Peter Raises Tabitha
"Tabitha, get up!"
In this story, a woman dies and is brought back to life.
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
In Lydda, Peter said to a man paralyzed for eight years, "Jesus Christ heals you!" and he got up. In nearby Joppa, a disciple named Tabitha, who was always doing kind things and sewing clothes for widows, got sick and died. The believers sent for Peter, who knelt and prayed and said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes and sat up, and many people believed in the Lord.
Where it is in the Bible: Acts 9:32-43
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Peter: One of Jesus's apostles, traveling to visit the believers.
- Aeneas: A man in the town of Lydda, paralyzed for eight years.
- Tabitha (also called Dorcas): A follower of Jesus in Joppa, known for helping the poor.
- The widows: Women in Joppa whom Tabitha had helped.
Setting
- Lydda, a town near the coast, and Joppa, a seaside town nearby.
When
- A few years after Jesus rose from the dead.
Before the Story
The church was spreading. It had grown through Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (9:31).
Saul, who had hurt Christians, had met Jesus. Now he was preaching about Jesus himself (9:20).
Peter remembered Jesus raising a girl. Jesus had said, "Little girl, get up!" (Mark 5:41). Peter had been in the room.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Aeneas | 9:32-35 | Peter heals a paralyzed man |
| 2. Tabitha | 9:36-38 | A kind woman dies, and the believers send for Peter |
| 3. The clothes she made | 9:39 | The widows show what Tabitha did |
| 4. "Tabitha, get up!" | 9:40-43 | Peter prays, and she lives |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4Aeneas
Peter visited the believers in Lydda. There he met Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and stuck in bed for eight years.
"Aeneas," Peter said, "Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat" (9:34).
Right away, Aeneas got up. Everyone in the area saw him and turned to the Lord.
Scene 2 of 4Tabitha
In nearby Joppa lived a disciple named Tabitha. In Greek her name was Dorcas. Both names mean "gazelle."
She was "always occupied with works of kindness and charity" (9:36).
Then she got sick and died. Her friends washed her body and laid it in an upstairs room.
They heard Peter was close by, so they sent two men: "Come to us without delay" (9:38).
Scene 3 of 4The Clothes She Made
Peter came right away. They took him upstairs.
The widows were all there, crying. They showed Peter the tunics and clothes Tabitha had made for them.
Scene 4 of 4"Tabitha, Get Up!"
Peter sent everyone out of the room. He knelt and prayed.
Then he turned to her and said, "Tabitha, get up!" (9:40).
She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter took her hand and helped her up. Then he called the believers and the widows and showed them she was alive.
News spread all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Jesus Christ heals you!" (9:34) | Peter made it clear the healing came from Jesus. |
| "Always occupied with works of kindness and charity" (9:36) | Tabitha served Jesus by helping the poor. |
| "Showing him the tunics and other clothing" (9:39) | Her love was visible in what she made. |
| "He knelt down and prayed" (9:40) | Peter depended on God, not himself. |
| "Tabitha, get up!" (9:40) | Jesus's power to raise the dead worked through Peter. |
| "Many people believed in the Lord" (9:42) | The miracle pointed people to Jesus. |
Back Then
Widows were often very poor. Without a husband, many had no income. Making clothes for them was a big help.
Joppa was a port city, today part of Tel Aviv. Jonah sailed from Joppa (Jonah 1:3), and Peter's vision of the sheet happened there next (10:9).
Peter's words echo Jesus's. Jesus said "Talitha koum," "Little girl, get up." Peter said "Tabitha, get up." The names sound alike in Aramaic.
Literal Reader Alert
Did Peter have special powers? No. Peter prayed. Jesus did the healing (9:34).
Will God raise everyone who dies right away? Not right away. Tabitha later died again. These miracles are signs. Jesus promises everyone who belongs to him will rise on the last day.
Is helping people as important as preaching? Tabitha is called a disciple because of her kindness. Serving people is serving Jesus.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The widows | Grieving | Their friend had died (9:39) |
| The believers | Urgent | They asked Peter to hurry (9:38) |
| Everyone | Amazed | Tabitha was alive (9:41-42) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What could you make or do for someone? Tap one.
Make something
Tabitha made clothes. What could you make for someone?
Kindness
She was always doing kind things. Small acts count.
Someone died
The widows wept. Grief is okay. Jesus is stronger than death.
Pray
Peter knelt and prayed first.
You Might Have Heard
"Only preachers and leaders really serve God."
What's true: God calls some people to lead and preach.
What the story is mainly about: Tabitha served God by sewing clothes for poor widows. The Bible calls her a disciple. Her quiet kindness mattered so much that the whole town knew.
Where Jesus is: Working through Peter's prayer, raising Tabitha, just as he once raised Jairus's daughter.
Good News
Tabitha spent her life making things for others. God gave her life back.
"Tabitha, get up!" (9:40).
Jesus is stronger than death. One day he will say "Get up!" to everyone who belongs to him.
Tabitha was always doing kind things. When she died, Peter prayed and said, "Tabitha, get up!" and she lived. Jesus is stronger than death.
Big Idea
Tabitha was always helping the poor. When she died, Peter knelt and prayed and said, "Tabitha, get up!" Jesus is stronger than death.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that ordinary work done in faith, like sewing clothes for neighbors, is holy work, as pleasing to God as anything done by priests.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year C, it reads Acts 9:36-43 on the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Tabitha, get up!
How did that feel?
You finished Peter Raises Tabitha.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Fourth Sunday of Easter Year CFirst reading, Acts 9:36–43
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Peter Raises Tabitha, explained in plain words. A woman who sewed clothes for widows dies. Peter kneels and prays. About 7 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/peter-raises-tabitha/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church