Sunday Morning Bible Study: Peter and miracles

Healing and New Life in the Early Church Acts 9:32–43

“This is the first in a new series of Sunday Morning Bible Studies. I hope to encourage you with the same Scriptures my own group studies together each week here at Riverside Presbyterian House. If there isn't such a group near you, start one!

– The Church Expands Through Peter’s Ministry

Please read the text through. We each read one verse and go around until we have reached the end, and then ask for observation or questions. Here is a summary of these verses.

1. Peter Heals Aeneas (vv. 32–35)

• Peter* (1 BC - 67 AD}travels to Lydda and heals a paralyzed man named Aeneas.

• The miracle points to Christ’s continuing power at work through His apostles.

• As a result, “all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

• This shows the church expanding outward from Jerusalem into Judea, just as Jesus* (4 BC-30AD) said in Acts 1:8.

  
  

An asterisk after a name means the person is in my book SPIRITUAL LIVES.

Read more about church history in my blog: https://www.kenkalis.com/blog

Peter heals Aeneas from Palsy in the Name of Jesus

2. Peter Raises Tabitha (Dorcas) (vv. 36–43)

• In Joppa, Peter is called to the home of a beloved disciple, Tabitha, who had died.

• She is described as “full of good works and charity,” a model of Christian service.

• Peter prays and, in Jesus’ name, raises her from the dead.

• This miracle echoes Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:49–56), showing Christ’s same authority is still active.

• The result: “many believed in the Lord.”

Peter raises Tabitha from the dead. Edouard Didron, Périgueux.

3. Theological Significance

• These miracles prepare the way for Acts 10, where Peter will receive the vision leading to Gentile inclusion (Cornelius).

• The emphasis is: the church is not just a movement of words and teaching but of resurrection power.

• It also shows the church’s foundation includes both apostolic witness and ordinary disciples like Tabitha, whose faith and service are part of God’s plan.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do these two miracles teach us about how the church was founded and expanded?

2. How do both apostolic authority and ordinary discipleship contribute to the growth of the church?

3. Where do you see God using both miracles and ordinary service in the church today?

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Lena Dudas taught our Sunday school class in 1949 at Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in Elizabeth, N.J.

“Everybody ought to go to Sunday School,

Sunday School, Sunday School

The men, the women,

The boys and the girls,

Everybody ought to go to Sunday School.”

I have been teaching Sunday school for 50 years. My Dad, Rudolp[h Kalis*, (1901-1975] said "Being a Sunday school teacher is the most important job in the world."

That was true in 1949 and is still true today:

Here is the 6 reasons why Sunday school is important:

Builds a strong spiritual foundation.

Encourages consistent Bible learning.

Builds lifelong friendships.

Teaches important life values.

Prepares the next generation of church leaders.

Makes church personal and relatable.

May 1, 2025

Source: https://coursepivot.com/blog/6-reasons-why-sunday-school-is-important/