Women in the Bible – Dorcas/Tabitha

# Lesson 42 Notable Women in the Bible – Dorcas/Tabitha

A Female Disciple of Charity (Acts 9:36-42)

The story of Tabitha is recorded in the Book of Acts (9:36-42). During that time, many Jews living outside Judea commonly had two names: one in Hebrew and another in either Greek or Latin. Therefore, Tabitha also had a second name, Dorcas – Tabitha being Hebrew and Dorcas being Greek. Both names mean "gazelle."

Dorcas was one of the disciples living in the city of Joppa (Acts 9:36a, "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha [which means Dorcas]") – a city situated on the Mediterranean Sea, west of the Jordan River, roughly between the regions of Judea and Samaria toward the coast. Dorcas was a relatively wealthy widow and the only woman mentioned in Scripture as being specifically called a female disciple. This indicates that she must have been a woman of good reputation.

Dorcas was deeply loved by many people both within and outside the church where she lived, not because she was renowned as a prophetess or pastor, but because she was a woman who loved the Lord and served Him by making full use of her time in doing good works and giving to the poor (Acts 9:36b, "always doing good and helping the poor"). Dorcas spun thread, wove fabric, and made tunics and other garments for the poor, especially for many widows (Acts 9:39b, "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them"). Her precious heart was such that people could not bear to lose her. Therefore, when she became ill and died, those who served the Lord alongside her were greatly concerned and sent for the apostle Peter, hoping that he might pray and ask the Lord to raise her back to life.

Indeed, through God's power and His gracious plan, after the apostle Peter came and prayed before Dorcas's body, he called her to sit up – and she sat up and came back to life! When news of this spread, many people came to believe in the Lord (Acts 9:42, "This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord").

The Book of Acts shows us Dorcas as a "good neighbor." She was always present for the needs of others. Because of this, people cherished her for who she was as a person, not merely for the good deeds she performed for them. Her example of caring for others had power that touched people's hearts deeply, for it had won the esteem and affection of her friends and neighbors! Sometimes, in our desire to do much work for the Lord, we forget that what matters most in God's kingdom is that we are called to be servants – servants who must have a heart of concern for those we serve.

Serving others will receive a reward now and also a reward later in God's kingdom. This truth is demonstrated through Dorcas's example of service. Not only was she loved by those around her, but when she passed away, she was raised back to life by God, and through her resurrection, many others came to believe in the Lord! We are often so caught up in the busyness of life that we have no time to love, care for, and nurture our brothers and sisters!

Remember this: a loving relationship always satisfies us more than any possession in this world! The apostle Paul taught that, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:14). Let us pray that God grants us the wisdom to set aside time to love and care for everyone, so that those who do not yet know the Lord may come to know Him through our loving hearts and good deeds! Amen!

Show care and help everyone, Do good and avoid evil as God's Word instructs! Greet and visit with warmth and cheer, Through God's love our hearts are bound together!

Ngoc-Huynh-Bich

Reference materials: Every Woman in The Bible by Sue and Larry Richards "Women in the Bible - Dorcas-Tabitha"

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