Acts 9:39-43 39So after getting up, Peter went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room, and all the widows stood by him, weeping and showing tunics and clothing that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40But after putting them all outside and kneeling down, Peter prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41And giving her his hand, he raised her up, then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Peter immediately left Lydda for Joppa. It would have taken several hours to get there, even for a fast walker. Verse 39 begins with a sense of urgency, with the effort of the two disciples to locate Peter and tell him he was needed in Joppa. Travel plans can always change when led by the Holy Spirit and in response to the needs of people. The mention of widows opens the possibility that Tabitha was also a widow, and so the other widows joined in mourning for her. Another possibility is that they were the recipients of her compassionate care mentioned in verse 36.
The sequence of what Peter did once he got to the room where Dorcas’ body was lying is significant (Luke switches to her Greek name). First, he prayed. Luke gives no details about what Peter prayed but simply that he knelt down, a sign of submission, humility, and seeking. The implication is that during this prayer, he sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to him about what to do next. The situation seemed impossible. The believers were expecting a miracle, but to raise someone from the dead was beyond imagination. Only Jesus could do that.
Healing a physical issue is one thing, but bringing someone back from death is exponentially bigger. Only a few such events are recorded in the Bible, such as Elijah’s raising the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17–24) and the raising of the Shunammite woman’s son by Elisha (2 Kings 4:32–37). Jesus had the power to raise the dead, as when he resurrected Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:49–56; Mark 5:35–43). Peter had witnessed this resurrection, and it must have left a big impact on him and gave him assurance to seek Jesus’ help in this situation.
Something in Peter’s prayer moments gave him direction and faith to speak to the dead Tabitha. He spoke only two words: her name and the command to rise. What a shock and relief the saints and widows must have had when Tabitha walked down the steps alive and quite well. Their faith was just as significant as Peter’s in this miracle. Saints is simply a reference to the disciples and has the nuance of their strong faith and obedience to the gospel. Peter was the conduit of the faith and hope of the believers in Joppa. This miracle led to a great witness in the area. Just like with Aeneas, many people believed as a result of the miracle. The model Luke is giving in these stories shows how miracles should lead to faith in Jesus. The mention of Simon, the tanner, prepares for the next story. Luke often includes small details like this to enhance the story and show that he indeed made a careful study and wrote accurately about what took place. The power of God is evident among dedicated and seeking believers.
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