Acts 9:41

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(41) And when he had called the saints.—See Note on Acts 9:13.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:36-43 Many are full of good words, who are empty and barren in good works; but Tabitha was a great doer, no great talker. Christians who have not property to give in charity, may yet be able to do acts of charity, working with their hands, or walking with their feet, for the good of others. Those are certainly best praised whose own works praise them, whether the words of others do so or not. But such are ungrateful indeed, who have kindness shown them, and will not acknowledge it, by showing the kindness that is done them. While we live upon the fulness of Christ for our whole salvation, we should desire to be full of good works, for the honour of his name, and for the benefit of his saints. Such characters as Dorcas are useful where they dwell, as showing the excellency of the word of truth by their lives. How mean then the cares of the numerous females who seek no distinction but outward decoration, and who waste their lives in the trifling pursuits of dress and vanity! Power went along with the word, and Dorcas came to life. Thus in the raising of dead souls to spiritual life, the first sign of life is the opening of the eyes of the mind. Here we see that the Lord can make up every loss; that he overrules every event for the good of those who trust in him, and for the glory of his name.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He presented her alive - He exhibited, or showed her to them alive. Compare 1 Kings 17:23.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

41. he gave her his hand, and lifted her up—as his Lord had done to his own mother-in-law (Mr 1:31).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The saints and widows; such who had sent for him, and now were gathered together to see what effects his prayers might have.

Presented her alive, and in perfect health, as all were that were miraculously cured; for the Lord’s works are perfect, Deu 32:4.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he gave her his hand, and lift her up,.... Off of the bed or bier where she was:

and when he had called the saints and widows; the disciples, brethren and sisters, who were come together on this occasion, as well as the poor widows she had been kind to; the Ethiopic version reads without a copulative, "the holy widows"; and so might these widows be, even such as are described in 1 Timothy 5:10

presented her alive; as Christ did the widow's son of Naam to her, Luke 7:15 and which no doubt was matter of great joy as well as astonishment to all the saints, and especially to the poor widows.

Geneva Study Bible

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 9:41. δοὺς δὲ αὐτῇ χ.: here for help to her to rise, after she had been restored to life, but in the Gospels Christ takes the damsel by the hand before she is restored, Mark 5:41, Luke 8:54. Thus, while retaining a close resemblance, as we might surely expect, to our Lord’s action in St. Mark’s narrative, there is yet sufficient independence of detail to show that one description is not a slavish imitation of the other.—τὰς χήρας: Rendall sees in the words reference to an organised body, 1 Timothy 5:11-16, engaged in the service of the Church, but the context only points to the widows who had been previously mentioned, species post genus, as in Acts 9:36 (Blass).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

41. when he had called the saints and widows] These words make it evident that the petition sent to Peter had been the supplication of the whole Christian Church of Joppa, “Come on unto us and help us.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 9:41. Καὶ, and) and especially the widows.—[ζῶσαν, alive) By this restoration to life, a time was afforded to her for doing more good deeds.—V. g.]

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 41. - Raised for lifted, A.V.; calling for when he had called, A.V.; he presented for presented, A.V. The saints and widows; by which we learn that others of the Christians of Joppa besides the widows had come to meet Peter, as was to be expected. Acts 9:41