Acts 9:37
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
The verse concerns Tabitha, also called Dorcas by interpretation, lying dead at Joppa near Lydda. In those days she became sick, or ill, and died, and after her body was washed it was laid in an upper room, or upper chamber. She was a worthy and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ whose life was filled with acts of kindness and deeds of charity and kindness to the poor and sorrowful and with zeal for the cause of truth, greatly beloved and greatly benefiting the infant early church. She freely ministered to the wants of the poor and the sorrowful, knowing who needed comfortable clothing and who needed sympathy, with skilful fingers more active than her tongue as a seamstress working with her hands more than with her words.
Her death was a great loss that the infant church could hardly spare and could not well spare, bringing deep grief and mourning and lamentation with warm tear-drops falling upon the inanimate clay, so that the believers realizing their loss sent for Peter. Peter prayed and by the power of God she was brought back from the land of the enemy and restored to life and health, that her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others and continue serving others, strengthening the work of Christ, and this miracle led many in Joppa to believe in Jesus. She is the pattern for the Dorcas line of practical charitable work which continues as long as time shall last with work still to be done without end, calling for the spending of strength and money even when there is very little to show for it. Her faithfulness is an example of patient, prayerful and persevering fidelity needed in the church and the Sabbath school and society.