Acts 9:39

39 And Peter rose up, and came with them. And when he was come, they led him into the solar. And all the widows stood about him, weeping, and showing coats and clothes, which Dorcas made to them.

Acts 9:39 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 9:39

Then Peter arose and went with them
After the messengers had delivered their message, and made their request to Peter in the name of the brethren, he at once agreed to go with them, and accordingly did; whether he went to restore Dorcas to life, whose death the messengers had informed him of, and whether this was the view of the brethren with respect to that, is not certain. However, he might go with them on other accounts, as to comfort them under the loss of so valuable and useful a person, and to strengthen and establish them in the faith, and to exhort and animate them to the discharge of their duty.

When he was come;
that is, to Joppa, and to Dorcas's house there:

they brought him into the upper chamber;
where the corpse of Dorcas lay:

and all the widows stood by him weeping;
these were poor widows, to whom Dorcas had been very liberal and beneficent, who stood about the apostle lamenting the death of their benefactress, and by their tears expressing their desire of her return to life, if it could be:

and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was
with them;
the Vulgate, Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "which Dorcas made for them"; and the Syriac version renders it, "which Tabitha gave unto them, while she was alive"; which last clause aptly explains, "while she was with them"; for now she was not, with respect to her better part, her immortal soul: the coats and garments were the inner and upper ones, wore in these countries; and it seems that she did not buy these garments, and give them unto them, but that she made them up herself for them, or at least wrought with them in making of them; which shows her diligence and industry, as also her humility, as well as her beneficence: and these the widows produced, and are shown as proofs of the same; which was expressive of gratitude in them, and was done with a design to move Peter to be concerned for restoring so useful a life.

Acts 9:39 In-Context

37 And it befelled in those days, that she was sick, and died. And when they had washed her [Forsooth it was made in those days, that she was sick and died. Which when they had washed], they laid her in a solar.

38 And for Lydda was nigh Joppa [Forsooth when Lydda was nigh from Joppa], the disciples heard that Peter was therein, and sent two men to him, and prayed [praying], That thou tarry not to come to us.

39 And Peter rose up, and came with them. And when he was come, they led him into the solar. And all the widows stood about him, weeping, and showing coats and clothes, which Dorcas made to them.

40 And when all men were put withoutforth, Peter kneeled, and prayed. And he turned to the body, and said, Tabitha, arise thou [Tabitha, rise up]. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41 And he took her by the hand, and raised her [Forsooth he gave to her the hand, and raised her]. And when he had called the holy men and widows, he assigned her alive.