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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_9:32-35
32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up. 35And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Act_9:32 "Peter was traveling" Apparently the Apostles were preaching throughout Palestine and in neighboring countries.
▣ "the saints" This term is used in the book of Acts to describe the church. See hyperlink at Act_9:13. The term "disciples" is gradually replaced by the term "saints." The term is related to the OT word "holy" and means, "set apart" for God's service. It is never used in the singular except one time in Php_4:21, which is a corporate context. This shows that to be a saint means to be "in community." See Special Topic at Act_9:13. All believers are called "saints" in the NT! It is our position in Christ that is being emphasized.
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▣ "Lydda" The town of Lydda was located on the trade route from Babylon to Egypt. In the OT it was known as "Lod" (cf. 1Ch_8:12). It was about eleven miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. This is the same area visited by Philip in Act_8:40.
Act_9:33 "a man named Aeneas" His Greek name means "praise." Whether he is a believer or unbeliever is uncertain, but apparently Peter is revisiting the established churches started by Philip.
▣ "who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed" This translation is the most common interpretation of this Greek phrase (NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB). However, the Greek phrase can mean "since eight years old" (cf. Newman and Nida, A Translator's Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles, p. 199).
Act_9:34 "Jesus Christ heals you" There is no article here, which implies that these two terms had become a common designation. This is a literary form known as an aoristic present, which means "this instant the Messiah is healing you."
▣ "get up and make your bed" These are two aorist active imperatives showing intensity and urgency!
▣ "Immediately he got up" This shows the man's faith in response to Peter's message about Jesus.
Act_9:35 "all who lived at Lydda" This is a good example of a hyperbolic use of the term "all" in the Bible (cf. Gen_41:37; Deu_2:25; Luk_2:1; Rom_11:26).
▣ "Sharon" This refers to the northern coastal plain in Palestine. It is about thirty miles in length running from Joppa to Caesarea.
▣ "and they turned to the Lord" The word "turn to" may reflect the OT word for repentance (shub). It implies turning from sin and self (repentance) and turning to (faith) the Lord (cf. Act_11:21).
This little summary statement is included several times in this section, showing the great movement of the Spirit of God through Peter and later through Paul. This miraculous event opened the door for the proclamation of the gospel.
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