The prayers of Rabbi Hiyya would always bear fruit. As soon as he asked for something, his request would immediately be granted. Furthermore, only the intervention of Elijah the prophet prevented him from reviving the dead through his prayer.

Elijah was frequently in attendance at the academy of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. One day it was Rosh Hodesh, and Elijah was late and did not come. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to the prophet: What is the reason that the Master was late? Elijah explained to him: I needed to awaken the patriarch Abraham and wash his hands, and then he prayed, and then I laid him down [to sleep]. I did likewise to Isaac, and likewise to Jacob. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi suggested: Let him [Elijah] awaken them together. Elijah answered: They believed that were they all awake together they would generate so powerful a prayer that they would bring the messiah prematurely. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to Elijah: Is there anyone in this world who is their equivalent in the effectiveness of his prayers? Elijah said to him: There are, Rabbi Hiyya and his sons.

Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi decreed a fast, and he designated Rabbi Hiyya and his sons to descend and serve as prayer leader. Rabbi Hiyya recited [the phrase from the Amida prayer]: He makes the wind blow; and the wind blew. He then recited: And the rain fall, and rain fell. When he sought to recite: Who revives the dead, the world trembled.

The angels in the heavens said: Who revealed secrets in the world? They said: It is Elijah. They brought Elijah to the heavens, and they beat him with sixty fiery rods. Elijah came to earth where they were praying, and he appeared to them as a bear of fire. He entered in their midst and distracted them [so they would not say: Who revives the dead]. (Bava Metzia 85b)