Tabitha The Disciple
Begin in silence…
Close your eyes and sit quietly for a few moments before beginning today’s session. Breathe in and out deeply.
Set the scene…
Today’s story is set in Joppa, an ancient Mediterranean city on the coast of Palestine, which is now the city of Jaffa. There, we meet a woman named Tabitha (or Dorcas in Greek) who cares for the poor and many widows in the area. In Acts, Luke calls her “mathētria,” which in Greek means “female disciple,” likely noting her leadership in a local house church.
Sadly, she becomes ill and dies—a tremendous loss for her community. The apostle Peter is in Lydda, about ten miles away, where he has just healed a paralyzed man. He urgently leaves for Joppa but by the time he arrives, Tabitha’s body has been prepared for burial.