What can we learn from Peter's faith when he said, "Tabitha, get up"? The Scene: Acts 9:40 “Peter put them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. And turning toward the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.” What Peter’s Words Reveal about His Faith • Absolute confidence that the risen Jesus still raises the dead (John 11:25–26) • Expectation that the Spirit would confirm the gospel through signs (Acts 4:29–30) • Willingness to act on prior authority Jesus had given: “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing” (John 14:12) • Memory of Jesus’ own command, “Talitha koum!” (“Little girl, get up,” Mark 5:41), shaping both the wording and the certainty of his command How Peter Prepared • Cleared the room—removing distraction and unbelief (cf. Mark 5:40) • Knelt in prayer—submitting to God before speaking to Tabitha • Spoke briefly and plainly—faith speaks simply because it trusts completely Key Lessons for Us Today • Faith acts on God’s revealed power, not on visible circumstances (2 Corinthians 5:7) • Prayer aligns the heart with God before public ministry (Philippians 4:6–7) • Obedience precedes results; Peter moved only after receiving assurance in prayer (James 2:17) • Scripture provides patterns to imitate; Jesus’ example informed Peter’s action (1 Peter 2:21) • Miracles authenticate the message but flow from a life already surrendered (Acts 3:6; Acts 9:36) Living Out Similar Faith – Fill your mind with Christ’s works so your reflexes mirror His (Romans 12:2) – Pray first, speak second; power rests in dependence, not personality (Ephesians 6:18) – Act on the authority of Christ’s word, even when culture scoffs (Matthew 17:20) – Expect God to glorify His Son through willing vessels today as He did then (Hebrews 13:8) Encouragement Peter’s simple command, “Tabitha, get up,” sprang from a heart convinced that Jesus reigns over death. That same certainty fuels courageous, obedient faith in every generation. |
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