Teks -- Acts 9:40 (NET)

9:40 But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Act 9:40 - Put them all forth

Put them all forth ( ekbalōn exō pantas ).

Second aorist (effective) active participle of ekball , a rather strong word, perhaps with some difficulty. Cf. Mar 5:40 which incident Peter may have recalled. The words are not genuine in Luk 8:54. Peter’ s praying alone reminds one of Elijah (1Ki 17:20) and the widow’ s son and Elisha for the Shunammite’ s son (2Ki 4:33).

Robertson: Act 9:40 - Tabitha, arise

Tabitha, arise ( Tabeitha , anastēthi ).

With sublime faith like Taleitha koum of Jesus in Mar 5:41.

Robertson: Act 9:40 - She sat up

She sat up ( anekathisen ).

Effective aorist active indicative of anakathizō . Often in medical writers, only here in the N.T. and Luk 7:15 where Westcott and Hort have in the margin the uncompounded form ekathisen . Vivid picture.

Wesley: Act 9:40 - Peter having put them all out

That he might have the better opportunity of wrestling with God in prayer, said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up - Who can imagine the surprise of Dorcas, when called back to life? Or of her friends, when they saw her alive? For the sake of themselves, and of the poor, there was cause of rejoicing, and much more, for such a confirmation of the Gospel. Yet to herself it was matter of resignation, not joy, to be called back to these scenes of vanity: but doubtless, her remaining days were still more zealously spent in the service of her Saviour and her God. Thus was a richer treasure laid up for her in heaven, and she afterward returned to a more exceeding weight of glory, than that from which so astonishing a providence had recalled her for a season.

JFB: Act 9:40-43 - Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down

The one in imitation of his Master's way (Luk 8:54; and compare 2Ki 4:33); the other, in striking contrast with it. The kneeling became the lowly servant, but not the Lord Himself, of whom it is never once recorded that he knelt in the performance of a miracle.

JFB: Act 9:40-43 - opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up

The graphic minuteness of detail here imparts to the narrative an air of charming reality.

Clarke: Act 9:40 - Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed

Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed - It was not even known to Peter that God would work this miracle: therefore he put all the people out, that he might seek the will of God by fervent prayer, and during his supplications be liable neither to distraction nor interruption, which he must have experienced had he permitted this company of weeping widows to remain in the chamber

Clarke: Act 9:40 - And turning - to the body

And turning - to the body - Σωμα, The lifeless body, for the spirit had already departed

Clarke: Act 9:40 - Said, Tabitha, arise

Said, Tabitha, arise - During his wrestling with God, he had, undoubtedly, received confidence that she would be raised at his word

Clarke: Act 9:40 - And when she saw Peter, she sat up

And when she saw Peter, she sat up - As Dorcas was a woman so eminently holy, her happy soul had doubtless gone to the paradise of God. Must she not therefore be filled with regret to find herself thus called back to earth again? And must not the remembrance of the glories she had now lost fill her with dislike to all the goods of earth? No: for

1.    As a saint of God, her Maker’ s will must be hers; because she knew that this will must be ever best

2.    It is very likely that, in the case of the revivescence of saint or sinner, God mercifully draws a veil over all they have seen or known, so that they have no recollection of what they have either seen or heard. Even St. Paul found it impossible to tell what he had heard in the third heaven, though he was probably not in the state of the dead. Of the economy of the invisible world God will reveal nothing. We walk here by faith, and not by sight.

Calvin: Act 9:40 - When they were all put forth // Turning towards the corpse

40.When they were all put forth When as he taketh a time to pray, he seemeth as yet to doubt what will be the end. When he healed AEneas he brake out into these words, without making any stop, AEneas, Jesus Christ make thee whole. But as the operation of the Spirit is not always alike and the same, it may be that though he knew the power of God, yet he went forward unto the miracle by degrees. Yet it seemeth to be an absurd thing, that he putteth all the saints out of the chamber, for whom it had been better to have seen it with their eyes. But because the Lord had not as yet revealed the time when, and the manner how, he would show forth his power, he desired to be alone, that he might the more fitly pray. Also it might be, that he knew some other reason which moved him to do this, which we know not. It is recorded in the Sacred History, (1Kg 17:23,) that Elias did the same. For he being alone, and not so much as the mother of the child with him, doth stretch himself thrice upon the dead corpse. For the Spirit of God hath his vehement motions, which, if any man will square out according to the common use of men, or measure by the sense of the flesh, he shall do wickedly and unjustly. We must this think, when as Peter, as it were doubting, seeketh a by place, he preventeth superstition, lest any man should ascribe to his power the work of God, whereof he was only a minister, For he which withdrew himself from company, and did pray so instantly, did plainly confess that the matter was not in his own hand. Therefore, when Peter wisheth to know what pleaseth the Lord, he confesseth that he alone was the author of the work. Kneeling in time of prayer is a token of humility, which hath a double profit, that all our members may be applied unto the worship of God, and that the external exercise of the body may help the weakness of the mind; but we must take heed so often as we kneel down, that the inward submission of the heart be answerable to the ceremony, that it be not vain and false. ⁶⁴⁰

Turning towards the corpse This seemeth also to be contrary to reason, that he speaketh unto a corpse without feeling; but this speaking unto the dead corpse was one point of the vehemency whereunto the Spirit of God enforced Peter. And if any man desire a reason, this form of speech doth more lively express the power of God in raising the dead, than if it should be said in the third person, let this body receive life again and live. Therefore, when as Ezekiel doth shadow the deliverance of the people under a figure of the resurrection:

“O dead bones,” (saith he,) “hear the word of the Lord,”
(Eze 37:4.)

And Christ saith,

“The time shall come when the dead shall hear
the voice of the Son of God,”
(Joh 5:25.)

For this was indeed the voice of Christ, which was uttered by the mouth of Peter, and gave [back] breath to the body of Tabitha. The circumstances following serve to confirm the certainty of the miracle.

Defender: Act 9:40 - Tabitha, arise

The apostles were enabled to perform many miracles, as evidence of the authenticity of their preaching (Heb 2:3, Heb 2:4) since the New Testament was not yet written. This was the first occasion, however, when one of them actually called a dead person back to life. The one other occasion, through Paul, is given in Act 20:7-12."

TSK: Act 9:40 - put // and kneeled // and prayed // she opened

put : Mar 5:40, Mar 9:25; Luk 8:54

and kneeled : Act 7:60, Act 20:36, Act 21:5

and prayed : 1Ki 17:19-23; 2Ki 4:32-36; Mat 9:25

she opened : Mar 5:41, Mar 5:42; Joh 11:43, Joh 11:44

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Act 9:40 - Peter put them all forth // Kneeled down // And prayed

Peter put them all forth Peter put them out, that he might pray the more earnestly, without distraction or interruption; thus Elisha shut the door to him when he prayed for the Shunammite’ s son, 2Ki 4:33 .

Kneeled down this his kneeling is mentioned, to recommend reverence in our praying unto God.

And prayed: Peter, by his betaking himself unto prayer, would show, that he could do nothing by his own power, but it must come from above; and he had every mercy as much precariously, and by prayer, as any others.

Haydock: Act 9:40 - And having put them all out // Sat up

And having put them all out, not to disturb him while he prayed. ---

Sat up, raised herself a little: and Peter taking her by the hand, lifted her quite up, and calling in the company, presented her to them alive and well. (Witham)

Gill: Act 9:40 - But Peter put them all forth // and kneeled down and prayed // and turning him to the body // said, Tabitha, arise // and when she saw Peter // she sat up

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, Luk 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.