Tab It Ha 7

Tabitha ( or Dorcas) Luke gives us insight to a specific disciple in the book of Acts known as Tabitha (or Dorcas in the Greek). In Acts 9:36 it says, “…a certain disciple named Tabitha.” She is the only woman in the whole Bible to be directly called with the term disciple. There were only five people in the whole book of Acts alone referred to as disciples and Tabitha was one among four men mentioned (Acts 9:10-Ananias; 9:26-Paul;16:1-Timothy; 21:6Mnason ). Paul ministry left all the surrounding areas of Jerusalem and was reaching into Gentile areas (see Acts 1:8). It is said about Tabitha that she was,” always doing good and helping the poor (Acts 9:36). Other translations convey the idea that she was “full of good works and generosity to the needy.” The Greek conveys that she “abounding with deeds and charity continually.” Her generosity was her lifestyle. Tabitha truly understood the ideas behind Eph.2:10 which say that, “…we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” She knew that her salvation was by grace, but she demonstrated the love of Christ for “the household of believers” (Gal. 6:10). Some believe that her deeds and way of life were parallel to that of Stephen (Acts 6:5) “who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” Similarly, it is believed that she was like Barnabas (Acts 11:24) who was “full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” In Acts 9:39, we can see that she was known for her ability to make garments (for the widows). When Paul came to see the believers in Joppa, he would have been stunned by the death of this faithful woman. Many of the widowed women would have been wearing her garments and would have felt a “gap” in their lives and ministry with the sudden death of Tabitha. The believers did not follow the “burial customs” of putting spices and anointing oil on the dead body and wrapping it. Instead the placed her in the upper prayer room and waited for Peter to return. This signifies that they were not expecting to bury this woman, but rather they were waiting for her to be raised again through prayer. When Peter prayed over her, she was raised up instantly. Her resurrection was another way in which the Gospel expanded, as it became a witness to all (Acts 9:42). We see through the life of Tabitha that we must show the “fruit of the Spirit” in our life by demonstrating good works in our lives. A true believers life will reflect their salvation in Christ. We must be willing to give our abilities and talents to the Lord to serve our family in Christ. We must also be willing to support other believers out of our own money, if they are in need. We must be like Christ and learn to “give without expecting anything in return.” We must not let “are right hand known what are left hand is doing.” We do not know why she was named with the term disciple (when no other woman is directly). However, the truth is that Tabitha was a woman who would not have drawn attention to herself, but Luke most have noticed some character in her that he thought reflected those of Paul and the other disciples that he knew.