4th Sunday of Pascha
Sunday of the Paralytic
Acts 9:32-42
A reading - from the Acts of the Holy Apostles
Brothers and sisters: In those days, when Peter was making numerous journeys, he went - among other places - to God’s holy people living in | Lyd | da (Lid-a).
There he found a man named Aeneas (I-nee-as), a paralytic who had been benridden for | eight | years.
Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you! Get up and make your bed.” The man got up | at | once.
All the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon, upon seeing him, were converted to | the | Lord.
Now in Joppa there was a certain woman convert nabed Tabitha (Tab-i-tha) (in Greek Dorcas (Dor-kas), mea | ning | ga | zelle).
Her life was marked by constant good deeds and acts of charity. At about that time she fell ill | and | died.
They washed her body and laid it out in an up | stairs | room.
Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples who had heard that Peter was there sent two men to him with the urgent request, “Please come over to us with | out | de | lay.”
Peter set out with them as they asked. Upon his arrival they took him upstairs to | the | room.
All the widows came to him in tears and showed him the various garments Dorcas had made when she was still | with | them.
Peter first made everyone go outside; then he knelt down and prayed. Turning to the dead body, he said “Tabitha, | stand | up.”
She opened her eyes, then looked at Peter and sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her to | her | feet.
The next thing he did was to call in those who were believers, and the widows to show them all that she was | al | ive.
This became known all over Joppa, and because of it, many came to believe - in - the - Lord.