Acts 9:37

At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Luke narrates this event to the reader as Tabitha’s illness concludes, prompting the Joppa disciples to summon Peter from Lydda. The narrative moment follows her charitable ministry and precedes Peter’s arrival.

The words — ἐγένετο (egeneto) translates literally to "it came to pass," while ἀσθενοῦσαν (asthenousan) means "having become sick." These terms mark the abrupt shift from her active ministry to her death and burial preparations.

The thread — The "upper room" appears in Mark 14:15, Acts 1:13, and Acts 20:8 as a designated space for meals, prayer, and gatherings. This verse anchors Tabitha’s body in that same architectural and communal setting.

Why it lands — The text records physical death and customary burial rites without commentary, establishing the baseline reality of mortality. Readers must confront the finality of her state before encountering the narrative’s next intervention.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἐγένετοegenetoIt came to pass δὲdehowever ἐνenin ταῖςtaisthe ἡμέραιςhēmeraisdays ἐκείναιςekeinaisthose ἀσθενήσασανasthenēsasan[that] having become sick αὐτὴνautēnshe ἀποθανεῖν·apothaneinto die;λούσαντεςlousantesHaving washed [her]δὲdethen ἔθηκανethēkanput [her]αὐτὴνautēnthey ἐνenin ὑπερῴῳ.huperōōan upper room.

King James Version

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

Cross-references

Acts 1:13 When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
Acts 20:8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
Mark 14:15 And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
John 11:36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
Acts 9:39 So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.