SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:36
¶ Cuando hubo dicho estas cosas, se puso de rodillas, y or con todos ellos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 20:36
Verse 36. He kneeled down and prayed] Kneeling is the proper posture of a supplicant, it argues at once both humility and submission; and he who prays to God should endeavour to feel the utmost measures of both.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 36. And when he had thus spoken , etc.] And finished his speech to the elders: he kneeled down: upon the floor, which was a prayer gesture, used by Christ, and others; for, it seems, the disuse of kneeling in prayer, between the passover and pentecost, which Tertullian f1043 , and other writers, speak of, had not yet obtained, which was in memory of Christs resurrection from the dead, for this was now the time: (see Acts 20:6,16) and prayed with them all : and no doubt for them all; the Syriac version renders it, and he prayed, and all the men with him; the apostle, and the elders, joined together in prayer.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 28-38 - If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is God. This put such dignity and worth into it, as to ransom believer from all evil, and purchase all good. Paul spake about their souls with affection and concern. They were full of care what would become of them. Paul directs them to look up to God with faith, and commends the to the word of God's grace, not only as the foundation of their hop and the fountain of their joy, but as the rule of their walking. The most advanced Christians are capable of growing, and will find the wor of grace help their growth. As those cannot be welcome guests to the holy God who are unsanctified; so heaven would be no heaven to them but to all who are born again, and on whom the image of God is renewed it is sure, as almighty power and eternal truth make it so. He recommends himself to them as an example of not caring as to things of the present world; this they would find help forward their comfortabl passage through it. It might seem a hard saying, therefore Paul adds to it a saying of their Master's, which he would have them alway remember; "It is more blessed to give than to receive:" it seems the were words often used to his disciples. The opinion of the children of this world, is contrary to this; they are afraid of giving, unless in hope of getting. Clear gain, is with them the most blessed thing tha can be; but Christ tell us what is more blessed, more excellent. I makes us more like to God, who gives to all, and receives from none and to the Lord Jesus, who went about doing good. This mind was in Christ Jesus, may it be in us also. It is good for friends, when the part, to part with prayer. Those who exhort and pray for one another may have many weeping seasons and painful separations, but they wil meet before the throne of God, to part no more. It was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with him and stayed with them __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ταυτα 5023 D-APN ειπων 2036 5631 V-2AAP-NSM θεις 5087 5631 V-2AAP-NSM τα 3588 T-APN γονατα 1119 N-APN αυτου 846 P-GSM συν 4862 PREP πασιν 3956 A-DPM αυτοις 846 P-DPM προσηυξατο 4336 5662 V-ADI-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
20:36 {He kneeled down} (qeis ta gonata autou). Second aorist active participle of tiqemi, to place. The very idiom used in #7:60 of Stephen. Not in ancient writers and only six times in the N.T. (#Mr 15:19; Lu 22:41; Ac 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5). Certainly kneeling in prayer is a fitting attitude (cf. Jesus, #Lu 22:41), though not the only proper one (#Mt 6:5). Paul apparently prayed aloud (proseuxato).
