“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.”
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, translated, is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.—Tabitha/Dorcas ('gazelle' in both Aramaic and Greek) is the only female disciple granted major narrative attention in Acts; her deeds of mercy define her discipleship. The bilingual naming (Aramaic and Greek) suggests either her mixed cultural background or the early church's code-switching. Her works of charity (erga agathā, 'good works') embody James's definition of religion: caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27).
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a note on this verse
0/2000
No notes on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!