(9:31-35)

Upon the conversion of the main furious persecutor of Christians, the persecution subsided and the Christian Churches in Palestine "were at peace." They were "edified" by succeeding in Christian perfection, leading a God-fearing life. The highest consolation for the faithful was, of course, those extraordinary actions of the Spirit of God that were performed through the Apostles. Two of these actions are narrated further by the Writer.

"It happened that Peter, going round about all" – from this it is evident that the Apostles had the custom of visiting believers, no doubt in order to confirm them in the faith, to resolve their questions, etc. "He also came to the saints" – "saints" are called Christians, as sanctified by the grace of God. "Living in Lydda" is a small town near the Mediterranean Sea, near Joppa, northwest of Jerusalem. There Peter heals the paralytic Aeneas, judging by his name, a Greek and hardly a Christian, because he is simply called "a certain man." Characteristically, Peter does not ask him about faith in the Lord Jesus, either foreseeing his faith with his spiritual gaze or hoping to stir it up by the very fact of healing. This miracle served as a pretext for the conversion to Christ of the inhabitants of the Sharon Plain, a fertile and densely populated strip of land from Caesarea Straton to Joppa.

The Resurrection of Tabitha

(9:35-43)

Then Peter goes to Joppa, which is now called Jaffa, an ancient city lying on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea northwest of Jerusalem, and there he resurrects a "disciple," that is, a Christian Tabitha, apparently a widow, judging by her benefactions mainly to widows. Tabitha means "chamois"; As a proper female name, it is often found among both Greeks and Jews. The chamois, due to its beautiful appearance, graceful movements and beautiful eyes, was considered by the Jews and other Eastern peoples to be a symbol of female beauty, and therefore became a woman's own name, like a man's name - Lion.

The deceased was laid "in the upper room" – the upper room of the house, which usually served for prayer. The whole Christian community was saddened by the death of such a benefactor of the poor as Tabitha, and therefore they sent to Peter, asking him to come immediately.

"Peter sent them all away" — so that, without being embarrassed by any external impressions, he could devote himself to prayer. Peter resurrected the deceased with the words: "Tabitha! get up..." This miracle, of course, made many believe in the Lord. Peter, on the other hand, stayed "quite a few days" with a certain Simon the tanner, probably a Christian. This trade was considered unclean by the rabbis, but St. Peter, of course, was above such prejudices.

Chapter Ten

Conversion to Christ by Cornelius the centurion

(10:1-48)

While Peter was in Joppa, the Spirit of God called him to begin the greatest work of spreading the Christian Faith among the Gentiles.

The first city in which the conversion of the pagans to Christ took place was the already known Caesarea of Palestine, or Straton, a city that was the residence of the Roman procurator, in which there was therefore a garrison of native Romans, who, of course, were more reliable than the troops recruited from the natives. In this regiment, which therefore bore the name of the Italian regiment, there was a centurion named Cornelius. From the further narration it is clear that he was not even a proselyte, but an ordinary pagan, distinguished only by a good religious and moral disposition. Characteristically, none other than the chief Apostle Peter himself was called to this matter of primary importance, the conversion of the first pagan, although Philip the evangelist lived in Caesarea.

From the words of the Writer of Acts we can conclude that Cornelius was aware of the falsehood of paganism and revered the true God. He expressed his reverence for God by good deeds, and in the good rules of faith and life he kept his entire house. From v. 30 it is clear that Cornelius even observed the hours of prayer customary among the Jews. And while he was praying, an angel appeared to him, who commanded him to send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter: "He will tell you the words by which you and all your household will be saved," that is, he will teach you a doctrine, by believing which you and all your household will receive salvation. Cornelius immediately fulfilled the command of the angel, sending two of his servants and a pious soldier to Joppa, telling them everything so that they could induce Peter to come to him, considering it unseemly to call him themselves by virtue of their authority. From Caesarea to Joppa was about 40-45 versts. For this reason, those sent by Cornelius after the 9th hour, after three o'clock in the afternoon, could not come to Joppa until the next day at noon. It was at this time, about 6 o'clock, that Peter ascended, according to custom, to the flat roof of the house to pray. There he felt hunger, and he was attacked by a "frenzy", in Greek "ecstasis" – a state when a person is as if beside himself.