Death-Defying Acts

Acts 9:23-43

Saul Escapes Death

23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

Saul at Jerusalem

26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

The Church Prospers

31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

Aeneas Healed

32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." Then he arose immediately. 35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. 43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

After Saul preached Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, proving that Jesus is the Christ and showing from scripture that He is the Son of God, he escaped a death threat attempted against him by being let down in a basket out of a window (2 Corinthians 11:32-33) in the cover of night.  When he made it to Jerusalem to join up with the other disciples, Saul met with resistance and was not trusted because he had persecuted and sent believers to their death before his conversion which the disciples were still questioning.  It was not until faithful Barnabas told them the work of God to save Saul and how He had used him to speak the gospel words of life to those opposing Jesus that they finally accepted Saul.  Barnabas told them how the Lord came as the Light of Life (John 1:4, 8:12) to Saul as he was on his way of destruction to cause more destruction in the church and forever change the trajectory and goal of Saul’s life.  He relayed to them the power of God using Saul’s background and abilities in the scriptures to reason and prove Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ of God and God’s divine Son with boldne to the Hellenistic Jews and how they came after Saul to kill him now.  After they accepted him he continued to preach and teach these words of life showing the identity and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the church had a period of rest from his former persecution while they all were built up in the truth and prospered in their sanctification under this umbrella of God’s grace.  As the disciples feared God and found comfort in these acts of the Holy Spirit, the church multiplied in number and depth in face of these death-defying acts of faith.  The Spirit of God also used Peter to heal people along the way and turn them to faith in seeing that God’s Spirit was working through him and the other apostles to bring them to repentance and faith (Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21) to salvation in Christ by their words and deeds.  Even beloved Dorcas (Tabitha) who died was given her life back by the power of the resurrected Christ at their hands and many more beloved on the Lord as they witnessed the continued acts as Jesus had done while among them before His death and ascension back into heaven to rejoin His Father and reign over the world from the throne of grace.  All these death-defying acts of the apostles in the working of God’s Spirit led many to faith and conversion by the conversation and faithfulness of the followers of Christ who lived and witnessed by the acts of the Holy Spirit as recorded throughout this book of the Acts of the Apostles which were really the Acts of the Spirit of God in forming and growing His church.  May we join in these death-defying acts with faithful boldness (Philippians 1:20) in proclaiming the gospel as well in reflecting on the faithfulness recorded here for our edification and example.