The next few scheduled articles are from the latter part of Acts 9. Before we start today’s text, I encourage you to read Acts 9:31-32. As one of the church’s persecutors (Saul) learned the truth about Jesus and began to follow Him (which is an interesting and significant account of its own – see Acts 8:1-3), God brought peace to the church for a time.
In verse 32, sort of like when he and John came to a city in Samaria to follow up on Phillip’s ministry (see Acts 8:14-17), Peter is going on what we might call a missionary journey. Like Paul’s journeys, Peter’s travels seem to have combined both 1) visiting existing believers and 2) bringing other people to Jesus for the first time.
In verse 32, Peter visits a place called Lydda, According to Internet sources (see LYDDA – Where Is The Ancient Biblical City Of Lydda / Lod? (bibleversestudy.com) and Lod – Wikipedia), Lydda is also known as Lod or Ludd, and Sharon is the name of the plain where the town is located. It’s about 20-25 miles northwest from Jerusalem, so it wouldn’t have been a long way for Peter to travel.
At Lydda, something amazing happens:
There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
Acts 9:33-34 NIV
For those of us raised in church and/or Sunday School, we might recognize this as being similar to other accounts of healing in the Bible. I’d like to point out a few things about this event, though:
Peter was visiting other believers (“saints”, lit. “holy ones” in the NASB). The church doesn’t run on autopilot. Leaders should be seeking God’s will, while members are led by Jesus and listen to guidance from the Holy Spirit. However, while this is true locally, there was also benefit in Peter going out to support other congregations outside of Jerusalem. I encourage followers of Jesus to consider meeting with believers outside of our own congregations from time to time, whether visiting a church while traveling, or worshiping with other local churches from time to time.
Originally, Aeneas was clearly disabled. This was not some sort of trick, since the people would have known that Aeneas was unable to walk for a long time. And, afterwards, Aeneas was clearly healed. When you’ve been paralyzed for 8 years, getting up is a pretty strong testimony. Perhaps the reason that you or I are dealing with challenges today is so that we can provide a testimony to God’s gracious healing in the future.
Peter did not take the credit for the healing. He made it crystal clear that it was Jesus Christ who was healing Aeneas.
And, the result of this miracle was belief. (See Acts 9:35.) Whether or not God chooses to perform miraculous signs through us, our actions should lead others to believing in Jesus and accepting Him as their Lord and Savior. Whether God works healing through us, or we are simply serving others as Jesus served others, the goal isn’t for us to merely “look good” to the world or to somehow achieve a secular form of “social justice” (although God’s instructions for our behavior do include justice and mercy – see Micah 6:8, for instance). The work and ministry of each Christian should attest to the truth of Jesus Christ, as we share the good news about Him and demonstrate what it means to become more and more like Him as our perfect example.
So, how about you? Are you more like Aeneas in this story, needing to endure hardship for a while so that God’s power and love can be shown through you? If so, it’s OK to pray for healing, even while trusting that God’s plan is wise and fruitful. Or, are you more like Peter in this story, through whom God is going to work for the benefit of someone else? if so, don’t be afraid to follow the Holy Spirit, past the limits of your own capabilities, and step into what only He can do.
Regardless of your role in God’s plan today, though, may your – and my – actions bring people closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether you stand up and walk like Aeneas, or give credit to Jesus Christ, you can testify to the power of God.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for October 29, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, October 29, 2023, © 2023 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- New Testament History: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Acts, by Gareth L. Reese. © 1976, College Press Publishing Company.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Acts, by Dennis Gaertner. © 1993 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 