Acts 9:32-43
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, 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 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
Reflection
Luke gives two instances of the ongoing supernatural ministry of the apostle Peter. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, Peter heals a paralyzed man (Acts 9:33–35; cf. Matt. 9:6) and raises a woman from the dead (Acts 9:40–41; cf. Mark 5:41).
As the message of the gospel is going forth through the ministry of the apostles, God ensures that the hearers understand the heavenly power at work through these men. This message and these messengers were endorsed by God himself, “who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3).
2 John 7-13
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
Reflection
The primary burden of this letter is presented here. John warns his readers to be on the alert for anyone who “does not abide in the teaching of Christ” (2 John 9) and who teaches in a way that damages the gospel and its progress. The test for sound teaching here is the same as the one in 1 John: truthful teachers must confess “the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh” (2 John 7; cf. 1 John 4:2–3). Failure to detect and reject false teachers not only opens the door to serious compromise in the church (2 John 8) but also is considered partnership with the opposition (v. 11). We must maintain the purity of the gospel for the sake of healthy churches and for the sake of Christ’s glory.
Psalm 8:5
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
True teaching must affirm the full humanity of Jesus. God did not merely take on a human-like form. In order to pay for our sin, he actually became one of us —true flesh and blood. Take a moment to praise God for the humanity of Jesus. It enabled him both to take our place and to sympathize with our weakness (Heb. 4:15).