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Luke, the author of Acts, wanted us to know the exact truth about the things we have been taught.

Tabitha, loved because of her ministry.

• Acts 9:36 - Tabitha, a disciple, had a social ministry and she was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did
• Acts 9:37-38 - She sickened and died. The disciples were so concerned that they prepared her body, however they did not bury her, but put her in the upper room. Knowing that Peter was in a nearby city they sent two men to bring him to them.
• Acts 9:39 - Peter came immediately, was taken to the upper room where he was surrounded by widows, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
• Acts 9:40 - Peter prayed and God restored the life of Tabitha.
• Acts 9:41 - Peter called the saints and widows and presented Tabitha alive. In doing so, he restores her to her ministry.

Additional ministries of the widows in the early church were prayer, nursing the sick, and conforting the sorrowful.

Fabiola was a fourth century aristocratic widow of Rome who founded the first hospital.

Biblical Text

Acts 9:
36 - Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.
37 - And it came about at that time that she fell sick and died and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.
38 - And since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him, "Do not delay to come to us."
39 - And Peter arose and went with them. And when he had come, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
40 - But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 - And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows he presented her alive.
42 - And it became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

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Luke, the author of Acts, wanted us to know the exact truth about the things we have been taught.

Luke 1:1-4
1 - Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
2 - just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us,
3 - it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
4 - so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

It has been the practice of men theologians who write biblical comentaries to focus on that which the men did. In fact, the aspect of this passage that the disciples called Peter and he prayed to God who restored the life of Tabitha who had been dead, is of miraculous importance and caused many to believe in the Lord. But these men theologians do not bring out what this passage says about Tabitha and the widows and their ministry.

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Tabitha, loved because of her ministry.

The story begins with Tabitha, a disciple. She had a social ministry among the disciples as she was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

She sickened and died. The disciples prepared her body, however, they did not bury her, but put her in the upper room.

Knowing that Peter was in a nearby city they sent two men to bring him to them.

Peter came immediately and was taken to the upper room where he was touched with the anguish of the widows who surrounded him, weeping and showing him the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

The story reaches its climax when Peter does exactly what they had hoped, Peter prayed and God restored the life of Tabitha.

The outcome is that Peter called the saints and widows and presented her alive. And many knowing of the miracle believed in the Lord.

Although the climax of the story is the miracle of resuscitation, this story gives us insight into several things about the ministry of women.

The widows were a recognized group among the disciples and they had a social ministry. The disciples held Tabitha in great esteem and a great hope filled their hearts that something could be done even in the face of death. Two men were sent quickly to get Peter. Peter came immediately. The outcome that Peter presented Tabitha alive to the saints and the widows tells us that he returned her to her ministry. The men in this story are very concerned about the ministry of the women, they are sincere colleagues. This story belies the idea that the ministry of women was marginalized in the church of the New Testament, here it is an integral part of what they are all doing.

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Additional ministries of the widows in the early church.

Statute 17. Concerning the Widow. Said Kefas: Three widows shall be ordained. Two of them shall devote themselves to prayer for all those who are in affliction; and sufficient daily sustenance shall be given. But one of them shall stay with the women who are suffering from illness, that she may further their recovery, and be watchful, and inform by sending word to the presbyters. And she shall not be a lover of gain, nor shall she be a drunkard, lest she leave off her work of watchfulness and praying in the night. And if one (of them) wishes to do a good work, let her do it according to the commandment, that she may comfort the heart of the sorrowful, because the goodness of God has been first made known (to her).
[The Statutes of the Apostles, G. Horner, translator. (London: Oxford, 1915) 136, also 242, 304.]

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Fabiola, was a fourth century aristocratic widow of Rome who founded the first hospital.

To-day you give me as my theme Fabiola, the praise of the Christians, the marvel of the gentiles, the sorrow of the poor, and the consolation of the monks. Whatever point in her character I choose to treat of first, pales into insignificance compared with those which follow after. Shall I praise her fasts? Her alms are greater still. Shall I commend her lowliness? The glow of her faith is yet brighter. Shall I mention her studied plainness in dress, her voluntary choice of plebeian costume and the garb of a slave that she might put to shame silken robes? To change one's disposition is a greater achievement than to change one's dress. ... Another writer, mindful of the school, would perhaps bring forward Quintus Maximus, “the man who by delaying rescued Rome,” and the whole Fabian family; he would describe their struggles and battles and would exult that Fabiola had come to us through a line so noble.

And because at the very outset there is a rock in the path and she is overwhelmed by a storm of censure, for having forsaken her first husband and having take a second, I will not praise her for her conversion till I have first cleared her of this charge. So terrible then were the faults imputed to her former husband that not even a prostitute or a common slave could have put up with them. If I were to recount them, I should undo the heroism of the wife who chose to bear the blame of a separation rather than to blacken the character and expose the stains of him who was one body with her. ... Earthly laws give a free rein to the unchastity of men, merely condemning seduction and adultery; lust is allowed to range unrestrained among brothels and slave girls ... But with us Christians what is unlawful for women is equally unlawful for men, and as both serve the same God both are bound by the same obligations. Fabiola then has put away -- they are quite right -- a husband that was a sinner, guilty of this and that crime, sins -- I have almost mentioned their names -- with which the whole neighbourhood resounded but which the wife alone refused to disclose.

If however it is made a charge against her that after repudiating her husband she did not continue unmarried, I readily admit this to have been a fault, but at the same time declare that it may have been a case of necessity. “It is better,” the apostle tells us, “to marry than to burn.” She was quite a young woman, she was not able to continue in widowhood. But why do I linger over old and forgotten matters, seeking to excuse a fault for which Fabiola has herself confessed her penitence? Who would believe that, after the death of her second husband at a time when most widows having shaken off the yoke of servitude, grow careless and allow themselves more liberty than ever, frequenting the baths, flitting through the streets, shewing their harlot faces everywhere; that at this time Fabiola came to herself? Yet it was then that she put on sackcloth to make public confession of her error. It was then that in the presence of all Rome (in the basilica which formerly belonged to that Lateranus who perished by the sword of Caesar) she stood in the ranks of the penitents and exposed before bishop, presbyters, and people -- all of whom wept when they saw her weep -- her dishevelled hair, pale features, soiled hands and unwashed neck. What sins would such a penance fail to purge away? What ingrained stains would such tears be unable to wash out? ... In fact she bewailed the sin she had committed as bitterly as if it had been adultery, and went to the expense of many remedies in her eagerness to cure her one wound. Having found myself aground in the shallows of Fabiola's sin, I have dwelt thus long upon her penitence in order that I might open up a larger and quite unimpeded space for the description of her praises.

Restored to communion before the eyes of the whole church, what did she do? ... Instead therefore of re-embarking on her old life, she broke up and sold all that she could lay hands on of her property (it was large and suitable to her rank), and turning it into money she laid out this for the benefit of the poor. She was the first person to found a hospital, into which she might gather sufferers out of the streets, and where she might nurse the unfortunate victims of sickness and want. Need I now recount the various ailments of human beings? Need I speak of noses slit, eyes put out, feet half burnt, hands covered with sores? Or of limbs dropsical and atrophied? Or of diseased flesh alive with worms? Often did she carry on her own shoulders persons infected with jaundice or with filth. Often too did she wash away the matter discharged from wounds which others, even though men, could not bear to look at. She gave food to her patients with her own hand, and moistened the scarce breathing lips of the dying with sips of liquid. ... However she showed the same liberality towards the clergy and monks and virgins. Was there a monastery which was not supported by Fabiola's wealth? Was there a naked or bedridden person who was not clothed with garments supplied by her? Were there ever any in want to whom she failed to give a quick and unhesitating supply? Even Rome was not wide enough for her pity. Either in her own person or else through the agency of reverend and trustworthy men she went from island to island and carried her bounty not only round the Etruscan Sea, but throughout the district of the Volscians, as it stands along those secluded and winding shores where communities of monks are to be found.

Suddenly she made up her mind, against the advice of all her friends, to take ship and to come to Jerusalem. Here she was welcomed by a large concourse of people and for a short time took advantage of my hospitality. Indeed, when I call to mind our meeting, I seem to see her here now instead of in the past. Blessed Jesus, what zeal, what earnestness she bestowed upon the sacred volumes! In her eagerness to satisfy what was a veritable craving she would run through Prophets, Gospels, and Psalms: she would suggest questions and treasure up the answers in the desk of her own bosom. And yet this eagerness to hear did not bring with it any feeling of satiety: increasing her knowledge she also increased her sorrow, and by casting oil upon the flame she did but supply fuel for a still more burning zeal.

Suddenly messengers flew this way and that and the whole East was terror-struck. For news came that the hordes of the Huns had poured forth all the way from Maeotis ... and that, speeding hither and thither on their nimble-footed horses, they were filling all the world with panic and bloodshed. ... It was generally agreed that the goal of the invaders was Jerusalem and that it was their excessive desire for gold which made them hasten to this particular city. ... We too were compelled to man our ships and to lie off the shore as a precaution against the arrival of our foes. No matter how hard the winds might blow, we could not but dread the barbarians more than shipwreck. It was not, however, so much for our own safety that we were anxious as for the chastity of the virgins who were with us. ...

Fabiola, used as she was to moving from city to city and having no other property but what her baggage contained, returned to her native land; to live in poverty where she had once been rich, to lodge in the house of another, she who in old days had lodged many guests in her own, and -- not unduly to prolong my account -- to bestow upon the poor before the eyes of Rome the proceeds of that property which Rome knew her to have sold.

As I pen her praises, my dear Pammachius seems suddenly to rise before me. ... His wife Paulina sleeps that he may keep vigil. ... Although he was his wife's heir, others -- I mean the poor -- are now in possession of his inheritance. He and Fabiola contended for the privilege of setting up a tent like that of Abraham at Portus. ... A house was purchased to serve as a shelter, and a crowd flocked to it. ... The seas carried voyagers to find a welcome here on landing. Travellers left Rome in haste to take advantage of the mild coast before setting sail. What Publius once did in the island of Malta for one apostle and -- not to leave room for gainsaying -- for a single ship's crew, Fabiola and Pammachius have done over and over again for large numbers; and not only have they supplied the wants of the destitute, but so universal has been their munificence that they have provided additional means for those who have something already. The whole world knows that a home for strangers has been established in Portus. ...

In the death of this noble lady we have seen a fulfillment of the apostle's words: -- “All things work together for good to them that fear God.” [Rom. 8:28] Having a presentiment of what would happen, she had written to several monks to come and release her from the burthen under which she laboured; ... she fell asleep in the way that she had wished, and having at last laid aside her burthen she soared more lightly up to heaven. ... I seem to hear even now the squadrons which led the van of the procession, and the sound of the feet of the multitude which thronged in thousands to attend her funeral. The streets, porches, and roofs from which a view could be obtained were inadequate to accommodate the spectators. On that day Rome saw all her peoples gathered together in one, and each person present flattered himself that he had some part in the glory of her penitence.
[Jerome, “Letter LXXVII (77) To Oceanus, On the Death of Fabiola” in A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, editors. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1952) Second Series, Vol. VI, 157-163.]

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