Acts 9

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

What does Acts 9:35 mean?

Explanation

Acts 9:35 discusses the result of a miraculous healing performed by Peter in the town of Lydda.

The verse indicates that everyone who lived in Lydda and the surrounding area of Sharon saw the man who had been healed and, as a result, many turned to the Lord.

This verse suggests a direct connection between witnessing a miracle and the decision of many people to embrace Christian faith.

The converted individuals are not said to believe in Peter, but rather in the Lord, indicating the miracle was understood as an act of God.

The literal meaning is that the physical healing had a spiritual ripple effect, leading to the conversion of other individuals.

On a deeper level, it illustrates the transformative power of witnessing God's work through the actions of the apostles.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The book of Acts was written by Luke, the physician, who also wrote the Gospel of Luke.

Acts 9:35 occurs in the context of the early Christian church, where apostles like Peter traveled to different regions to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Lydda, also known as Lod, was a town in the Roman province of Judea, not far from the Mediterranean coast, and Saron (Sharon) was a region to the northwest of Lydda, known for its fertility and beauty.

This part of Acts describes the period following the persecution of the early church, during which the apostles performed various miracles that attested to their divine mandate and helped the nascent Christian faith to spread.

Theological Insights

From a theological point of view, Acts 9:35 supports several key doctrines:

Divine Healing: The verse affirms the belief that God has the power to heal physical ailments as a sign of His sovereignty and compassion.
Witness and Conversion: It promotes the concept that witnessing God's work is a powerful tool for conversion, as the miracle performed by Peter leads others to faith.
Apostolic Authority: This incident testifies to the authority given to the apostles by Jesus Christ to perform miracles in His name, demonstrating their unique role in the early church.

Different theological traditions may emphasize various aspects of this verse.

For example, Charismatic groups might focus on the continuation of spiritual gifts and healings, while more traditional or cessationist groups might emphasize the historical context of apostolic miracles as being specific to the foundation of the church.

Practical Applications

Acts 9:35 has several practical applications for contemporary believers:

It encourages Christians to share their testimonies and work in a way that clearly demonstrates the love and power of God to others.
The verse can inspire believers to pray for the sick and trust in God's power to heal.
It underlines the importance of letting one's actions reflect Christian faith to positively influence others’ belief.

Cross-References

Acts 3:16: "And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."
Acts 8:6: "And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did."
Matthew 9:6-8: "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Acts 9:35 that are significant in understanding the verse include:

"turn" (ἐπιστρέφω, epistrephō): to turn to, convert to.

This word carries the idea of a complete change in direction, indicative of a profound change in belief or allegiance.

"Lord" (Κύριος, Kyrios): a title for God or Jesus, implying authority and divinity, which accents the object of their newfound faith.

Studying these words helps us grasp the nature of the conversion experienced by the residents of Lydda and Sharon: a significant turning toward a relationship with the divine Lord.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, miracles and acts of healing were often associated with divine favor or the actions of gods.

In Greco-Roman mythology, gods like Asclepius were associated with healing.

In Jewish tradition, miracles accompanied significant figures like the prophets Elijah and Elisha.

The Christian understanding of miracles as signs of God's kingdom and divine authority maintains continuity with this wider cultural and religious context but uniquely attributes these acts as affirmations of the truth of Jesus Christ's message and identity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, miraculous healings such as the one referred to in Acts 9:35 are typically viewed with skepticism. The scientific method requires observable, repeatable evidence to support claims, which is often not the case with reported miracles.

However, some interdisciplinary scholars may engage in discussions about the potential psychosomatic effects of belief and the impact of spiritual experiences on physical health.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 9:35 offer varied insights:

Some emphasize the miracle as a demonstration of God's power to validate the message of the apostles and point out that the healing is not just physical but leads to spiritual restoration.
Others examine the socio-political implications of the conversions in Lydda and Sharon, noting how the spread of Christianity challenged existing religious and cultural norms.
Still, others explore the text from a literary perspective, looking at its place within the narrative of Acts and the portrayal of Peter's ministry as parallel to that of Jesus in the Gospels.

Acts 9

Acts 9

What does Acts 9:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 9:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?