 The following devotional is written by a fictitious character to illustrate common missteps in Bible study. You can find Part 1 of the Devoted Dorcas series in the Learning Discernment category on the blog. As you read this devotional, notice the instructions Quill gives before the Bible passage. Consider how the introduction and commentary use feelings or emotions to shape what we take away from the text. Pause to think through how Scripture is observed and interpreted in the devotional. Look for the main purpose of the text, and notice how—or if—Quill points us toward the gospel. Devoted Dorcas Part 2 By Quill Meanwell Today we will continue to learn from the story of Dorcas and Peter. As you read this passage again, imagine how you would feel if you were the widows, the disciples, and Peter. Be present with your feelings and allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with peace and light. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. Acts 9:36-43 We are told about a woman named Tabitha, or Dorcas. We don’t learn much about her before tragedy hits. This was a sad time for the widows in Joppa. They were devastated by the loss of a loved one. What are memories of a friend or loved one that you treasure? Do you remember them for the ways they served others or for their personal successes? Often our obituaries are a resume of achievements. In our mourning we remember how they overcame obstacles and inspired us to achieve our goals. In contrast, the example of the weeping widows in Acts 9 reminds us to look back at how others have served well, rather than their personal successes. The disciples knew that Peter could help. They knew that he had healed others, so perhaps they thought that he could at least offer comfort and hope to Dorcas’ grieving friends. They didn’t waste time sending someone to find Peter. Is this our default response when we see someone grieving? Do we look for resources that can help them? Or do we offer a quick condolence and go on with our day? “Thoughts and prayers” are nice, but concrete action speaks louder. When we grieve, we can follow the example of the weeping widows and the determined disciples. As the devotional begins, Quill asks us to consider how we would feel and expect a positive, harmonious result from our time spent studying the passage. Emotions are created by God; they are not inherently sinful. However, because of the effects of sin, we need to be careful of putting too much emphasis on emotions for guiding our Scripture reading. We can use Scripture and prayer to guide our thoughts so that we then respond correctly with emotions and actions that glorify God.
If we compare this Devoted Dorcas devotional to the first one, we see that Quill jumps quickly to application without any further observation or interpretation. The feelings that have been stirred in us through the introductory comments lead Quill to draw out applications based on our empathy with the mourners in the story. The challenges Quill gives are valid ways to respond biblically to the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, this application pulls our focus away from the main intent of the passage. We notice that this devotional moves quickly to engage our emotions by talking about how we grieve. But Acts 9 does not present the widows primarily as a model for godly grieving. Rather, Luke records this miracle to highlight God’s power and the way it validates the gospel message that Peter and the disciples were spreading. Dorcas’s resurrection points beyond the story itself to the greater hope we have in Christ. We can take comfort in this truth, knowing the Christ defeated sin and death through his life, death, and resurrection. When we grieve, we do not grieve hope. Just as He used Peter to bring life and show His glory, we can live in hope, serve others, and rely on Him in every situation, knowing that His promises are true. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV
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 The following devotional is written by a fictitious character to illustrate common missteps in Bible study. For more information on the Learning Discerment series, see our Introducing Quill Meanwell post. As you read, pay close attention to how Quill handles Scripture. Notice how Quill summarizes Acts 9:36–43 and whether any details are added, changed, or assumed. When conclusions are drawn that aren’t explicitly stated in the passage, consider whether they are natural extensions of the text or weaker connections. Read 1 Kings 17:21 in context and how Quill uses the passage to support the argument. Reflect on what this devotional teaches about God and His attributes, and consider how it points toward the gospel—or how it might subtly shift attention away from it. After the devotional, you’ll find a brief reflection that returns to the passages and themes raised here. Devoted Dorcas by Quill Meanwell This week we will look at the story of a miracle in Acts. Let’s see what lessons we can learn from Peter’s ministry. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. Acts 9:36-43 This account is found in the book of Acts. The early church is growing despite persecution and believers are helping one another in practical ways. Dorcas is one example of a faithful woman who used her resources to provide for others in need. She was a disciple, a learner, and a follower of Jesus. She died suddenly and the other disciples asked Peter to come. In a miracle reminiscent of Elijah’s ministry, her resurrection caused a revival in Joppa. Peter was serving God in Lydda, but he was willing to go to another town to meet the needs of fellow disciples. He went into the room to mourn by himself, and prayed. He knew he needed wisdom and strength from God so he humbly sought help. Perhaps he was thanking God for Dorcas’ example of faithful service. Maybe he was asking God how he could help comfort and give spiritual healing to the grieving widows. Peter was well-versed in the Old Testament stories and had seen Jesus raise people from the dead, so he may have prayed like Elijah in 1 Kings 17:21 “O Lord my God, let this [woman’s] life come into [her] again.” Peter’s availability, humbleness, and faith in prayer provided the perfect conditions for his greatest miracle yet. How can you be available? How can you show humility and faith? At the beginning, we see that Acts 9:36–43 is quoted in full from the ESV, allowing readers to see the whole passage in context rather than relying on isolated verses. Quill also provides a brief background about the book of Acts, which can be a helpful aid to observation.
By looking closely at the summary, we noticed that Quill’s summary and comments frequently add details not found in the text or stretches what is stated. For example, Dorcas is described as having died “suddenly,” and Peter is said to have entered the room “to mourn.” The claim that the miracle “caused a revival” is another example of adding interpretation beyond what the text explicitly says. These details may be plausible, but they are not supported by the passage itself. Throughout the devotional, we are invited to consider what individuals may have been thinking, feeling, or intending, even though the passage does not tell us. While words like maybe and perhaps signal uncertainty, they can easily be overlooked by readers. Writers might include these ideas out to engage us emotionally. While it is not always wrong to consider how someone felt or thought, we need to be careful of reading “into” the text. Our imaginative insights may overshadow the overall purpose of the text. As we consider the use of the1 Kings verse, we see that Quill references Elijah’s ministry at the beginning of the devotional. We are not given any background to the 1 Kings account to verify if the context supports making a connection between the two miracles. Quill uses Elijah’s prayer to suggest what Peter prayed -- another example of speculation. In addition, Meanwell modifies the wording of Elijah’s prayer in 1 Kings 17:21 to personalize it and apply it to this situation. This adaptation a previous prayer could make people think this "recipe" is a guaranteed way to pray for and get miracles. While Peter is an important part of the passage, Quill overemphasizes Peter’s actions and character as the catalyst for the miracle. This focus minimizes God’s power and providence as the primary cause of the miracle. In Acts, miracles authenticate the apostles’ ministry as they proclaim the gospel. This passage ultimately points beyond Dorcas and Peter to God’s power and the resulting faith in the Lord. Instead of linking the resurrection to Christ and the gospel, it keeps the spotlight on what humans do and their personal experiences. Sadly, Quill's devotional misses that redemptive focus. By comparing Quill’s insights with a careful observation of Scripture, we can see that what looks good at first sight may not be faithful to the passage. It’s not always easy to spot when things may be added or left out, but the more we read the Bible, the better we get at noticing when something seems a little off. With God’s word as our guide, we can be like the Bereans who searched Scripture every day to examine what they were hearing.  We live in a time when Christian content is everywhere. Blogs, devotionals, podcasts, social media posts—many of them sound biblical, encouraging, and sincere. Some are genuinely helpful. Others are well-meaning but careless with Scripture. And at first glance, it can be hard to tell the difference. Because we are still growing—and because sin clouds our thinking—we don’t always notice when something is slightly off. A verse may be quoted out of context. A true idea may be stretched too far. A comforting message may quietly shift our focus away from what Scripture actually teaches. The goal of the Learning Discernment series is to help you slow down and read carefully. Each piece is written by a fictional character named Quill Meanwell —someone who sounds sincere, thoughtful, and spiritual… and sometimes misses the mark. With each piece, you’ll find questions designed to help you examine what Quill says in light of Scripture, followed by a short commentary. Learning discernment is part of learning faithfulness. It’s an act of love toward God’s Word—and a gift to ourselves as we grow in wisdom and maturity. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. —2 Timothy 2:15 |
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