And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
[True Story, Names and Some Details Changed]
Tom was deeply worried about his 20-something daughter. She had decided to make her own way, and having landed a job in another city, moved away from home. The job didn’t go well and she got fired. Still she stayed in her apartment – which she could not really afford. Then she stopped answering his texts. She had cut herself off from her friends and family.
All this weighed so deeply on his heart that he decided to kneel beside beside his bed each night to pray for his daughter. When the answer came it was not what he expected or wanted. But it was an answer, and God used further trouble to bring his daughter back into the family.
It is not my practice to kneel in prayer – with the exception of situations like Tom faced. But there have been those times. When our youngest son was born and faced a grave potential medical issue, I prayed earnestly – walking around the sanctuary of the church I served at the time, kneeling at the altar. Praying. We typically kneel at the altar rail for Holy Communion. And some churches have kneelers in their pews so that people can kneel for the confession of sins, or for prayer after receiving communion. An interesting side note: churches in Europe, we often found, have kneeling platforms built into their pews with no padding. They must be a hearty stock!
The purpose of kneeling seems to be two fold. For one, it can indicate humility. We kneel before the throne of God. We kneel in humility before the King of kings. We acknowledge God to be above all gods. Kneeling can also focus our prayers, signifying an urgent appeal to God. It can be a way that we express outwardly that we are seeking God’s help, mercy, grace, or forgiveness.
When Paul leaves Tyre, heading to Jerusalem, the people there kneel on the beach in prayer. Luke was there with them. Note the “we” he uses to describe their action. It seems to me that this was an act of humility, foreshadowing the words of the disciples in Caesarea who say, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” Their prayers were urgent, tearful, seeking comfort from God, and protection and courage for Paul no doubt.
They knelt and prayed. What a great example for us today. Humility. Urgency. Sincerity. Faith. These are the inward attributes of one after God’s own heart, and they are expressed outwardly in kneeling.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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