BIBLE STUDY PROJECT: OBSERVATION TEMPLATE

Passage: Acts 9:36-43

A. I have read Acts 9:36-43 in both a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. Please
use the translation provided in your digital library or found at Biblegateway.com
o Yes
o No
B. Having read the passage in both formal and functional translation, list at least 2 similarities
and 3 differences between the way both translations cover this story. You may list as many
similarities and differences that you find as long as you meet the minimum amount.

1. Similarity – Both translations explain the circumstances under which Tabitha died:
   she fell sick and died.
2. Similarity – Both translations state that after raising Tabitha back to life, Peter
   stayed in Joppa for some time, during which time a man named Simon, a tanner,
   accommodated him.
3. Difference – The NIV, in a footnote, states the meaning of the names Tabitha and
   Dorcas. While “Tabitha” is Aramaic and “Dorcas” is Greek, the NIV states that
   both names mean “gazelle”. The NASB does not translate the names.
4. Difference – In verse 39, the NASB says that “Peter arose and went with them”,
   implying that upon receiving the news of Tabitha’s death, Peter immediately
   stopped whatever he was doing and left for Joppa alongside the two messengers. On
   the other hand, the NIV simply states that “Peter went with them”, thereby not
   implying the same sense of urgency, on Peter’s part, as in the NASB.
5. Difference – The translations describe differently the articles of clothing Tabitha
   used to make while she was alive. The NIV describes them as “robes and other
   clothing” whereas the NASB describes them as “tunics and garments”.

C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying

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1. Main characters: (List them)
   o Tabitha (also called Dorcas), a Joppa-based disciple, dressmaker, and helper of
   the poor in the community
   o Peter, the apostle
   o Simon, a Joppa-based tanner who hosts Peter for some time after the incident
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
   While Peter is at Lydda, a disciple named Tabitha is the nearby town of Joppa falls sick
   and dies. Having heard that Peter was at Lydda, the other disciples at Joppa send for him. On
   receiving the news, Peter leaves for Joppa immediately and brings Tabitha back to life.
   Consequently, many more at Joppa believe in the Lord.
3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
   Note: Plot and Story Structure are not the same thing (see the tutorial and student example)

Introduction: Peter comes down to the saints at Lydda.
Inciting incident: A disciple named Tabitha falls sick and dies in the nearby town of Joppa.
Rising action: The other disciples at Joppa send for Peter, who is still at Lydda.
Climax: Peter brings Tabitha back to life.
Falling action: The disciples disperse.
Resolution: Peter stays at Joppa for a while, winning more disciples.

D. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
Remember to consult the list of items from the observation section in studying the
Gospels in Chapter 36. This will help you be more detailed in your answers to “who,”
“what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.” Please be detailed and specific.

1. Who:
   o Tabitha (also called Dorcas), a Joppa-based disciple, dressmaker, and helper of
   the poor in the community
   o Peter, the apostle
   o Simon, a Joppa-based tanner who hosts Peter for some time after the incident
2. What: The focal point of the passage is the raising from the dead of Tabitha by Peter.
   The event is facilitated by Tabitha’s fellow disciples at Joppa, who send for Peter from
   the nearby Lydda.

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3. Where: The event happens at Joppa even though Lydda, a nearby town, is important to
   the plot of the passage. Indeed, one cannot help but wonder what might have happened to
   Tabitha had Peter not been nearby.
4. When: The event is set in the early days of the Church. For a more immediate context,
   the event happens shortly after Peter has arrived at Lydda and healed a paralytic man
   there named Aeneas.
5. Why: It appears that this event happened and was recorded because it was necessary
   for the continued growth of the nascent church.
6. How: The event recorded in this passage served as a catalyst for the winning of more
   believers. It is reported that following the raising of Tabitha, many believed in the Lord.