Acts 9:36-43

Acts 9:36-43
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of The Text This Week

Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- Chapter XXI, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
- Concerning Works and Almsgiving -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
- From the Geneva Notes.
  - "Peter clearly declares, by raising up a dead body through the name of Christ, that he preaches the glad tidings of life."
- From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  - "Many are full of good words, who are empty and barren in good works; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker."
- From Wesley's Notes.
  - "The kingdom of God suits itself to external circumstances, without any violence, as air yields to all bodies, and yet pervades all."
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
  - "Perhaps that his whole soul might be fixed on the Lord in prayer."
Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- Commentary, Acts 9:36-43 (Easter 4C), Mitzi J. Smith, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2016.
  - "Tabitha used her privilege -- her wealth, just acts and gifts, and prophetic speech -- for the benefit of the less privileged: the widows, indigent, the hungry, depressed, oppressed, marginalized, and penalized."
- Commentary, Acts 9:36-43, Deanna Hayden, A Plain Account, 2016
  - "We live in a culture that worships the bigger, faster, and easier. Add the entertainment component to any of those, and you'll have a best-selling product in no time. Interestingly enough, a good portion of church leaders have tried to tap into these qualities to try to create an experience resembling worship."
- The Truett Pulpit, Burt Burleson, University Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 2016.
- The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2016.
- "The Politics of Hearing and Response," Political Theology Today, 2016.
- Pulpit Fiction, podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2016.
- Commentary, Acts 9:36-43 (Easter 4C), Eric Barreto, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013.
  - "The gospel looks out over a world characterized by death, illness, and loss and yet declares that eternal life is the new order of the day, that Jesus himself embodies and assures us of the promise that death will not have the last word and that no boundary can ever cleave us apart from one another."
- "Why I Pray that April Tragedies Bring May Justice," Margaret Aymer, ON Scripture, Odyssey Networks, 2013.
  - "So let the church 'gather crying tears that fill a million oceans' (Sweet Honey in the Rock, 2003). For we are people of the resurrection. And we confess, despite all evidence to the contrary, that death will not win."
- "Dorcas' Fashion Show," Beth Scibienski, A Thousand Words of Inspiration, 2103.
- "The Living Power of the Resurrection," John C. Holbert, 2013.
  - "A life lived in God is a life where death can have no final sway, though death is all too real for all of us. That is the living power of the resurrection, that reality that binds together all who believe in hope."
- "Peter the Apostle Meets Simon the Tanner," Easter 4, Daniel B. Clendenin, The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2013.
  - "I've found it humbling to ask, 'What 'outcasts' do I sanctimoniously spurn as impure, unclean, dirty, contaminated, and far from God?' The mentally ill, people with multiple marriages, wealthy executives, welfare recipients, conservative politicians, or maybe just anyone different from me?"
- Commentary, Acts 9:36-43 (Easter 4C), James Boyce, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
  - "...the details of this story will find immediate recognition in the experience of those who grieve at the death of a loved one. As such, it provides the preacher the opportunity in the midst of the season of Easter, in the context of worship, to witness to the promise and the power of the resurrection of our Lord to enter into the real places of daily life, to address even those darkest times of human grief and loss."
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- "First Thoughts on Year C First Reading Acts Passages from the Lectionary," Easter 4, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
  - "The good news is about bringing life where there is death, love where there is hate, healing where there is brokenness."
- "Aeneas and Dorcas," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
- Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Acts 9:36-43, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
  - "Here is a wonderful definition of a disciple of Jesus: devoted to good works and acts of charity."
- "Is Cleanliness Next to Godliness (Acts 9:32 - 10:23)" by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  - "The important changes which took place in Peter were those pertaining to his theology and understanding of the relationship between the ?clean? and the ?unclean? and the Jews and the Gentile. Notice, with me, the sequence of events which God brought about in Peter?s life, and the progressive realization on his part as to what all this meant."
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Moessner, David P., "'The Christ Must Suffer': New Light on the Jesus -- Peter, Stephen, Paul Parallels in Luke-Acts," Novum Testamentum, 1986.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Panikkar, Maimundo, "The Crux of Christian Ecumenism: Can Universality and Chosenness Be Held Simultaneously?" Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 1989.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Peterson, Heidi A., "Clothed with Compassion," The Christian Century, 2001.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Tannehill, Robert C., "'Cornelius' and 'Tabitha' Encounter Luke's Jesus," Interpretation, 1994.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Troeger, Thomas H., "Resurrection Weavings," Journal for Preachers, 2001.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Walton, Jon M., "What about Dorcas?" The Christian Century, 2007.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Sermons:
With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Easter 4C, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2013.
- "Dorcas," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
- "Beloved Seamstress," Linda Edwards, The Children's Chapel.
- "Peter Raises Tabitha from Death," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- "Peter Raises Tabitha," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
- Crossword on Acts 9, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
Drama:
- "Raising Tabitha," Jane and Mark Lewis, Potted Jam.
Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
Hymns and Music:
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Acts 9:41. The Cyber Hymnal.
Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Healing
Study Links and Resources for the Book of Acts