Dorcas, a word which means "gazelle", was sometimes called
Tabitha. She was a very kind person who spent her time caring
for the widows of Joppa. Dorcas lived in Joppa, a seaport town.
She was a loving person who showed kindness to others and
especially to the poor. She made coats for the widows so they
would have something to keep them warm in the winter. One day
she became ill and died. Her friends were so sad and upset.
Their dear friend was gone. They had heard that Peter had been
performing miracles of healing sick people. At this time no
apostle had raised anyone from the dead, but Dorcas' friends
believed that Peter could do even that, so they sent two men to
Lydda, a nearby town where Peter was staying. Peter went back to
Joppa with the men, and when he got there, he was led to an
upper room where her friends had laid Dorcas. The room was
filled with widows who were crying and showing one another the
coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made for them while
she was alive. Each stitch showed her fa