Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/816

 make thy  bed!”  Immediately  he  arose. Seeing this  great  miracle, all the  inhabitants  of  Lydda  were  converted  to  the  Lord.

While Peter  remained  at  Lydda,  he  was  sent  for  in  haste by some  of  the  disciples  in Joppe,  not  far  distant ,  because  a certain holy woman,  named  Tabitha,  had  just  died  there.

Peter, rising  quickly,  went  to  Joppe. They brought  him  to an  upper  chamber,  where  Tabitha  lay  dead. Many poor  widows stood around  weeping,  and  showed  him  the  garments  which Tabitha had  made  for  them. Peter was  touched  at  the  sight, and, ordering  all  to  leave  the  room,  he  knelt  down  and  prayed. Then, turning  to  the  corpse,  he  said:  “Tabitha,  arise!”  She opened her  eyes,  and  when  she  saw  Peter,  sat  up. The fame  of this  miracle  converted  very  many  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.

And Peter  “abode  many  days  in  Joppe”,  instructing  those who were  newly  converted,  and  confirming  them  in  their  faith.

The meaning  of  "the  Church". When  the  disciples  fled  from  Jerusalem on  account  of  the  persecution  there,  they  proclaimed  the  Christian faith in  many  towns  in  Judaea,  Galilee,  and  Samaria,  and  thus  Christian communities sprang  up  in  these  towns. Now, in  the  story  we  have  just been reading,  it  is  said  (Acts  9,  31):  “The  Church  had  peace  throughout all Judaea,  and  Galilee,  and  Samaria.”  What  is  here  meant  by  the  word “Church”? Simply, all  the  Christian  communities  united  under  one Head. All Christian  communities  form  together  one  great  community, or communion,  i.  e.  the  Church.