Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 9:38
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring [him] that he would not delay to come to them.
38. desiring him that he would not delay to come to them ] The best MSS. give a more graphic form to the sentence by the use of the direct entreaty. Read, “intreating him, Delay not to come on to us.” It is as though their supplication were “We have heard of the mighty works which Jesus has wrought by thy hands; extend thy journey to us, for we are in great need.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Was neigh to Joppa – See the notes on Act 9:32.
They sent unto him … – Why they sent is not affirmed. It is probable that they desired his presence to comfort and sustain them in their affliction. It is certainly possible that they expected he would restore her to life; but as this is not mentioned; as the apostles had as yet raised up no one from the dead; as even Stephen had not been restored to life, we have no authority for assuming, or supposing, that they had formed any such expectation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 38. Sent unto him – desiring – that he would not delay to come] Tabitha died at Joppa, and Peter was at Lydda, about four leagues distant. But why did they send for Peter? We cannot tell. It is not likely that they had any expectation that he should raise her from the dead; for none of the apostles had as yet raised any; and if God did not choose to restore Stephen to life, this favour could not be reasonably expected in behalf of inferior persons. However, they might hope that he who cured Eneas at Lydda might cure Dorcas; for it is probable that they had sent for Peter before she died; and in this sense we might understand the of the text.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They sent for Peter, that he might come to comfort those that were concerned in the great loss of so good a woman, and, it may be, not without some hopes of her recovery by a miracle from St. Peter; which is the likelier, because they so much hasten his coming to them, she being already dead, and they preparing for her burial.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
38. the disciples sent untoPetershowing that the disciples generally did not possessmiraculous gifts [BENGEL].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa,…. Some say it was six miles distant, but it must be eight; since from Jerusalem to Joppa were forty miles, and from Jerusalem to Lydda thirty two, and therefore it must be eight miles from thence to Joppa:
and the disciples had heard that Peter was there; and also no doubt that he had healed Aeneas of his palsy, and which might induce them to do as follows:
they sent unto him two men; very likely of their own company or church; for it is certain here were disciples or believers in Christ, and very likely were formed into a church state; these seem to be converts under Philip’s ministry, who when he went from Azotus, preached in all the cities, and so in Joppa, till he came to Caesarea, Ac 8:40 though we read nothing in ecclesiastical history of this church at Joppa, until the fifth century, when it appears there was a church in that place n; and in the same century we read of Fidus bishop of Joppa, that was present in the synod held at Ephesus, anno 431 and in the sixth century of Elias bishop of the same place, in the council at Jerusalem, anno 536 o and in the same century a bishop of the church here assisted in the synod of Rome and Constantinople p.
desiring him, that he would not delay to come to them; they entreated he would not refuse to come, and think it too great a burden on him, or make any difficulty about it, or show any aversion to it; but that he would with all readiness and cheerfulness, and without delay immediately come unto them; for the case they wanted him for required speed and haste.
n Magdeburg. Hist. Eccles. cent. 5. c. 2. p. 2. o Reland. Palestina Illustrata, l. 3. p. 867. p Magdeburg. ib. cent. 6. c. 2. p. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Delay not ( ). Ingressive aorist active subjunctive in prohibition. Direct discourse and not indirect as late MSS. have (aorist active infinitive, ). Possibly the two messengers started before Dorcas was quite dead, though we do not know. Peter had recently healed Aeneas and the disciples may have had faith enough to believe that he could raise the dead by the power of Christ. W. M. Ramsay doubts if Dorcas was really dead, but why see legends in these supernatural events?
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
That he would not delay [ ] . The best texts read ojknhshv, putting the request in the form of a direct address, Delay not. To come [] . Lit., to come through. Rev., come on.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa,” (engus de ouses Luddas te loppa) “Now Lydda was located very near to Joppa,” about ten or twelve miles to the southeast.
2) “And the disciples had heard that Peter was there,” (hoi mathetai akousantes hoti Petros estin en aute) “And when the disciples (of Joppa) had heard that Peter was in it,” was in Lydda, where he had recently healed Aeneas of palsy, Act 9:34-35.
3) “They sent unto him two men,” (apesteilan duo andras pros auton) “They commissioned two responsible men to him,” calling him to come to their company for this hour of grief and loss, for consolation perhaps, rather than a miracle, Pro 17:17.
4) “Desiring him that he would not delay to come to them,” (parakalountes me okneses dielthein heos hemon) “Earnestly appealing to him not to delay or hesitate to come to them,” to their aid, their help, to their consolation, 2Co 1:3-4; 2Co 5:1.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
38. The disciples, which had heard, The washing of the corpse showeth that the disciples knew not what would come to pass, for by this means they make the corpse ready to be buried. Yet this is some token of hope, that they lay her in an upper chamber, and send to Peter. Furthermore, they murmur not against God, neither do they cry out that it is an unmeet thing; but they humbly crave God’s help, not that they will make Tabitha immortal, but their only desire is to have her life prolonged for a time, that she may yet profit the Church.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(38) Desiring him that he would not delay.The better MSS. give the message somewhat more dramatically, Delay not, and Be not reluctant to come. It was, of course, necessary that he should come at once, as interment would have come, as a matter of course, on the following day.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
38. Disciples sent two men The Christian love of all for the departed Gazelle is unanimous in the prayer that she may return to life. There is a blessed faith in the existence of a truly present resurrection power. The chiefest of apostles, the wonderful first disciple of Jesus, is but nine miles distant. Perhaps he can restore to us even our beloved dead.
Would not delay They do not expressly utter the request for a miracle. Only they hope he will not delay; just as if the soul might soon go too far to hear and return.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, begging him, “Do not delay from coming to us.”
So when the followers of Christ in Joppa learned that Peter was at Lydda, they sent two men to him urgently pleading with him to come to them at Joppa. They were confident that he could raise her from the dead. We can compare with this how Cornelius, when he hears from an angel that Peter is at Joppa, similarly sends two men with equally urgent pleading. What is about to happen in Joppa will be multiplied in the household of Cornelius. Those who are dead will live.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 9:38. Desiring him that he would not delay, &c. We can hardly imagine that they urged his coming merely to comfort them under this loss: but if they had any view to what followed, it was a remarkable instance of faith, as it does not appear that the apostles before this had raised any one from the dead. Were we to have been judges, perhaps we should have thought it better that Stephen should have been raised than Dorcas; but it is our happiness and duty to submit our reasonings on what we think fittest and best, to the infinitely wiser determinations of God.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Ver. 38. They sent unto him ] As loth to lose so useful a member, so dearly missed among them. Some when they die are no more missed than the sweepings of a house or the parings of the nails. But when good people die, there is a general loss and lamentation.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 9:38 . , on the form see above on Act 9:35 ; nine miles from Joppa. ; the only passage in which the oratio recta follows if we read , see critical notes; this also best represents the urgency of the message ( cf. Joh 11:3 ), as in R.V. .: “fides non tollit civilitatem verborum,” Bengel. Verb only here in N.T., cf. LXX, Num 22:16 , of Balak to Balaam, a phrase almost identically similar. , cf. Luk 2:15 , and Act 9:32 above, and below Act 11:19 . Like other compounds of very frequent in Luke, as compared with other writers (Friedrich, p. 7). : use of locally, common in St. Luke (Friedrich, p. 20); with genitive of the person as here, cf. Luk 4:42 , 1Ma 3:26 ; not so used in classical writers (Plummer).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
forasmuch as Lydda was nigh. Literally Lydda being near.
there = in (Greek. en. App-104.) it.
desiring = entreating. Greek. parakaleo. App-134.
delay. Greek. okneo. Only here.
to = as far as. Greek. heos.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Act 9:38. , the disciples) Therefore these had not the gift of miracles.-, two) on a weighty business. [They were hoping that there would happen that which actually did ensue.-V. g.]- , that he would not he loath [think it irksome]) Faith does not set aside courtesy in words, such as they here used: LXX., Num 22:16, , , I pray thee, think it not irksome to come to me.-, to come over to them) They by this word intimate, that the journey of Peter will be profitable even to others on the road [ referring to the country through which he has to pass in coming],-, even to) An argument from the ease with which he can come.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Lydda: Act 9:32, Act 9:36
desiring: 2Ki 4:28-30
delay: or, be grieved
Reciprocal: 2Ki 4:22 – I may run Luk 8:41 – and besought Joh 4:47 – that he Act 10:5 – send Act 10:23 – and certain Act 16:9 – Come
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
Act 9:38. The miraculous work of Peter had become Known to the people of Joppa. Desiring him to come could have been only in the hope of restoring Dorcas to life.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 9:38. Lydda was nigh to Joppa. About nine or ten miles was the distance of Lydda from Joopa.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 36