Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Acts 9:40

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Say, if as we sit together, the Emperor were to send and invite some one of us to the palace, would it be right, I ask, to weep and mourn? Angels are present, commissioned from heaven and come from thence, sent from the King Himself to call their fellow servant, and say, dost thou weep? Knowest thou not what a mystery it is that is taking place, how awful, how dread, and worthy indeed of hymns and lauds? Wouldest thou learn, that thou mayest know, that this is no time for tears? For it is a very great mystery of the Wisdom of God. …

Homily on Acts 21 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"Peter sent them all out and, kneeling down, prayed." Why does he send them all out? So that he would not be moved by tears and lose his peace of spirit. "Kneeling down," he offers an earnest prayer. Then he supports the revived woman; then little by little her life and strength return.

Commentary on Acts ↗

Oecumenius

What then did Peter do? He put them all out, so that they might not be disturbed by tears nor be agitated. And having knelt down he prayed. For not always did the miracles follow immediately upon his prayer. [CHRYSOSTOM]

Commentary on Acts ↗

Western Saints

Bede

He said: Tabitha, rise. She opened her eyes, and upon seeing Peter, she sat up. The most just order of the one arising is that she first opens the eyes of the mind, and then, upon hearing Peter's voice, she sits up, reclaiming the light of her circumspection which she had lost and lives according to the teaching of those who had helped her.

Commentary on Acts ↗