A number of subsidiary themes emerge in this reading from Acts, and we probably should take note of them, although they do not form the main thrust of the text.

 We have here a brief story of a Hebrew woman given the Aramaic name of Tabitha, which means "gazelle," or called Dorcas in the Greek. This is the only mention that we have of Dorcas in the scripture, but over the centuries, her reputation as a person of good works and charity toward the poor has been preserved. It is now not unusual to find "Dorcas societies" in some local churches made up of women dedicated to similar good deeds. Dorcas' service in the cause of Christ has lasted far beyond her own lifetime.

 Dorcas, in our text, falls ill and dies, leaving behind her a whole group of poor widows to whom she has ministered and for whom she has provided clothing and support. Widows in Israel were among the destitute, having no one to protect them or to furnish them the necessities of life. Thus, there are repeated admonitions in the Old Testament to show mercy toward widows, orphans, and strangers, and Dorcas is an example of that mercy.

 But now Dorcas is dead, and the poor widows, whom she has helped, weep in grief, not knowing what will become of them or to whom to turn. Their grief is overcome with joy when Peter raises Dorcas from the dead and presents her alive to the bystanders and church in Joppa. The result is that many in Joppa, who do not belong to the church there, are converted to faith in the Lord. Once again, Luke, the writer of Acts, is presenting us with the on-going power of the Spirit that is rapidly converting the Mediterranean world.

 One of the subsidiary themes of the text is certainly Peter's willingness to leave Lydda and immediately to accompany the two men to Joppa to the upper room where the body of Dorcas has been washed and prepared for burial. Joppa is located at about the midpoint of the sea coast of Palestine. Lydda is some ten miles inland, and the journey between them was probably made on foot. But Peter showed no hesitation in going.

 I have known of pastors who have been reluctant to go immediately to the side of someone who has lost a loved one or to show up at a hospital when a parishioner is going to undergo surgery. And some deacons, elders, laity only reluctantly minister personally to someone in need or in an emergency. But Peter goes immediately when he is summoned. What the Christians in Joppa expected of him is not told us. But they obviously thought he could do something to aid in the situation.

 What Peter actually does, of course, is totally astounding. Like Elisha in the Old Testament (2 Kings 4:32-35) and like Jesus in the Gospel according to John (John 11:38-44), Peter raises Dorcas from the dead. It is not our role as preachers and hearers of the Word of God to question or doubt the event. We are not to make up fanciful theories, supposing that Dorcas was not really dead but in a coma. Nor are we to take the account as a pious exaggeration. No. The story is simply there, and Luke expects us to accept it as an actual event.

 Indeed, in Matthew, Jesus tells the twelve disciples that they will be able to do such deeds. When he sends the Twelve out on a mission to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," our Lord tells them, "Preach as you go, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,' " and then he commands, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons" (Matthew 10:7-8). Jesus fully expects his disciples to be able to do such things. It is not up to us to ridicule his expectation.

 Another subsidiary theme is the place of good works and charity in the life of the church. Dorcas is a model of Christian service, and her enduring reputation is justly earned. But of course we do not do good deeds and minister to the poor and help the needy to earn a reputation, do we? Some persons do, of course. They minister to others because it will bring glory to themselves. Our Lord would say, as he said to those who ostentatiously practice their piety, "Truly, I say to you, they have their reward" (Matthew 6:2), namely, the admiration of their fellows.

 But it is God's reward that has any worth at all, and we do not earn that reward by our good works. Rather, his gifts to us of his forgiveness and eternal life are gifts solely of his grace and mercy. We do not earn our salvation. As Jesus taught, when we have done all that is commanded us by God, nevertheless, we are still unworthy servants; we have only done what is our duty (Luke 17:10). None of us earns our way into heaven. God gives us heaven simply out of his overflowing love.

 But what, finally, is the main point of this passage from Acts? It is that Peter's healing of Dorcas shows forth the power of the Kingdom of God that has come near to us in Jesus Christ. We note in the story that Peter does not have such power in himself. Before he raises Dorcas from death, Peter kneels down and prays. He does not have any ability in himself to defeat the power of death. Jesus said as much when he sent those twelve disciples out on that mission in Matthew that I mentioned. He told them first of all, "Preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of Heaven is at hand' " (Matthew 10:7).

 The Kingdom of God has drawn near to us in the person of our Lord -- the kingdom with all its power for good and its eternal life. In our Gospel lesson, Jesus tells us that he gives his sheep his eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of his hand (John 10:28). It is by that power, and that power alone, that Peter is able to raise Dorcas.

 In this text, we have a foretaste of that heavenly scene in our Epistle lesson in Revelation, when those who have died for the sake of the gospel are with Christ, the Lamb of God. And they participate in springs of living water, and God wipes every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:17). And as Revelation later says, death is no more, and mourning and crying and pain have passed away, for the Kingdom of God has come to earth (Revelation 21:4).

 So our text for the morning is promissory, you see. You and I, no matter how strong our faith, cannot raise the dead as Peter did. Peter works within the circle of that power that has been lent to the twelve disciples by the risen Christ. And Peter's resurrection of Dorcas is an exhibition of that power. But Peter's act in Christ is also a promise to us -- that such is the kingdom toward which we journey, when death shall be no more. God in our Lord Jesus Christ defeated the powers of death on Easter morn, and to all who trust him, he will give the gift of everlasting life with God.