Acts 9:37
in Acts 9At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 9
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Whom, when they had washed - Among most people it has been customary to wash the body before it is buried or burned. They prepared her in the usual manner for interment. In an upper chamber - See the notes on Act 1:13. There is no evidence that they expected that Peter would raise her up to life.
This site's exposition
a disciple named Tabitha
on Acts 9:36-38
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, called Dorcas in Greek. Luke introduces her by her deeds alone: she was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
This site's exposition
her body was washed
Washing the body before burial was a widespread custom, and Albert Barnes notes that nothing shows the disciples expected Peter to raise her. Her good works did not spare her from death.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
And having washed her, they did all the things that are done for the dead. [CHRYSOSTOM]
The Medieval Church3 voices
And it happened that in those days she became sick and died. For when the saints, through the frailty of mortal nature, commit some wrong, they fall, as it were, into sudden infirmity in the days of their good works. But when they immediately take …
After they washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. And other things, which are narrated about Peter's summoning and the showing of Dorcas's alms.
"It happened in those days that she fell ill and died. They washed her and laid her in an upper room." That is, they did everything that was proper to do for the deceased.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
In other respects he was well enough, as touching the righteousness which is of the law, blameless, a man of no ill morals, but a blasphemer of Christ, a persecutor of Christians, and injurious to both, 1 Tim. i. And so ill informed was his conscience that he thought he ought to do what he did against the name of Christ ( ch. xxvi.
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3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And it came to pass in those days,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Doubtless the interpretation, as here given, is but an echo of the remarks made by the Christians regarding her--how well her character answered to her name. full of good works and alms-deeds--eminent for the activities and generosities of the Christian character.
She was sick, and died - Even her holiness and usefulness could not prevent her from sickness and death. Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return, is a decree that must be fulfilled, even on the saints; for the body is dead, sentenced to death, because of sin, though the spirit be life because of righteousness. Whom when they had washed - Having the fullest proof that she was dead, they prepared for her interment. In most nations of the world it was customary to wash their dead before they buried them, and before they laid them out to lie in state, as Homer tells us was the case with the body of Patroclus: - Ὡς εἱπων, ἑταροισιν εκεκλετο διος Αχιλλευς, Αμφι πυρι Ϛησαι τριποδα μεγαν, οφρα ταχιϚα Πατροκλον λουσειαν - Και τοτε δη λουσαν τε, και ηλειψαν λιπ’ ελαιῳ - Iliad xviii. 343. “So saying, he bade his train surround with fire A tripod huge, that they might quickly cleanse Patroclus from all stains of clotted gore. They on the blazing hearth a tripod placed, Infused the water, thrust dry wood beneath, And soon the flames, encompassing around Its ample belly, warm’d the flood within. Soon as the water in the singing brass Simmer’d, they bathed him, and with limpid oil Anointed. They stretch’d him on his bed, then cover’d him From head to feet with linen texture light, And with a wide unsullied mantle last.” Cowper. The waking or watching of the dead was also practised among the ancient Greeks, as we learn from a preceding paragraph, where Achilles, addressing his dead friend Patroclus, tells him: - Τοφρα δε μοι παρα νηυσι κορωνισι κεισεαι αὑτως· Αμφι δε σε Τρωαι και Δαρδανιδες βαθυκολποι Κλαυσονται, νυκτας τε και ηματα δακρυχεουσαι Il. xviii. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐγένετο | egeneto | It came to pass | G1096 → | 667 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ταῖς | tais | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμέραις | hemerais | days | G2250 → | 389 times |
| ἐκείναις | ekeinais | those | G1565 → | 260 times |
| ἀσθενήσασαν | asthenesasan | [that] having become sick | G770 → | 33 times |
| αὐτὴν | auten | she | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀποθανεῖν· | apothanein | to die; | G599 → | 110 times |
| λούσαντες | lousantes | Having washed [her] | G3068 → | |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἔθηκαν | ethekan | put [her] | G5087 → | 100 times |
| αὐτὴν | auten | they | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑπερῴῳ. | huperoo | an upper room. | G5253 → | 4 times |
ἐγένετοIt came to pass
egenetoG1096 →667 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ταῖςthe
taisG3588 →19766 times
ἡμέραιςdays
hemeraisG2250 →389 times
ἐκείναιςthose
ekeinaisG1565 →260 times
ἀσθενήσασαν[that] having become sick
asthenesasanG770 →33 times
αὐτὴνshe
autenG846 →5565 times
ἀποθανεῖν·to die;
apothaneinG599 →110 times
λούσαντεςHaving washed [her]
lousantesG3068 →
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ἔθηκανput [her]
ethekanG5087 →100 times
αὐτὴνthey
autenG846 →5565 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑπερῴῳ.an upper room.
huperooG5253 →4 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 1:13When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas…
it leads to
- Luke 22:12
And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 20:8
Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
- Mark 14:15
And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
- Matthew 10:2–4
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
- Mark 2:14
As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
- Luke 22:12
Through
Acts 20:8Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
it leads to
- Acts 1:13
When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas…
- Acts 1:13
Through
Acts 9:39So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that…
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 4:28
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.