Acts 9 38

Acts 9:38 kjv

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Acts 9:38 nkjv

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.

Acts 9:38 niv

Lydda 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!"

Acts 9:38 esv

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."

Acts 9:38 nlt

But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, "Please come as soon as possible!"

Acts 9 verses

Acts 9 38 Meaning

Acts 9:38 describes the urgent plea of the disciples in Joppa to Peter, who was in nearby Lydda. Upon hearing of the death of Tabitha (Dorcas), they sent two men to Peter, earnestly imploring him to come to them without delay. This reflects the early Christian community's profound distress over loss and their deep trust in the apostles' divine authority and ability to perform miracles, drawing hope from Peter's recent healing of Aeneas.

Acts 9 38 Context

Acts 9:38 is set immediately after Peter's healing of Aeneas in Lydda (Acts 9:33-35), an event that had widespread impact, turning many to the Lord. Simultaneously, in the nearby coastal city of Joppa, a devout disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas) had died, causing great sorrow among the believers there, particularly the widows whom she had served generously. The close proximity of Lydda to Joppa (approximately 10-12 miles) made communication and travel feasible. This historical context reveals a thriving yet vulnerable early Christian community relying on God's power manifested through the apostles. The situation echoes earlier miraculous healings and resurrections performed by Jesus and anticipates Tabitha's raising, further cementing apostolic authority and spreading the Christian message beyond Jerusalem. Culturally, death was a significant communal event, and the request to Peter likely stemmed from both grief and a desperate hope for divine intervention, mirroring incidents in the Old Testament where prophets raised the dead.

Acts 9 38 Word analysis

• And since Lydda was near Joppa:
  • And (Kai, καὶ): A common Greek connective, maintaining narrative flow, linking the healing of Aeneas to this new development.
  • since (hos, ὡς): Implies "as" or "because," giving the reason for the disciples' action.
  • Lydda (Lydda, Λύδδα): A town where Peter had just healed Aeneas (Acts 9:33-35).
  • was near (eggus, ἔγγυς): Signifies proximity (approximately 10-12 miles), making a swift journey practical and the request reasonable. This geographical detail underscores the immediacy of the call.
  • Joppa (Ioppēs, Ἰόππης): A strategic port city (modern Jaffa/Tel Aviv) on the Mediterranean coast. It was culturally significant, often mentioned in the Old Testament (e.g., Jonah's departure, timber for the Temple).
• the disciples:
  • the disciples (hoi mathētai, οἱ μαθηταί): Refers specifically to the believers in Joppa. Not just casual followers but committed members of the early Christian community, already established in the city, indicating the gospel's spread beyond major centers.
• having heard that Peter was there:
  • having heard (akousantes, ἀκούσαντες): A participial phrase indicating prior knowledge. News of Peter's activities, especially his miracle in nearby Lydda (Acts 9:34-35), traveled quickly.
  • that Peter (hoti Petros, ὅτι Πέτρος): Highlights Peter's identity. Simon Peter, a prominent apostle, known for his spiritual authority and miraculous gifts (Acts 5:15). His reputation instilled hope.
  • was there (en autou, ἐν αὐτοῦ): Signifies his physical presence in Lydda, confirming his accessibility for their plea.
• sent two men to him:
  • sent (epempson, ἔπεμψαν): Active and deliberate dispatch. Implies official and urgent business, not merely casual communication.
  • two men (duo andras, δύο ἄνδρας): The specific number suggests a formal embassy, often associated with credible testimony or importance in Jewish tradition (Deut 19:15). It provided practical assistance (e.g., escort, guide for Peter) and reinforced the urgency.
  • to him (pros auton, πρὸς αὐτόν): Clearly indicating Peter as the direct and sole recipient of their appeal.
• imploring him:
  • imploring (parakalountes, παρακαλοῦντες): A strong Greek term meaning "to beseech, urge, exhort, console, appeal." It conveys an earnest, desperate, and respectful petition, demonstrating the depth of their need and hope. It's more than a request; it's a heartfelt plea.
• not to delay in coming to them:
  • not to delay (mē oknēsai, μὴ ὀκνῆσαι): An emphatic plea against procrastination or hesitation. Highlights extreme urgency. Time was of the essence, potentially due to both the irreversible nature of death and the practicalities of Jewish burial customs, but also a deep yearning for a miraculous intervention while the body was still present.
  • in coming (dielthein heōs, διελθεῖν ἕως): Literally "to come through" or "to go over to." Implies specific, immediate movement from Lydda to Joppa.
  • to them (autōn, αὐτῶν): Referring to the disciples in Joppa, emphasizing their communal appeal and their direct need for Peter's presence in their time of grief.

Words-group analysis

• "the disciples, having heard that Peter was there": This phrase shows a key characteristic of the early church: an awareness of where apostolic power resided and a willingness to seek it out in times of great need, built on credible reports of miracles.
• "sent two men to him, imploring him": This demonstrates active faith and community initiative in crisis. They did not despair passively but proactively sought divine intervention through the recognized apostolic authority, conveying both reverence and extreme urgency in their dispatch.
• "not to delay in coming to them": This critical directive underscores the desperate nature of the situation. It conveys a clear expectation of immediate action, suggesting that delay would hinder potential miraculous intervention and acknowledging the time-sensitive nature of dealing with death, both physically and spiritually.

Acts 9 38 Bonus section

• The disciples' action reflects the New Testament emphasis on community support and actively seeking help from those gifted by God, rather than isolating in sorrow.
• This verse sets up the account of Tabitha's resurrection, a miracle that would parallel Jesus's raising of Jairus's daughter and the widow's son, firmly establishing apostolic ministry as a continuation of Christ's work and further legitimizing the early church.
• The "two men" likely carried a clear message about Tabitha's death and perhaps witnessed the grief of the community firsthand, thus strengthening the urgency of their appeal to Peter. Their number may also signify a shared communal request rather than an individual's plea.
• The proximity of Lydda to Joppa facilitated this specific exchange. Had Peter been further away, the feasibility and urgency of the request might have been perceived differently, showing how geographical spread impacted early Christian networking.
• This episode occurs during a period described as relatively peaceful for the church (Acts 9:31), allowing the community to consolidate and grow, and demonstrating God's sustaining presence through miraculous works.

Acts 9 38 Commentary

Acts 9:38 functions as the critical link between Peter's established miraculous ministry in Lydda and his forthcoming and even greater act in Joppa. It reveals the urgent and faith-filled response of a nascent Christian community facing the sorrow of death. The swift dispatch of "two men" bearing an "imploring" request for Peter "not to delay" highlights the depth of their grief for Tabitha and, more profoundly, their fervent hope and belief in God's power working through Peter to perform a resurrection, much like those performed by Jesus. This event not only reinforces Peter's role as a leading apostle, empowered to extend Christ's saving and life-giving work but also showcases the growing faith and inter-community connection within the early church, setting the stage for a dramatic display of God's power over death.