Lives of the apostles of Jesus ChristBacon, David Francis
Religion
Lives of the apostles of Jesus Christ
Bacon, David Francis
Apostles
though the stones to be seen in the modern buildings show that
it has been a place of great consequence.
The New Testament name _Lydda_, (Λυδδα,) by which Josephus also
mentions it, is only so much changed from the Hebrew _Ludh_,
as was necessary to accommodate it to the regular forms and
inflexions of the Greek language. Lightfoot well refutes the
blunder of many modern geographers who make the two names refer
to different places. This learned author is remarkably full in
the description of this place, and is very rich in references
to the numerous allusions which are made to it in the Talmudic
writings. See his _Centuria Chorographica_, (Chapter 16,)
prefixed to Horae Hebraica et Talmudicae in Matthew.
_Aeneas._――This name is unquestionably Greek, which seems to
show the man to have been a Hellenist; and that he was already
a believer in Christ, would appear from the fact of Peter’s
finding him among the brethren there.
THE VISIT TO JOPPA.
Hardly had this instance of divine favor occurred in Lydda, when a
new occasion for a similar effort presented itself, in the neighboring
seaport town of Joppa. A female disciple of the faith of Christ,
in that city, by name Tabitha, or in the Greek, Dorcas, (both names
meaning Gazelle,) had distinguished herself and honored her religious
profession, by the generous and charitable deeds which constantly
employed her hands. This lady, so respected by all, and so loved by the
poor, who gave witness to her goodness,――such an honor to the religious
community which she had joined,――seemed to have so nobly done her part
in life, that the order of Providence had apparently called her to rest
from these labors, in that sleep from which no piety nor usefulness can
save or recall their possessor. After a few days of illness, she died,
and was, after the usual funeral ablutions, laid in an upper chamber,
to await the burial. In the midst of the universal grief for this
sad loss, the members of the church at Joppa, knowing that Peter was
in Lydda, within a few hours’ journey, sent two messengers to him, to
beg his presence among them, as some consolation in their distress.
Peter, on hearing of this occasion for his presence, with great
readiness accompanied the messengers back, and on arriving at Joppa,
went straight to the house of mourning. He was immediately led into
the chamber, where he found a most affecting testimony to the nature of
the loss which the afflicted community had suffered. Around the dead,
stood the widows who, in their friendlessness, had been relieved by
the sympathy of Dorcas, now pouring their tears and uttering their
lamentations over her, and showing that even the garments which they
wore were the work of her industrious hand,――that hand which, once
so untiring in these labors of love, was now cold and motionless in
death. From that resistless doom, what mortal voice could ever recall
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