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BIBL 104
Name: Sanjesh Chand
Bible Study Project: Correlation
Passage: Acts 9:36-43
A: The passage from Acts 9:36-43 fits within the redemption metanarrative of the Bible.
"God responded with his plan of redemption, and this plan is personalized in Jesus Christ.
The clearest and most vivid picture of God's redemptive plan can be seen at Calvary,
where Jesus Christ was nailed to a wooden cross. It was there that redemption was
completed and accomplished." (Cartwright and Chris Hulshof, P 44) Jesus' redemption
work has commissioned Peter to perform miracles to bring Tabitha, the disciple, to life.
The news of the miracle performed by Peter was also witnessed by the people of Joppa
and many came to believe in the power and supernatural work of God. As it is mentioned
in Acts 9:42, " It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord." (The
Holy Bible, ESV) The significance of Acts 9:36-43 tells us that God revealed his power
through Peter because he placed his faith in Lord and prayed to him before commanding
Tabitha to raise. Peter's faith in the redemptive work of Jesus answered his prayer and
brought Tabitha to resurrection life. This was witnessed by the people of Joppa that God
is a faithful God and they believed in him. Now disciples like Tabitha, God used to reach
out to people in need and continues to build faith in the redemptive work of Jesus. She
made garments for the widows and took care of the poor.
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God is the ultimate redeemer. The Bible talks about many stories and parables of his
redemptive work. For example; for the people of Israel, he delivered them from slavery in
Egypt into the promised land. " God saved them from sin and slavery in Egypt, and he
saved them for life in the promised land." (Cartwright and Chris Hulshof, P 44)
B: My principles that interpreted the scripture verse in Acts 9: 36-43 are; the resurrection
life of Jesus Christ and God's Faithfulness. Jesus' resurrection life is God's goal of
redemptive work to restore his creation from the effects of sin after the fall. "In his death,
Jesus has conquered sin, and in his resurrection, he has inaugurated a new era of salvation
and recovery. Through his Spirit, he distributes all the gifts of his Kingdom to his
followers and disciples like Peter and Tabitha. He used his power through Peter to
resurrect Tabitha. Both Peter and Tabitha, received gifts from God for the works of Jesus.
God is faithful and his faithfulness provides confidence to the believers to trust him for
their salvation. Hope that no matter what happens God will liberate the afflicted, and all
this can be accomplished only by having faith and trust in God, which Acts 9: 36-43
illustrated that with the miracle work of Peter and the good deeds of Tabitha. God's
faithfulness is available to His creation as it stated," For this reason he has to be made
like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and
faithful high priest and in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins
of the people." (The Holy Bible, Hebrews 2:17, NIV)
C: The story of Peter and Tabitha in Acts 9:36-43, reflects having faith in the finished
work of Jesus Christ, God's power and loving, caring nature has been revealed through
Peter and Tabitha.
"In his life, Jesus shows us what salvation looks like: the power of God to heal and make
new is vividly present in all his words and actions. In his death, Jesus accomplishes that
salvation: at the cross, he wages war against the power of evil and defeats them as he
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takes the sin of the world upon himself. In his resurrection, Jesus opens the door to the
new creation, then holds that door open and invites us to join him." (Bartholomew, C. G.,
& Goheen, M. W. (2014). The above context perfectly describes Peter's faith in his
finished work and gave him the power to perform miracles and resurrect Tabitha. Tabitha
possesses the power of selflessness through the Holy Spirit gained by believing in Jesus'
redemptive work on the calvary cross to help and put others first in her community. The
Bible talks about many other God's promises available to believers even these days. (John
14: 12,13) is a perfect example that confirms the story of Acts 9:36-43. The scripture
states, " I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they
will do even greater things than this because I am going to the father. and I will do
whatever you ask in my name, so that the father may be glorified in the son." (The Holy
Bible, NIV) This scripture tells us it is not the work of humankind but believing and
asking in His name has their redemption and salvation.
References:
John Cartwright and Chris Hulshof, Everyday Bible Study: Growing in the
Christian Faith, ed. Gabriel Etzel and Ben Gutierrez, 2nd edition., Everyday Bible
Series (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2019), 66–70.
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Bartholomew, C. G., & Goheen, M. W. (2014). The Drama of Scripture (p.
135). Baker Academic.
The Holy Bible, Acts 9:42, ESV
The Holy Bible, John 14:12,13 NIV
The Holy Bible Hebrews 2:17 NIV
