The New Testament writers used a variety of literary and grammatical devices to help guide the reader. Some of these devices were intended to attract attention to important information, while others served to push less-important information into the background. Some were used simply to grab your attention, alerting you that something important or surprising was about to happen.
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Runge, S. E. (2008–2014). The Lexham High Definition New Testament: ESV Edition (Ac 9:32–35). Lexham Press.
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9:32–35 Like Philip (8:40), Peter proclaims the good news along the Mediterranean coast.
9:32 in Lydda Located about 10 miles inland from Joppa.
9:33 Aeneas A Greek name; Aeneas is likely a Hellenistic Jew (compare v. 29 and note).
Greek-speaking Jews Refers to Greek-speaking and cultured Jews. Stephen’s initial dispute was with a similar group in 6:9–10. See note on 6:1.
the Greek-speaking Jews Refers to ethnic Jews who practiced Judaism and largely adopted Greek language and culture. They may have lived most of their lives outside of Judaea.
the Hebraic Jews Refers to Jews who have not widely adopted Greek language or culture
This group primarily spoke Aramaic or Hebrew, and although they may have spoken Greek too, they remained fundamentally Jewish in their lifestyle. The antagonism between these two groups is likely rooted in the Hebraic Jews viewing other Jews with suspicion—seeing them as not purely Jewish or as compromisers of their identity. This antagonism represents an obstacle to the early church’s goal of becoming a new expression of humanity, united in Christ rather than divided along ethnic or social lines (compare 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:28).
Miracles in Acts
| Miracle | Reference |
| Everyone is awestruck by the miracles done by the apostles | Acts 2:43 |
| Peter heals a man lame from birth; the authorities are forced to recognize that a “sign” has been performed | Acts 3:2–10; 4:16, 22 |
| The apostles perform many signs and wonders, healings and exorcisms; Peter’s mere shadow has healing power | Acts 5:12–16 |
| An angel rescues the apostles from prison | Acts 5:18–20 |
| Stephen performs signs and wonders | Acts 6:8 |
| Philip performs signs, healings, and exorcisms in Samaria | Acts 8:6–7 |
| Philip’s signs and miracles amaze Simon the Magician | Acts 8:13 |
| The spirit of the Lord snatches Philip from the road to Gaza and places him in Azotus | Acts 8:39–40 |
| Saul’s conversion, blindness, and healing at the hands of Ananias | Acts 9:1–18; 22:6–13; 26:12–18 |
| Peter heals Aeneas in Lydda | Acts 9:33–34 |
| Peter raises Tabitha/Dorcas | Acts 9:36–41 |
| An angel rescues Peter from prison | Acts 12:6–11 |
| Paul strikes Bar-Jesus/Elymas blind | Acts 13:6–11 |
| Paul and Barnabas perform signs and wonders in Phrygian Iconium | Acts 14:3 |
| Paul heals a man lame from birth | Acts 14:8–10 |
| Paul and Barnabas recount the signs and wonders performed among non-Jews | Acts 15:12 |
| Paul casts out a spirit of divination | Acts 16:16–18 |
| Paul and Silas are freed from prison by an earthquake | Acts 16:26 |
| God works “extraordinary miracles” through Paul; garments that have merely touched him have healing power | Acts 19:11–12 |
| Paul raises Eutychus after he falls from a third-story window | Acts 20:9–10 |
| Paul survives a viper’s bite | Acts 28:3–6 |
| Paul heals the father of Publius and others |
9:35 who lived in Lydda and Sharon Refers to the area of the coastal plain. At first the church interacts with those who have been influenced by non-Jewish people (the Gentiles)—the Samaritans and Greek-speaking Jews. Now God moves Peter closer to the Gentiles.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 9:31). Lexham Press.
This set of detailed commentaries provides valuable exegetical, historical, cultural, and linguistic information on the original text. Over the years this series has been instrumental in shedding light on the Scriptures so that translators all over the world could complete the important task of putting God’s Word into the many languages spoken in the world today.
PETER IN LYDDA AND JOPPA ACT 9:32–43
As in the case of the previous section heading, this one may also seem unduly short and abrupt. One can restructure it into a complete sentence by saying “Peter Goes to Lydda and Joppa” but probably better “Peter Performs Miracles in Lydda and Joppa.”
The two miracles performed by Peter in Lydda and Joppa seem to prepare the way for the even greater miracle of the giving of the Holy Spirit to Cornelius in Caesarea. The shift back to Peter does seem rather abrupt in the English text, but in Greek the use of “it happened” at the very beginning of verse 32 clearly marks another type of episode. It may, therefore, be necessary to reproduce something of this same kind of transitional device.
Everywhere, of course, does not mean all over the world, and the idea may be limited to the many villages of Samaria (see 8:25). However, this may be imposing too great a limitation upon the meaning of the word as used by Luke.
On the translation of “the saints” as God’s people see 9:13.
note: (NET)
tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
Lydda was a small village lying northwest of Jerusalem, some ten miles from Joppa.
For eight years may mean “since he was eight years old,” but most translations and commentaries render this phrase in the sense of the TEV.
The expression Jesus Christ makes you well is a kind of third person command. In some languages the equivalent is “Jesus Christ will make you well right now” or “Jesus Christ causes you to become well.”
Make your bed (so the large majority of the commentaries and translations) may mean “get yourself something to eat,” since the Greek is literally “spread for yourself.” However, the natural meaning in this particular context would seem to be make your bed. The phrase make your bed must of course not be translated in a form which would imply building or constructing the bed. It is only arranging or rolling up the bed or mat.
Sharon is the coastal plain extending thirty miles along the sea from Joppa to Caesarea. A translation should make clear that Sharon is not a town, but the coastal plain (see Twentieth Century “all the inhabitants of Lydda and of the Plain of Sharon”; see also Zürich).
Turned to the Lord must be understood in the sense of “became believers in the Lord.” In many languages the mere process of “turning” implies no figurative extension of believing in or becoming a disciple of.
Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 199). United Bible Societies.
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