John Calvin Commentary Acts 9:36

"Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did." — Acts 9:36 (ASV)

There follows a more renowned sign of Christ’s power, inasmuch as it is more difficult to restore life to a dead body than to restore health to a sick person. But Luke first commends the person of Tabitha, on whom the miracle was performed, and does so with two titles: namely, that she was Christ’s disciple, and that she demonstrated her faith with good works and alms.

He has often already used this word disciple to mean a Christian; and so that we would not think that name belonged only to men, he attributes it also to a woman. This title teaches us that Christianity cannot be without doctrine, and that this form of learning is prescribed so that Christ Himself may be Master to all.

This is the chief praise, this is the beginning of holy life, this is the root of all virtues: to have learned from the Son of God the way to live, and the true life. The fruits of good works then proceed from faith. By good works I mean the duties of love, with which our neighbors are helped; and Luke places the chief kind of these in alms.

The commendation of liberality is great because, as the Holy Spirit witnesses, it contains in itself the sum of a godly and perfect life. Now we see what titles Tabitha has. For religion toward God, or faith, goes first; secondly, that she devoted herself to helping the brethren, and especially in relieving the poverty of the poor.

For through usage, it has come to pass that all the help with which the poor and those in misery are assisted is called ελεημοσυνη. Tabitha is a Syrian word rather than a Hebrew one, which Luke translated into Greek so that we might know that her name was not as noble as the virtues of the holy women, and that she was, in a sense, diminished by such a simple name; for Dorcas signifies a goat. But the holiness of her life easily wiped away the stain of a name not very fitting.