Acts 9:40
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
At Joppa believers brought Peter to an upper chamber where weeping widows showed the coats and garments Dorcas had made for them. Tabitha, also called Dorcas, was a greatly beloved disciple whose life was filled with charity and kindness to the poor and sorrowful and with freely ministering by deeds more than words. Peter put the mourning onlookers out of the room, kneeled down and prayed fervently for life and health to be restored, then told Tabitha to arise, and she opened her eyes and sat up, after which he lifted her by the hand and presented her alive to the saints and widows. Her return to life was a miracle of God's power in answer to prayer, given so her service of blessing others could continue and to strengthen the cause of Christ, and it led many in Joppa to believe in Jesus. Kneeling is an attitude of prayer Christ's followers may use when offering petitions to God, and it is the proper posture always in public and private worship as an act showing dependence upon Him.
The Raising at Joppa
The raising took place at Joppa near Lydda, where believers who had heard of the cures wrought at Lydda sent messengers asking Peter to come to Joppa. On his arrival he was taken to an upper chamber where weeping widows showed the coats and garments Dorcas had made. Tabitha, also called Dorcas, was a worthy disciple of Jesus whose good deeds made her greatly beloved.
Her life was filled with charity and kindness to the poor and sorrowful and with zeal for truth. She knew who needed comfortable clothing and who needed sympathy, and she freely ministered to the poor and the sorrowful. Her skilful fingers were more active than her tongue, doing skilful work with her hands in making garments for others. Her death was therefore a great loss that the infant church could hardly bear.
Peter sent the mourning onlookers and weeping mourners out of the room. He kneeled down and prayed fervently to God to restore life and health to the lifeless body. Then turning to the body he told Tabitha to arise. She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. He took her hand, lifted her up, and called the saints and widows to present her alive.
Her return to life was a miracle and a work of God's power in answer to prayer. She was brought back from death so that her skill and energy and service of making garments and blessing others could continue. It was given also so that the display of divine power could strengthen the cause of Christ. This raising of the dead led many in Joppa to believe in Jesus.
The chapter containing this raising is a lesson to all about the converting power of God. Without that conversion men are used by Satan as Saul was used to hunt up souls to be persecuted. Unconverted men work with all their power against God's work, as satanic agencies did in crucifying Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God. That crucifixion was a repetition of Lucifer's act to exalt himself.
Kneeling in Prayer
Peter kneeled down to pray before asking for Tabitha to be restored to life, showing that kneeling is an attitude of prayer Christ's followers may use when offering petitions to God. He kneeled before speaking to her and calling her to arise. The disciples are thus seen kneeling when making their petitions to God.
Kneeling to pray before telling Tabitha to rise, after which she opened her eyes and sat up, makes kneeling the proper posture for prayer as an act showing dependence upon God. Getting down on the knees is the proper position always when offering prayer to the Sovereign of the universe. This holds for both public and private worship.