Fourth Sunday of Pascha – Sunday of the Paralytic

The Epistle for the Sunday of the Paralytic is Acts 9:32-42:

³²It happened, as Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. ³³There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. ³⁴Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!" Immediately he arose. ³⁵All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. ³⁷It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. ³⁸As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. ³⁹Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰Peter put them all out, and kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴²And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 9:32-35 parallels the Gospel for today, Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in John 5:1-15:

¹After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, "Bethesda," having five porches. ³In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; ⁴for an angel of the Lord went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had. ⁵A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be made well?"

⁷The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me."

⁸Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your mat, and walk."

⁹Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked.

Now it was the Sabbath on that day. ¹⁰So the Jews said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat."

¹¹He answered them, "He who made me well, the same said to me, 'Take up your mat, and walk.' "

¹²Then they asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your mat, and walk'?"

¹³But he who was healed didn't know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.

¹⁴Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you."

¹⁵The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Acts 9:36-42 parallels Jesus’ healing of Jarius’ daughter in Luke 8:41-42, 49-56:

⁴¹Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet, and begged him to come into his house, ⁴²for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him.

…

⁴⁹While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher."

⁵⁰But Jesus hearing it, answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed."

⁵¹When he came to the house, he didn't allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. ⁵²All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, "Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping."

⁵³They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, "Child, arise!" ⁵⁵Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. ⁵⁶Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.

This passage, in turn, parallels two Old Testament passages:

The Widow of Zarephath:

(1Ki 17:17-24) ¹⁷It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. ¹⁸She said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son! ¹⁹He said to her, Give me your son. He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber, where he abode, and laid him on his own bed. ²⁰He cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son? ²¹He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my God, please let this child's soul come into him again. ²²Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. ²³Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, Behold, your son lives. ²⁴The woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth.

The Shunammite Woman:

(2Ki 4:32-37) ³²When Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid on his bed. ³³He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh. ³⁴He went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands: and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child grew warm. ³⁵Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth; and went up, and stretched himself on him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. ³⁶He called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. When she was come in to him, he said, Take up your son. ³⁷Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.