Dorcas: Faith in Action (Acts 9:36-43)
There are dozens of people in our Bibles who often go unnoticed because they appear very briefly in the Scriptural record. Many of these people are women, and we would do well to notice them since they have much to teach us. In Acts 9:36-43, tucked away between the era-defining accounts of Paul’s Damascus road conversion and Peter’s afternoon vision – events which propelled the Early Church to welcome Gentiles and take the gospel across the known world – sits the beautiful story of Dorcas.
Described simply as a disciple, Dorcas, or Tabitha in Aramaic, became ill and died. Her friends prepared her body for burial but also, in faith, sent to Peter and asked him to come (v38). When he arrived he was taken to see her body in the upper room where she had been placed. Dorcas’ body was surrounded by people weeping and grieving. Peter – having learnt from the example of Jesus (see Matthew 9:23) – put them outside and then prayed for Dorcas to be restored to life. A few moments later Peter was able to present Dorcas to those who were mourning her death!
The picture which Luke paints here in his account is simple and powerful. If this were all that we had been told about Dorcas, her story would be remarkable and cause us to glorify God, who is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), but Luke includes some additional details which are worth our consideration.
Dorcas’ discipleship has two distinguishing features: always doing good and helping the poor. Are there two actions more worthy of a disciple of Jesus than those? These two actions summarise the essence of loving Jesus.
Doing good: Reflecting the character of God
To do good is to reflect the character of God Himself. Doing good affects the way we act, think, speak and serve others. Jesus was once addressed as, ‘Good Teacher.’ He challenged the young man who said this with, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone’ (Mark 10:17-18). To be good is to be like God. In fact, Peter in the next chapter in Acts describes Jesus as a man who, ‘went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil’ (Acts 10:38). So for Dorcas to give her life to ‘doing good’ means that she spent her time reflecting God to those around her by acting in the way He would act.
Helping the poor: Reflecting the heart of God
But her discipleship had a second emphasis: she also helped the poor. Dorcas was a woman who was on the lookout for those who had nothing. She gave expecting nothing in return. She gave to those who could not pay or hope to repay. You may have noticed Luke described those that gathered around her lifeless body weeping as being ‘widows’ (v39). These were women who had no means of support for themselves, women who were overlooked, women who were vulnerable, women who carried sadness and loss in their hearts. Time and again in Scripture we are told that widows are women who hold a special place in God’s heart. Dorcas lived in tune with God’s heart of compassion.
And what Dorcas had provided was not just cups of tea and sympathy. The widows stood weeping while holding tunics and garments which Dorcas had made for them (v39). She gave of her material resources and of her time and effort to provide for those who needed help the most.
What a beautiful portrait of a disciple of Jesus! Dorcas, surely, was a remarkable woman. She put her faith into action. Why not allow her simple discipleship, which reflected God’s character and His heart, challenge you this week as you look for opportunities to ‘always do good and help the poor’.
