Peter’s miracles in Acts 9 showcase the power of the Holy Spirit at work within the early church. Though the people who witnessed and heard of these healings and resurrections were amazed and intrigued, Peter did not perform them to wow the crowd or to even illustrate his own strength. Rather, he met people’s needs as a means of demonstrating God’s power at work, that more may come to saving faith in Jesus and truly believe Him to be Messiah and Lord. 

What was the significance of the restoration of Aeneas and the revival of Dorcas? What did these events reveal about Christ’s saving power through the faith of Peter? 

Both instances of Peter’s miraculous acts were evidence of Christ’s power to heal despite the impossible circumstances. While Christ's power through Peter brought physical healing to the man in Lydda, it also brought spiritual healing to the people in Lydda and Sharon as they turned to the Lord. Similarly, Dorcas' resurrection was used by God to draw many people to faith in Christ––the One who holds power over the grave. 

These miracles performed by Peter point to the reality of Jesus’ power and to the proof that He is still alive within His followers. The usual patterns of sickness and death were not the final endings for Aeneas and Dorcas; rather, they were the work of the Lord’s restoration and redemption—pointing to the reality that everlasting life is ours through the power of Jesus. And through these events, we are encouraged to remember the hope we have in Christ, who is making all things new. 

As you talk with your kids this week, remember that you, too, get to share the good news of hope and healing to the next generation of young disciples. Just as Peter “called the saints and widows and presented [Dorcas] alive,” so, too, are you proclaiming the gift of everlasting life you have in Jesus.