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Text -- Acts 9:36 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
Peter Raises Dorcas
9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Dorcas a Christian woman who was restored to life at Joppa
 · Joppa a seaport town on the Mediterranean coast about 35 miles northwest of Jerusalem,a town and seaport 55 km NW of Jerusalem & 85 km south of Mt. Carmel
 · Tabitha a Christian woman who lived in Joppa and whom Peter raised from the dead


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Women | WOMAN | Tabitha | Righteousness | Poor | Peter | PETER, SIMON | Miracles | Joppa | Giving | GAZELLE | Dorcas | Damascus | DISCIPLE | BEG; BEGGAR; BEGGING | ALMS | ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, 13-OUTLINE | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Combined Bible , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Act 9:36 - -- At Joppa ( En Ioppēi ). The modern Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem (2Ch 2:16).

At Joppa ( En Ioppēi ).

The modern Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem (2Ch 2:16).

Robertson: Act 9:36 - -- Disciple ( mathētria ). Feminine form of mathētēs , a learner from manthanō , to learn, a late word and only here in the N.T.

Disciple ( mathētria ).

Feminine form of mathētēs , a learner from manthanō , to learn, a late word and only here in the N.T.

Robertson: Act 9:36 - -- Tabitha ( Tabeitha ). Aramaic form of the Hebrew Tsebi and, like the Greek word

Tabitha ( Tabeitha ).

Aramaic form of the Hebrew Tsebi and, like the Greek word

Robertson: Act 9:36 - -- Dorcas ( Dorkas ) , means Gazelle, "the creature with the beautiful look"(or eyes), from derkomai . The gazelle was a favourite type for beauty in th...

Dorcas ( Dorkas )

, means Gazelle, "the creature with the beautiful look"(or eyes), from derkomai . The gazelle was a favourite type for beauty in the orient (Song of Solomon Son 2:9, Son 2:17; Son 4:5; Son 7:3). She may have had both the Aramaic and the Greek name, Tabitha Dorcas like John Mark. There is nothing said about a husband and so she was probably unmarried. She is the second woman mentioned by name after Pentecost (Sapphira the other). She did her beautiful deeds by herself. She did not have a Dorcas society.

Robertson: Act 9:36 - -- Did ( epoiei ). Imperfect active, her habit.

Did ( epoiei ).

Imperfect active, her habit.

Vincent: Act 9:36 - -- Disciple ( μαθήτρια ) A feminine form, only here in New Testament.

Disciple ( μαθήτρια )

A feminine form, only here in New Testament.

Vincent: Act 9:36 - -- Tabitha - Dorcas The latter word being the Greek equivalent of the former, which is Aramaic, and meaning gazelle, which in the East was a favor...

Tabitha - Dorcas

The latter word being the Greek equivalent of the former, which is Aramaic, and meaning gazelle, which in the East was a favorite type of beauty. See Son 2:9, Son 2:17; Son 4:5; Son 7:3. It was customary at this time for the Jews to have two names, one Hebrew and the other Greek or Latin; and this would especially be the case in a seaport like Joppa, which was both a Gentile and a Jewish town. She may have been known by both names.

Wesley: Act 9:36 - -- She was probably a Hellenist Jew, known among the Hebrews by the Syriac name Tabitha, while the Greeks called her in their own language, Dorcas. They ...

She was probably a Hellenist Jew, known among the Hebrews by the Syriac name Tabitha, while the Greeks called her in their own language, Dorcas. They are both words of the same import, and signify a roe or fawn.

JFB: Act 9:36-39 - -- The modern Jaffa, on the Mediterranean, a very ancient city of the Philistines, afterwards and still the seaport of Jerusalem, from which it lies dist...

The modern Jaffa, on the Mediterranean, a very ancient city of the Philistines, afterwards and still the seaport of Jerusalem, from which it lies distant forty-five miles to the northwest.

JFB: Act 9:36-39 - -- The Syro-Chaldaic and Greek names for an antelope or gazelle, which, from its loveliness, was frequently employed as a proper name for women [MEYER, O...

The Syro-Chaldaic and Greek names for an antelope or gazelle, which, from its loveliness, was frequently employed as a proper name for women [MEYER, OLSHAUSEN]. Doubtless the interpretation, as here given, is but an echo of the remarks made by the Christians regarding her--how well her character answered to her name.

JFB: Act 9:36-39 - -- Eminent for the activities and generosities of the Christian character.

Eminent for the activities and generosities of the Christian character.

Clarke: Act 9:36 - -- Now there was at Joppa - This was a sea-port town on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about a day’ s journey from Jerusalem. It is supposed ...

Now there was at Joppa - This was a sea-port town on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about a day’ s journey from Jerusalem. It is supposed to be the same which is called in the Old Testament Japho, which belonged to the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:46. It is at present called Jaffa, and is still a place of considerable note

Clarke: Act 9:36 - -- A certain disciple named Tabitha - This word is more properly Syriac than Hebrew. Tebitho is the word in the Syriac version, and is their manner o...

A certain disciple named Tabitha - This word is more properly Syriac than Hebrew. Tebitho is the word in the Syriac version, and is their manner of writing the Hebrew צבי tsebi , the ט teth being changed for the צ tsaddi . The word tabio , and the feminine tabitho , have the same meaning as the Hebrew צבי tsebi and the Greek Δορκας, Dorcas , and signify the gazel or antelope; and it is still customary in the east to give the names of beautiful animals to young women. The comparison of fine eyes to those of the antelope is continually occurring in the writings of the Arabic and Persian poets. The person in the text probably had her name in the same way. She was very beautiful, and was therefore called Tabitha and Dorcas

Clarke: Act 9:36 - -- This woman was full of good works - She spent her life in acts of kindness and charity. Her soul was full of love to God and man; and her whole time...

This woman was full of good works - She spent her life in acts of kindness and charity. Her soul was full of love to God and man; and her whole time was filled up with works of piety and mercy.

Calvin: Act 9:36 - -- 36. There followeth a more famous token of Christ’s power, by how much it is more hard to restore life to a dead body, than to restore health to a...

36. There followeth a more famous token of Christ’s power, by how much it is more hard to restore life to a dead body, than to restore health to a man that is sick. But Luke doth first commend the person of Tabitha on whom the miracle was showed, and that with a double title; to wit, that she was Christ’s disciple, and that she approved her faith with good works and alms. He hath oftentimes already put this word disciple for a Christian man; and lest we should think that that name was proper to men only, he attributeth the same to a woman. And this title teacheth us that Christianity cannot be without doctrine; and that that form of learning is prescribed, that the same Christ may be Master to all. This is the chiefest praise, this is the beginning of holy life, this is the root of all virtues, to have learned of the Son of God the way to live, and the true life. The fruits of good works proceed afterward from faith. By good works I mean the duties of love, wherewith our neighbors are helped; and Luke placeth the chief kind in alms. The commendation of liberality is great, because, as the Holy Ghost doth witness, it containeth in itself the sum of a godly and perfect life. Now we see what titles Tabitha hath. For religion toward God or faith goeth first; secondly, that she exercised herself in helping the brethren, and specially in relieving the poverty of the poor. For by use it is come to pass, that all that help wherewith the poor, and those which are in misery, are helped, is called ελεημοσυνη. Tabitha is rather a Syrian word than an Hebrew, which Luke did turn into Greek, that we might know that it was not like to the virtues of the holy women, and that she was debased in such a simple name; 634 for Dorcas signifieth a goat; but the holiness of her life did easily wipe away the blot of a name not very seemly.

TSK: Act 9:36 - -- Joppa : Act 10:5; 2Ch 2:16; Ezr 3:7; Jon 1:3 Dorcas : or, Doe or, Roe, Pro 5:19; Son 2:9, Son 3:5, Son 8:14 full : Joh 15:5, Joh 15:8; Eph 2:10; Phi 1...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Act 9:36 - -- At Joppa - This was a seaport town situated on the Mediterranean, in the tribe of Dan, about 30 miles south of Caesarea, and 45 northwest of Je...

At Joppa - This was a seaport town situated on the Mediterranean, in the tribe of Dan, about 30 miles south of Caesarea, and 45 northwest of Jerusalem. It was the principal seaport of Palestine; and hence, though the harbor was poor, it hind considerable celebrity. It was occupied by Solomon to receive the timber brought for the building of the temple from Tyre 2Ch 2:16, and was used for a similar purpose in the time of Ezra, Ezr 3:7. The present name of the town is Jaffa. It is situated on a promontory jutting out into the sea, rising to the height of about 150 feet above its level, and offering on all sides picturesque and varied prospects. "It owes its existence to the low ledge of rocks which extends into the sea from the extremity of the little cape on which the city stands, and forms a small harbor. Insignificant as it is, and insecure, yet there being no other on all this coast, it was sufficient to cause a city to spring up around it even in the earliest times, and to sustain its life through numberless changes of dynasties, races, and religions down to the present hour. It was, in fact, the only harbor of any notoriety possessed by the Jews throughout the greater part of their national existence. To it the timber for both the temples of Jerusalem was brought from Lebanon, and no doubt a lucrative trade in cedar and pine was always carried on through it with the nations who had possession of the forests of Lebanon. Through it also nearly all the foreign commerce of the Jews was conducted until the artificial port of Caesarea was built by Herod. Here Jonah came to find a ship in which to flee from the presence of the Lord, and from it he sailed for Tarshish.

"Twenty-five years ago the inhabitants of city and gardens were about 6000; now there must be 15,000 at least, and commerce has increased at even a greater ratio. Several sources of prosperity account for the existence and rapid increase of Jaffa. It is the natural landing-place of pilgrims to Jerusalem, both Christians and Jews, and they have created a considerable trade. The Holy City itself has also been constantly rising in importance during the present generation. Then there are extensive soap factories, not only here, but in Ramleh, Lydd, Nablus, and Jerusalem, much of which is exported from this port to all the cities along the coast, to Egypt, and even to Asia Minor through Tarsus. The fruit trade from Jaffa is likewise quite considerable, and lately there have been large shipments of grain to Europe. Add to this that silk is now being cultivated extensively along the river ‘ Aujeh, and in the gardens about the city, and the present prosperity of Jaffa is fully explained.

"Jaffa is celebrated in modern times for her gardens and orchards of delicious fruit more than for anything else. They are very extensive, flourishing, and profitable, but their very existence depends upon the fact that water to any amount can be procured in every garden, and at a moderate depth. The entire plain seems to cover a river of vast breadth, percolating through the sand en route to the sea. A thousand Persian wheels working night and day produce no sensible diminution, and this exhaustible source of wealth underlies the whole territory of the Philistines down to Gaza at least, and probably much further south.

"The fruits of Jaffa are the same as those of Sidon, but with certain variations in their character. Sidon has the best bananas, Jaffa furnishes the best pomegranates. The oranges of Sidon are more juicy and of a richer flavor than those of Jaffa; hut the latter hang on the trees much later, and will bear to be shipped to distant regions. They are therefore more valuable to the producer. It is here only that you see in perfection fragrant blossoms encircling golden fruit. In March and April these Jaffa gardens are indeed enchanting. The air is overloaded with the mingled spicery of orange, lemon, apple, apricot, quince, plum, and china trees in blossom. The people then frequent the groves, sit on mats beneath their grateful shade, sip coffee, smoke the argela, sing, converse, or sleep, as best suits their individual idiosyncrasies, until evening, when they slowly return to their homes in the city. To us of the restless West, this way of making kaif soon wearies by its slumberous monotony, but it is Elysium to the Arabs.

"I have been strolling along the streets, or rather street of Jaffa, for there seems to be but one, and a more crowded thoroughfare I never saw. I had to force my way through the motley crowd of busy citizens, wild Arabs, foreign pilgrims, camels, mules, horses, and donkeys. Then what a strange rabble outside the gate, noisy, quarrelsome, ragged, and filthy! Many are blind, or at least have some painful defect about their eyes, and some are leprous. The peasants hereabout must be very poor, to judge by their rags and squalid appearance. I was reminded of Dorcas and the widows around Peter exhibiting the coats and garments which that benevolent lady had made, and I devoutly hoped she might be raised again, at least in spirit, for there is need of a dozen Dorcas societies in Jaffa at the present time. " The Land and the Book "(Thomson), vol. 2, pp. 271-281.

Tabitha - This word is properly Syriac, and means literally the "gazelle"or "antelope."The name became an appellation of a female, probably on account of the beauty of its form. "It is not unusual in the East to give the names of beautiful animals to young women"(Clark). Compare Son 2:9; Son 4:5.

Dorcas - A Greek word signifying the same as Tabitha. Our word "doe"or "roe"answers to it in signification.

Full of good works - Distinguished for good works. Compare 1Ti 2:10; Tit 2:7.

And almsdeeds - Acts of kindness to the poor.

Poole: Act 9:36 - -- Joppa a post town: see Act 10:5 . These circumstances of places and persons are set down to evidence the certainty of the history. Tabitha accordin...

Joppa a post town: see Act 10:5 . These circumstances of places and persons are set down to evidence the certainty of the history.

Tabitha according to the Syriac dialect, then in use amongst the Jews, and Dorcas as she was called amongst the Greeks; it being common for the same person to have two names, one Hebrew and the other Greek, as Thomas, who was called Didymus, and Cephas, who was called Peter.

Full of good works she was rich in good works, which are the best riches, last longest, and go farthest.

Haydock: Act 9:36 - -- Tabitha, in Syriac, means the same as Dorcas in Greek, that is, a wild goat. (Bible de Vence) --- See here the powerful effects of good works, and a...

Tabitha, in Syriac, means the same as Dorcas in Greek, that is, a wild goat. (Bible de Vence) ---

See here the powerful effects of good works, and alms-deeds; they reach even to the next life. (Bristow) ---

Hence that of the wise man, alms free from death.

Gill: Act 9:36 - -- Now there was at Joppa,.... The same with Japho, Jos 19:46 a sea port town in the tribe of Dan, said by some historians w to be a very ancient one, ev...

Now there was at Joppa,.... The same with Japho, Jos 19:46 a sea port town in the tribe of Dan, said by some historians w to be a very ancient one, even before the flood. It is now called Jaffa, and its name, in the Hebrew tongue, signifies beauty: some say it had its name from Jope, the daughter of Aeolus, the wife of Cepheus, the founder of it; and others derive it from the name of Japhet, because it looks towards Europe, which is inhabited by the sons of Japhet. It was built upon a hill, as Pliny x says; and so high, as Strabo y reports, that Jerusalem, the metropolis of Judea, might be seen from thence, which was distant from it forty miles; as may be concluded from what Jerom, z says, who lived at Bethlehem many years: his words are; from Joppa, to our little village Bethlehem, are forty six miles; now Bethlehem was six miles distant from Jerusalem, to the south of it, and Joppa was to the west of it. The place is well known by Jonah's taking ship there, and going for Tarshish, when he was cast into the sea, and devoured by a fish; from whence the Ionian sea might have its name: and this was the occasion of the fable of Andromeda being exposed to a fish of a prodigious size at this place; the bones of which, Pliny a relates, were brought to Rome from hence, being forty foot long; and, the stones, to which she was bound, Jerom b says, were shown in his time on this shore: and here also, the inhabitants report, may be seen some stones in the sea, on which Peter stood and fished, when he dwelt in this place.

A certain disciple, called Tabitha; this was a woman's name, the masculine name was Tabi. R. Gamaliel had a manservant of this name c, and also a maidservant, whose name was Tabitha d; yea, every maidservant of his was called mother Tabitha, and every manservant father Tabi e:

which by interpretation is called Dorcas; which signifies a roe in the Greek language, as Tabitha does in the Syriac:

this woman was full of good works; was constantly employed in doing good; her works were both many and good:

and alms deeds which she did; she was very kind and beneficent to the poor; she wrought with her hands much for their sakes, as appears by what follows.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Act 9:36 Or “and helping the poor.” Grk “She was full of good deeds and acts of charity which she was continually doing.” Since it is s...

Geneva Bible: Act 9:36 ( 11 ) Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsde...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Act 9:1-43 - --1 Saul, going towards Damascus, is stricken down to the earth, and led blind to Damascus;10 is called to the apostleship;18 and is baptized by Ananias...

Combined Bible: Act 9:36 - --From the midst of these happy and peaceful triumphs of the truth, Peter was suddenly called away to Joppa. The circumstances which led to this event a...

Maclaren: Act 9:34-40 - --Copies Of Christ's Manner and Peter said unto him, AEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed … 40. But Peter put them all ...

MHCC: Act 9:36-43 - --Many are full of good words, who are empty and barren in good works; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker. Christians who have not property t...

Matthew Henry: Act 9:36-43 - -- Here we have another miracle wrought by Peter, for the confirming of the gospel, and which exceeded the former - the raising of Tabitha to life when...

Barclay: Act 9:32-43 - --For a time Paul has held the centre of the stage; but once again Peter commands the limelight. This passage really follows on from Act 8:25. It sho...

Constable: Act 9:32--Rom 1:1 - --III. THE WITNESS TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH 9:32--28:31 Luke next recorded the church's expansion beyond...

Constable: Act 9:32--12:25 - --A. The extension of the church to Syrian Antioch 9:32-12:24 As Jerusalem had been the Palestinian center...

Constable: Act 9:32-43 - --1. Peter's ministry in Lydda and Joppa 9:32-43 Luke now returned to Peter's continuing ministry ...

Constable: Act 9:36-43 - --The raising of Tabitha at Joppa 9:36-43 9:36 The site of Joppa (modern Yafo, a suburb of Tel Aviv) was on the Mediterranean coast 10 miles west and a ...

College: Act 9:1-43 - --ACTS 9 C. THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS (9:1-31) 1. The Expedition of Saul to Damascus (9:1-2) 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murdero...

McGarvey: Act 9:36-42 - --36-42. From the midst of these happy and peaceful triumphs of the truth, Peter was suddenly called away to Joppa. The circumstances which led to this ...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES By Way of Introduction But for the Acts we should know nothing of the early apostolic period save what is told in the Epi...

JFB: Acts (Book Introduction) THIS book is to the Gospels what the fruit is to the tree that bears it. In the Gospels we see the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying: in...

JFB: Acts (Outline) INTRODUCTION--LAST DAYS OF OUR LORD UPON EARTH--HIS ASCENSION. (Act 1:1-11) RETURN OF THE ELEVEN TO JERUSALEM--PROCEEDINGS IN THE UPPER ROOM TILL PEN...

TSK: Acts (Book Introduction) The Acts of the Apostles is a most valuable portion of Divine revelation; and, independently of its universal reception in the Christian church, as an...

TSK: Acts 9 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Act 9:1, Saul, going towards Damascus, is stricken down to the earth, and led blind to Damascus; Act 9:10, is called to the apostleship; ...

Poole: Acts 9 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 9

MHCC: Acts (Book Introduction) This book unites the Gospels to the Epistles. It contains many particulars concerning the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Christian church from th...

MHCC: Acts 9 (Chapter Introduction) (Act 9:1-9) The conversion of Saul. (Act 9:10-22) Saul converted preaches Christ. (Act 9:23-31) Saul is persecuted at Damascus, and goes to Jerusale...

Matthew Henry: Acts (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Acts of the Apostles We have with an abundant satisfaction seen the foundation of our holy religion...

Matthew Henry: Acts 9 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have, I. The famous story of St. Paul's conversion from being an outrageous persecutor of the gospel of Christ to be an illustr...

Barclay: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES A Precious Book In one sense Acts is the most important book in the New Testament. It is the simple truth t...

Barclay: Acts 9 (Chapter Introduction) Surrender (Act_9:1-9) A Christian Welcome (Act_9:10-18) Witnessing For Christ (Act_9:19-22) Escaping By The Skin Of His Teeth (Act_9:23-25) Rejec...

Constable: Acts (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title "Acts of the Apostles" is very ancient. The Anti-Marcioni...

Constable: Acts (Outline) Outline I. The witness in Jerusalem 1:1-6:7 A. The founding of the church 1:1-2:46 ...

Constable: Acts Acts Bibliography Albright, William Foxwell. The Archaeology of Palestine. 1949. Revised ed. Pelican Archaeolog...

Haydock: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. INTRODUCTION. St. Luke, who had published his gospel, wrote also a second volume, which, from the first ages, hath bee...

Gill: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ACTS This book, in some copies, is called, "The Acts of the holy Apostles". It contains an history of the ministry and miracles of ...

College: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION As early as the second century the title "The Acts of the Apostles" was given to this document. Before that time the work probably circu...

College: Acts (Outline) OUTLINE I. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM - 1:1-8:1a A. INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK - 1:1-3 B. THE COMMISSIONING OF THE APOSTLES - 1:4-8 C. THE ASCENSI...

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