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This PARALLEL SYMMETRY has a very simple A-B-A′-B′ structure about two people that were commanded to arise.
1) There is a FIRST/FIRST emphasis in the two IMPERATIVE A elements where the first, Aeneas was raised and then Tabitha was raised. These two miracles are similar to the paralyzed man at the gate Beautiful (Acts 3) who was told to get up and walk in the name of Jesus.
2) Verses 36 to 39 are necessary information for the second story about Tabitha. The emphatic SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY in verses 40 and 41, an IMPERATIVE, is a command for Tabitha to awaken.
3) The LAST/LAST elements are emphatic in that they show how people in Lydda and then Joppa were strongly moved by these miraculous healings. Show More Rhetoric Show Less Rhetoric
PARALLEL SYMMETRY:
... Peter called two people to be raised: a paralyzed man and a dead woman ...
a change of location
BEGINNING MARKER: Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. (v32)
IMPERATIVE: Peter called Aeneas to rise up
A
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. (v33,34)
many in Lydda and Sharon believed in Jesus
B
And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. (v35)
a change of location
SUB-UNIT MARKER: Now in Joppa (v36A)
Tabitha, a kind and charitable woman
preliminary: there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. (v36B)
Tabitha died, laid in an upper room
a
And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. (v37)
IMPERATIVE: the disciples called for Peter to come quickly
b
Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” (v38)
a change of location
sub-unit marker: So Peter arose and went with them. (v39A)
Peter went to the dead body in that upper room
a′
When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; (v39B)
the weeping widows explain the urgency
b′
and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. (v39C)
SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY: Peter presented the alive Tabitha
sum
But Peter sent them all out 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; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. (v40,41)
many around Joppa believed in Jesus
B′
It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (v42)
a postscript
ENDING MARKER: And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. (v43)