THE KING’S BUSINESS
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it closed differently from all other days because on that day he met a man who really knew Jesus Christ and who brought the mighty power o f Jesus Christ into h,s life. How many a day has brought a com plete change into the lives o f men because they met some one who really knew Jesus Christ and who brought the mighty power of Jesus Christ into their lives. No doubt Peter had met with many afflicted ones in his journeys from place to place, but God had not spoken the word to. him to bid these afflicted ones be healed and so he had not spoken it to them. But now God did speak it to Peter’s ever-listening ear,- and with unhesitating v faith “ Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.” Wonderful words, words that might be spoken to many a palsied man today, palsied not rnerely in body, but far saader'still, palsied in soul. Jesus Christ can make the palsied whole if men will only put their trust in Him. Peter’s pity for this unfortunate man .was not of the merely sentimental kind, but of the real, active kind. He saw the man’s dire need, he knew" One who could help, him and he brought the two together. Doubtless Peter recalled a day when he was with the Lopd Jesus himself when He was here upon earth, and Who, when He saw a man who had an infirmity thirty-eight years had bid den. him arise, take up his bed and walk (John 5:5-8). And Peter, being an apt scholar, at onc& did as he had seen and heard the Lord do(. see also v. 40, compare with Luke 8:54). W e do well to note how Peter keeps himself completely in the background. He fixed the- attention of Aeneas on Jesus Christ, not on himself. It is also worthy o f note how perfect was Peter’s confidence in the mighty power of Jesus Christ, he did not have a moment’s question that Jesus Christ could and would make Aeneas whole. He saw very clearly that he himself was only an instrument, and he saw with equal clearness that Jesus Christ could and would use even him. On Aeneas’ part, we see a faith that responds instantly to the word o f power, he immedi ately arises.
v. 35. "And all that dwelt at Lydda, and Saron ( Sharon ) saw him, and (add, they) turned to the Lord” The miracle simply opened the way for the preaching of- the W ord and thus led to the conver sion o f the whole community. There is a wide gulf between Peter and modern so- 'called “ healers:” with Peter the healing was largely a means to an end rather than with these modern healers an end in itself. There is nothing more convincing to most men, of the power o f Jesus Christ than an ocular demonstration o f that power. If we were, in our own lives, more perfect manifestations o f the power o f Christ there would be more people turning to the Lord today. Let us see to it then that we are more perfect manifestations in' our own lives, o f the power o f Christ to make men' whole: v. 36. “Now there was at Joppa, a cer tain disciple, named Tabilha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full o f good works, and almsdeeds, which she did." 1Joppa was no insignificant town, within it were people of wealth and influence. But none o f their names have come down to us. The only person in that whole place whose name has come down to us through the centuries is the name of an humble woman. Few names shine more brightly on the page o f history than hers, and the story o f her life so briefly and so graphically recorded here'" has been an inspiration to many. Why? Simply because “ This woman was' full o f good works, and almsdeeds)-which she did.”’ That is real greatness, and that form o f great ness is open to all. It is to be noted first of all that she was “ full” o f these good works and almsdeeds: good works and almsdeeds were not with her an occasional thing, they were her constant practice, the things that occupied her entire time. According to our Lord’s own definition of discipleship, she was a disciple indeed (see John 15:8; cf. also.Jas. 1:27; 1 John 3:14, 16, 17; Titus 2:14; 3:8'; Col. 1:10), Fur thermore, she was not full o f good works which she intended to do, but full o f good works “which she did.” So many o f us
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