INTRODUCTION: A. Most of you are familiar with the classic Charles Dickens story, A Tale of Two Cities,
which begins: “It was the best of time, it was the worst of times…”
--That summary of life describes very well the 1st century:
1. Best of times
a. Pax Romana – Roman army’s presence in all regions.
--Even though there was some unrest in the empire, it was the most peaceful
time in history for quite some time
b. Roads and highway systems were in excellent shape
1). The Romans kept up the road so their military could travel quickly and
easily
2). Also, presence of Roman army in every region discouraged a lot of robbers
who sought to waylay travelers along these roads
--It did happen from time to time but it was safer to travel than it had been
for quite some time.
c. There was a lot of merchant activity by sailing
1). Roman military ships actively sailed the Mediterranean and it discouraged a
lot of the piracy of ships that had occurred in the past.
2). Over all, travel was much easier and much safer all around.
d. Common language in use all over Roman Empire – Koine’ Greek
2. Worst of times
a. Mixture of religious and philosophical teaching
--Most of which conflicted greatly with Christianity
b. Sexual immorality was rampant
--temple prostitution, homosexuality, and any other perversion of God’s original
intention for sexuality
c. Non-caring attitude toward anything seemingly religious
--caused by the conflict between the multitude of religious and philosophical
teachings.
B. Best of times/worst of times also descriptive of our own culture
1. Best of times
a. Travel has never been easier or faster
b. Information is available in second from anywhere in the world
c. Incredible advances in technology
--cell phones, satellite dishes, computers, microcircuits, nanotechnology
d. Incredible advances in medicine
--both surgical and pharmaceutical
2. Worst of times
a. Sexual immorality is rampant
b. Mixture of philosophical and religious teachings
1). Every religion is seen as viable
--“all roads lead to heaven”
2). People even utilize “buffet” religion
--a little Christianity, a little Buddhism, a little Hindu, etc.
3). Even Christianity divided into hundreds of denominational groups
4). All the confusion has caused a large number of people to have a non-caring
attitude
C. The problems of today are the same basic problems that have always been
1. Ecc. 1:9 – “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.”
2. In our passage, Peter has an answer for two different people in two different beds
3. The answer he offers is Jesus because He is the answer for any problem at any
time.
I. THE BED AT LYDDA
--Acts 9:32-35 – “As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33There he found
a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34"Aeneas," Peter said to him,
‘Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.’ Immediately Aeneas got up. 35All those who
lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”
A. Lydda located on road between Jerusalem and Caesarea
--Located approximately 18-20 miles NW of Jerusalem
1. Why was Peter traveling through this area?
a. v. 30 – “When the brothers learned of this (plot to kill Paul), they took him down to Caesarea and
sent him off to Tarsus.
b. It’s very possible that Peter was on of those that escorted Paul to Caesarea and decided to make the
return trip an evangelizing and discipling effort.
B. While in Lydda, meets a man named Aeneas
1. Don’t know how long paralyzed
--However, had been bedridden for 8 years
2. Peter had watched Jesus heal those who had been paralyzed.
3. v. 34 – Peter tells Aeneas that the power to heal is not in himself
--that only the power of Jesus Christ can accomplish what is going to happen
4. v. 35 tells us the effect of this miracle
--that those who lived in the surrounding communities of Lydda and the region of Sharon turned to the
Lord
a. “turned” literally means “to return to the path which one has gone astray”
b. A revival was brought to the area because of the work of Jesus Christ in the life of Aeneas
1). It was the faith of one man in what Jesus Christ could accomplish in his life that brought revival
and repentance to a whole region
2). Sharon was the coastal plan approximately 30 miles long that extend from Mt. Carmel in the
north to Joppa in the south.
--which leads directly to the next bed
II. THE BED AT JOPPA
--Acts 9:36-43 – “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who
was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body
was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that
Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"
39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood
around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was
still with them. 40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning
toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He
took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and
presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
A. Joppa
1. About 12 miles from Lydda
2. Name now is Jaffa
--replaced by Tel Aviv (just a few miles north) as the business center of Israel
B. Tabitha
1. Aramiac
a. “Dorcas” – Greek
b. Meaning – “gazelle; antelope”
--designation of her grace and beauty
2. Already a believer
3. Had the spiritual gifts of service, giving, and encouragement
a. v. 36 tells us that she was always doing good and helping the poor
b. v. 39 – the widow showing peter the clothes that Tabitha/Dorcas had made for them
--the original language actually indicates that they were wearing the garments she had made
4. She became sick and died
C. Her death hit hard those who loved her
--not only did they love her greatly but many depended on her acts of ministry
1. vs. 37b – her body was washed
--preparation for burial: wash, put spices on the body, and then wrap in strips of cloth
2. Bodies were generally buried as soon as possible
--Not just for ceremonial reasons but also because of the climate
3. It’s during this process of preparation that they remember that Peter is close by
--They decide to see what God can do about this situation through Peter
D. Peter comes
1. He sends everyone out of the room, gets on his knees, prays, and then says, “Tabitha, get up.”
2. Then takes her by he hand and helps her to her feet and presents her to the widows alive
3. The result is that the even became well-publicized all over Joppa and a great number of people
believed in Jesus Christ.
III. THE APPLICATION
A. The bed at Lydda was a bed of sickness and paralysis
1. There are many sick and paralyzed congregations
a. People in them are fleshly and sick with sin
--They’re primary interest is selfish interest
b. They’re paralyzed into ineffectiveness because of their failure to walk by faith and not by sight
2. There are also a lot of sick and paralyzed people in the world
a. They’re sick with sin – a disease that can only be cured by the Great Physician
b. They’re paralyzed
1). By their fears, by their guilt, by the worries of this life.
2). They’re powerless over their paralysis
3. The church is the agent of healing in the community where it resides
a. Jesus called us to be salt and light
--Both have healing properties
b. Only the church can introduce those who are sick and paralyzed to the Great Physician
1). Then can they receive the life-giving blood transfusion to cleanse them of their sin-sickness
2). They can also receive the prescriptions of the Great Physician so that their lives can be made
whole
4. How did peter effect the healing of Aeneas?
--He followed the example of Jesus
a. 1 Peter 2:21 – “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
that you should follow in His steps.”
b. When the church becomes healed and whole, we can lead others to find wholeness in Him.
B. The bed at Joppa was a bed of death
1. Rom. 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death…”
2. Eph. 2:1-5 – “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live
when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is
now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the
cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with
Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.”
3. 1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live
for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
4. The only way out of the bed of death is to die to self and live for Christ
5. And only a living church can introduce a dead man to the Savior who gives abundant life.
CONCLUSION: A. Do you feel paralyzed today?
--Are you dead in your sins?
1. Rom. 6:3-7 – “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into
death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his
death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that
our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7because anyone who has died has been
freed from sin.”
2. The Bible clearly teaches us that the way we are healed from the sickness of sin and
the way that we can be released from the paralysis of fear and guilt is to intentionally
let the old man die and let Christ give us a new life of hope, wholeness, and freedom
when we submit to Him.
B. Ex. 15:26 – God says, “ ‘If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and
do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his
decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am
the LORD , who heals you.’”
