Acts 9:39-40 (NIVUK)
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning towards the dead woman, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
I love the incidental detail in the last verse which underlines the historicity of this passage – it is not a piece of fiction, but an account of events that took place with real people in real places. That said, I love even more what happens when Peter prays, Dorcas/Tabitha comes back to life! Why was Peter’s prayer answered? His faith? The widows’ faith? So God could be glorified? As a reward to Dorcas for her good works? The text doesn’t say, and we can only speculate, but what it does show is that we have a powerful God who can act with power and authority, and hears his people’s prayers.
Thank you Father, that although you don’t often answer our prayers so dramatically as this, that you do hear them. Thank you that you are the God of life, not death, of hope, not despair.
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