The Life and Times of Dorcus

The Scripture record of Dorcus is limited to a few verses in Acts 9. Dorcas was also called Tabitha—Dorcas is a Greek name meaning “gazelle,” and Tabitha is the Aramaic rendering of the same name. Dorcas, or Tabitha, was a charitable person who made things, especially clothing, for the needy in Joppa (gotquestions.org)  

The Bible is silent concerning the genealogy of Dorcas. What is known is that her home was at Joppa and she was associated with a small, poor Christian church.  Dorcus however, apparently had the means to serve her community as freely. 

The bible gives us only glimpses of her witness and work for Christ here in these few verses, yet she has influenced many by her good works. She is evidently a Christian, being called “a disciple”. It was through the ministry of Phillip that a Christian church was established in Joppa at an early date. From its very beginning, the church in Joppa was known as a center of fervent evangelism and a well-organized social service provider. 

Dorcas was “always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36). What is significant about the account of her life is that Dorcas not only thought up ways of relieving the needy, but she also carried out her plans! She knew what she could do and she DID it. She was a true “doer” of the Word. Among her good works was that of making clothes for widows and the needs of her church and community with her own hands. The clothes that Dorcas cut out and sewed represented Christian faith in action. She was not only willing to give financially, but she was willing to invest herself in the work of charity.

When Dorcas died, she left the church at Joppa grief-stricken. The church called for the Apostle Peter, who was in a neighboring city, to come to them. They obviously had heard of Peter’s recent contact with Aeneas and hoped that he might return their greatly-loved friend to them. When he got there he found that the widows Dorcas had helped had laid her out and prepared a powerful eulogy on the life and character of Dorcas by showing some of the many coats and garments which she made for them. We can see the old widows whose hands were too arthritic to hold the needle and too poor to pay others to make clothes for them.  They showed the warm garments Dorcas had made them to protect them from the cold winds which often swept in from the Mediterranean. And here were younger widows with little children who had been clothed by Dorcas. How could they ever find another friend like her?  Here's a short video you may enjoy.

Dorcas was given back to them by a great miracle!  Peter sent them all out and kneeled down and prayed. He spoke the words of power and authority and raised Dorcas from the dead, and presented her alive to the people at Joppa. Can you imagine?!  What joy to receive this blessed woman back from the dead and the word and works of God spread quickly.

Here’s where we all can learn a bit; while Dorcas was greatly loved and respected among the people of Joppa, it seems that she wasn’t conscious of the noble work she was doing and of its effect throughout history.  Dorcas did not strive to be a leader, but was content to stay in her own home and try to do all she could to serve the Lord. We can hold Dorcas as an example to all of us to look after the welfare of others.