Naravist

Person in the New Testament

Tabitha

Tabitha: the disciple at Joppa whom Peter raised

Portrait of Tabitha. An AI-generated artistic interpretation, not a historical likeness.

Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Tabitha looked.

Who Tabitha is

Tabitha is introduced at Acts 9:36 as a certain disciple at Joppa, with her name given again by interpretation as Dorcas, and described as full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. She falls sick and dies, and those who wash her lay her in an upper chamber. Because Lydda is near Joppa and the disciples have heard that Peter is there, they send two men asking him not to delay. Peter comes and is brought up to the chamber, where all the widows stand by him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. Peter puts them all out, kneels down and prays, then turns to the body and says, Tabitha, arise. She opens her eyes, and when she sees Peter she sits up. He gives her his hand, lifts her up, calls the saints and widows, and presents her alive. The narrator says this became known throughout all Joppa and that many believed in the Lord, and that Peter stayed many days in the city with one Simon a tanner.

Cited passages: Acts 9:36, Acts 9:37, Acts 9:38, Acts 9:39, Acts 9:40, Acts 9:41, Acts 9:42, Acts 9:43

Historical setting

Everything the text says about Tabitha stands in eight verses. She is called a disciple, and her two names are given with the note that Tabitha by interpretation is called Dorcas. No parents, husband, children, age or trade are named, and she speaks no word in the account. Her work is summarized by the narrator as good works and almsdeeds which she did, and the only physical evidence the scene produces is the coats and garments the widows show, which the text says Dorcas made while she was with them; it does not say the widows were the ones she made them for. The cause of her illness is not given, and no interval is stated between her death and Peter's arrival beyond the note that Lydda was nigh to Joppa. Nothing more is said about her after she is presented alive.

Cited passages: Acts 9:36, Acts 9:37, Acts 9:38, Acts 9:39, Acts 9:41, Acts 9:42

How the story is told

The account describes Tabitha before it does anything with her, so the reader meets a summary of her work rather than a scene. What the widows hold up takes the place of speech, since she has none: they stand weeping and shew the coats and garments which Dorcas made. The raising is told in short steps that match the healing of Eneas a few verses earlier, a spoken command and an immediate result, arise, and make thy bed answered by and he arose immediately, and Tabitha, arise answered by and she opened her eyes. Peter puts everyone out before praying and then calls them back in to present her. The scene ends by moving the narrative on, leaving Peter at Joppa in the house of a tanner.

Cited passages: Acts 9:36, Acts 9:39, Acts 9:34, Acts 9:40, Acts 9:41, Acts 9:43

Story moments

  1. Full of good works (Acts 9:36). The narrator introduces Tabitha at Joppa, giving both her names and describing her almsdeeds.
  2. Laid in an upper chamber (Acts 9:37). She falls sick and dies, and is washed and laid upstairs.
  3. Two men sent for Peter (Acts 9:38). The disciples at Joppa send to nearby Lydda asking Peter to come without delay.
  4. The widows show her work (Acts 9:39). The widows stand weeping and hold up the coats and garments Dorcas made.
  5. Tabitha, arise (Acts 9:40). Peter prays alone in the room, speaks to her, and she opens her eyes and sits up.
  6. Presented alive (Acts 9:41). Peter lifts her by the hand and calls the saints and widows in to see her.

Key passages

Acts 9:36

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Acts 9:39

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

Acts 9:40

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

King James Version. 3 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

Everything you learn about Tabitha comes from the narrator's summary and from clothing other people hold up. What does that way of telling let you know about her, and what does it keep out of reach?

Books Tabitha appears in

Related people

Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.