Acts 9:40

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.

Acts 9:40 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 9:40

But Peter put them all forth
As he had seen his Lord and Master do, when he raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, ( Luke 8:54 )

and kneeled down and prayed;
it may be, as yet, he had not the mind of God in this matter, and therefore betook himself to prayer, in which he chose to be private and alone:

and turning him to the body;
the corpse of Dorcas, after he had prayed, and was well assured that the power of Christ would be exerted in raising of it:

said, Tabitha, arise;
which words were spoken in the name and faith of Christ, and were all one as, if Christ himself had spoken them; for to his power, and not to the apostles, is the following miracle to be ascribed: and she opened her eyes; which, upon her death, had been closed by her friends; and perhaps the napkin was not yet bound about her face: or if it was, she must remove it ere she could open her eyes and see Peter:

and when she saw Peter;
whom she might know:

she sat up;
upon the bed or bier on which she lay.

Acts 9:40 In-Context

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.

42 And it was made known by all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.