Prayer for God"s grace and protection undoubtedly bonded these men together in Christian love. The kneeling posture here, as elsewhere in Scripture, reflects an attitude of submission to the sovereign Lord. The normal position for praying seems to have been standing (cf. Mark 11:25), so kneeling implies a particularly solemn occasion (cf. Acts 21:5). [1][source]
Context Summary
Acts 20:28-38 - Commended To God
Notice the change of the Revised Version in Acts 20:28. The elder, whether presbyter or bishop, is not put over the flock; he is in it like the rest, needing redemption through the same precious blood. Notice also that remarkable expression, the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood, Acts 20:28. It clearly indicates Paul's view of the deity of our Lord.
The prediction of Acts 20:30 was but too soon fulfilled, 1 Timothy 1:19-20. Tears are thrice mentioned in this short passage: tears of suffering, Acts 20:19; of pastoral anxiety, Acts 20:31; and of personal affection, Acts 20:37.
The master builder was withdrawn before the edifice was completed, but he knew that God would continue, through other hands, to complete what he had begun, Acts 20:32. We are in the company of God's heirs. Let us meditate on the word of His grace, as fellow-heirs with Christ and all His saints; let us enter into possession of our inheritance. In Acts 20:35 we have the only saying of our Lord in the New Testament which is not preserved in the Gospels. The blessedness applies to our Lord as well as to ourselves. Let us not think that he is tired of our requests. Every time we ask for anything that He can give us, we add to His blessedness, as well as to our own. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 20
1Paul goes to Macedonia, and thence to Troas 7He celebrates the Lord's supper, and preaches 9Eutychus having fallen down dead is raised to life 13Paul continues his travels; 17and at Miletum he calls the elders together, tells them what shall befall to himself, 28commits God's flock to them, 29warns them of false teachers, 32commends them to God, 36prays with them, and departs
Greek Commentary for Acts 20:36
He kneeled down [τεις τα γονατα αυτου] Second aorist active participle of τιτημι tithēmi to place. The very idiom used in Acts 7:60 of Stephen. Not in ancient writers and only six times in the N.T. (Mark 15:19; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5). Certainly kneeling in prayer is a fitting attitude (cf. Jesus, Luke 22:41), though not the only proper one (Matthew 6:5). Paul apparently prayed aloud (προσηυχατο prosēuxato). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 20:36
Acts 20:36He kneeled down [τεις τα γονατα αυτου] Second aorist active participle of τιτημι tithēmi to place. The very idiom used in Acts 7:60 of Stephen. Not in ancient writers and only six times in the N.T. (Mark 15:19; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5). Certainly kneeling in prayer is a fitting attitude (cf. Jesus, Luke 22:41), though not the only proper one (Matthew 6:5). Paul apparently prayed aloud (προσηυχατο prosēuxato). [source]
Acts 7:60Kneeled down [τεις τα γονατα] Second aorist active participle of τιτημι tithēmi placing the knees (on the ground). This idiom is not in the old Greek for kneeling, but Luke has it five times (Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5) and Mark once (Acts 15:19). Jesus was standing at the right hand of God and Stephen knelt before him in worship and called on him in prayer. [source]
Greek Commentary for Acts 20:36
Second aorist active participle of τιτημι tithēmi to place. The very idiom used in Acts 7:60 of Stephen. Not in ancient writers and only six times in the N.T. (Mark 15:19; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5). Certainly kneeling in prayer is a fitting attitude (cf. Jesus, Luke 22:41), though not the only proper one (Matthew 6:5). Paul apparently prayed aloud (προσηυχατο prosēuxato). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 20:36
Second aorist active participle of τιτημι tithēmi to place. The very idiom used in Acts 7:60 of Stephen. Not in ancient writers and only six times in the N.T. (Mark 15:19; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5). Certainly kneeling in prayer is a fitting attitude (cf. Jesus, Luke 22:41), though not the only proper one (Matthew 6:5). Paul apparently prayed aloud (προσηυχατο prosēuxato). [source]
Second aorist active participle of τιτημι tithēmi placing the knees (on the ground). This idiom is not in the old Greek for kneeling, but Luke has it five times (Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5) and Mark once (Acts 15:19). Jesus was standing at the right hand of God and Stephen knelt before him in worship and called on him in prayer. [source]
He now prays whether he had at first intended to do so at Ephesians 3:1 or not. Calvin supposes that Paul knelt as he dictated this prayer, but this is not necessary. This was a common attitude in prayer (Luke 22:41; Acts 7:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5), though standing is also frequent (Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, Luke 18:13). [source]