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John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
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MacArthur explains below (note) these first Jewish Christians did not immediately separate from their association with the synagogue. This would explain why Saul needed letters from the Jewish Sanhedrin, giving him the right and the power to come into the synagogues in Damascus and in effect "extradite" the disciples of Jesus to Jerusalem. The Way is another name for the disciples of Jesus, Christians who at this stage of the church development, had converted to Christianity out of Judaism. The Way is mentioned 4 times in Acts - Acts 19:9,23 Acts 24:14 Acts 24:22. Marty notes that "The designation of believers as belonging to the Way referred to a distinctive moral and spiritual way of life. Significantly, this is in contrast to Jewish “halacha,” a Hebrew term meaning “the way of walking,” used of rabbinic explanations and applications of Mosaic law. Instead of following “halacha,” these believers follow the way of the Messiah." (Borrow Moody Bible Commentary page 1692) The opponents of the Way often referred to them as members of “the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5, cf Acts 24:14 "the Way which they call a sect"; Acts 28:22 = "concerning this sect"). Notice how they would generally avoid using the Name Jesus or Christ. Instead in this case they use Nazarene in a derogatory sense, for this name was repeatedly linked with Jesus in the NT - (Mt. 2:23; 26:71; Lk 18:37; Jn 18:5, 7; 19:19; Acts 2:22; 3:6; Acts 4:10; 6:14; 22:8; 26:9) Notice that the Greek is very specific here - Luke says not "a Way" but "the Way." Christianity is not one of many ways to God but is "the way," the only way! Proverbs describes the approach of most people in the world declaring "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Pr 14:12). Jesus made it clear that He alone was the way (cf Acts 4:12) when He declared “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; (absolutely) no one comes to the Father but through Me." (Jn 14:6). Even the demon possessed girl knew that Paul and Silas were proclaiming "the way of salvation." (Acts 16:17). In Acts 18:25 Apollos "had been instructed in the way of the Lord." In Paul's third mention of his conversion on the Damascus road, he declares "I saw on the way a light from heaven." (Acts 26:13) In other words on the way to persecute Christians he encountered the Way of salvation, the Savior Himself! Stated another way, as Saul journeyed on his way to arrest members of the Way, he himself was arrested by the One Who alone is the Way! What divine irony! Compare parallel uses of the way - "the way into the holy place" (Heb 9:8), "the way of truth" (2 Pe 2:2), "the way of righteousness" (2 Pe 2:21) Jesus warned there were two ways, one broad, the other narrow, but only one way leads to eternal life... Enter (aorist imperative) through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt 7:13-14+) Comment: Jesus' words are paralleled by the psalmist's description of the two ways in Psalm 1 - "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish." (Ps 1:6) A T
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MacArthur has a helpful note on why Saul would be going to Damascus - There were probably 150,000 minimum people in Damascus. At least 20,000 were Jews. We know that because it wasn't too long after this that Damascus was sacked and about 20,000 Jews were massacred (ED:
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MacArthur comments on Saul's continual praying - "Prayer is the spontaneous response of the believing heart to God. Those truly transformed by Jesus Christ find themselves lost in the wonder and joy of communion with Him. Prayer is as natural for the Christian as breathing. Paul became a man of unceasing prayer." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) Praying (present tense)(4336)(proseuchomai from pros = toward, facing, before [emphasizing the direct approach of the one who prays in seeking God’s face] + euchomai = originally to speak out, utter aloud, express a wish, then to pray or to vow. Greek technical term for invoking a deity) in the NT is always used of prayer addressed to God (to Him as the object of faith and the One who will answer one’s prayer) and means to speak consciously (with or without vocalization) to Him, with a definite aim (See study of noun proseuche). Proseuchomai encompasses all the aspects of prayer -- submission, confession, petition, supplication (may concern one's own need), intercession (concerned with the needs of others), praise, and thanksgiving. Spurgeon rightly said that "Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Ghost upon the renewed heart."
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MacArthur adds "It is significant that unlike the Jews (Acts 2:1-4), the Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17), and soon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-46), Saul had received the Spirit and his commissioning to service with no apostles present. Saul was a Jew, so there was no need to repeat the initial coming of the Spirit that occurred at Pentecost. Also, he was an apostle in his own right and did not derive his authority from the other apostles (Gal. 1:1; cf. 1 Cor. 9:1; 2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11; Gal. 1:15-17), nor was he subject to their authority. Like them, he was chosen personally by the Lord Jesus Christ and received the Spirit for his commissioning and power directly from Him. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) As Jack Arnold says "to be effective in service for Christ and to endure the sufferings for Christ, Paul had to be filled with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be his power to live the Christian life. Paul was saved but he needed the filling or control of the Spirit for power to be effective for Christ." (Sermon) Steven Cole on filled with the Holy Spirit - Every Christian receives the indwelling Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. He gives us the power to overcome sin and His life in us produces the character qualities that are called the fruit of the Spirit (Ga 5:22-23). If you are seeking to live the Christian life in your own strength, you will be defeated and frustrated. But if you live daily in submission and dependence on the Holy Spirit, you will experience consistent victory over sin and the joy of salvation welling up within you. (An Unlikely Conversion Acts 9:1-19) Brian Harbour describes the Person and work of the Spirit for us. • The Holy Spirit is a seal who marks us off as belonging to God (Eph. 1:13). • The Holy Spirit is a sage who teaches us the things of God (John 16:13). • The Holy Spirit is a sustainer who provides strength we will need to make it through each day (Rom. 8:11). • The Holy Spirit is a supplier of spiritual gifts which we can use in carrying out the ministries of the church (1 Cor. 12:7). • The Holy Spirit is a supplicator who steps in when we do not know how to pray as we should (Rom. 8:26). • The Holy Spirit is a substitute for Christ, one just like Him, who will carry out in our lives the ministry Christ provided while He was on this earth (John 14:16). • The Holy Spirit is a sample of the spiritual blessings that will be ours through all eternity (Eph. 1:14). Illustration - A (SPIRIT FILLED/CONTROLLED) Sunday School teacher, a Mr. Edward Kimball, in 1858, led a Boston shoe clerk to give his life to Christ. The clerk, Dwight L. Moody, became an evangelist. In England in 1879, he awakened evangelistic zeal in the heart of Fredrick B. Meyer, pastor of a small church. F. B. Meyer, preaching to an American college campus, brought to Christ a student named J. Wilbur Chapman. Chapman, engaged in YMCA work, employed a former baseball player, Billy Sunday, to do evangelistic work. Billy Sunday held a revival in Charlotte, N.C. A group of local men were so enthusiastic afterward that they planned another evangelistic campaign, bringing Mordecai Hamm to town to preach. During Hamm's revival, a young man named Billy Graham heard the gospel and yielded his life to Christ. Think of the impact that this one (SPIRIT FILLED/CONTROLLED) Sunday School teacher has had. Illustration - In a little mission church in New Zealand, a line of worshipers knelt at the altar rail to receive the Lord’s Supper. Suddenly, from among them, a young native arose and returned to his pew. Some minutes later, he returned to his place at the rail. Afterwards, one of his friends asked what happened. The young man explained, “When I went forward and knelt, I found myself side by side with a man whom some years ago had slain my father and whom I had vowed to kill. I couldn’t partake of the Lord’s Supper with him, so I returned to my pew. As I sat there, I thought about Jesus’ statement at the first Lord’s Supper: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” I remembered the Lord Jesus hanging from the cross and remember He said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” That’s when I returned to the altar rail.” At times we are going to have to minister to those who are hard to minister to. Ananias identified with Saul as a Christian (Andrews) Oswald Chambers - The glory that excels (Borrow My Utmost for His Highest page 110) The Lord … hath sent me that thou mightest receive thy sight. Acts 9:17. When Paul received his sight he received spiritually an insight into the Person of Jesus Christ, and the whole of his subsequent life and preaching was nothing but Jesus Christ—“I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” No attraction was ever allowed to hold the mind and soul of Paul save the face of Jesus Christ. We have to learn to maintain an unimpaired state of character up to the last notch revealed in the vision of Jesus Christ. The abiding characteristic of a spiritual man is the interpretation of the Lord Jesus Christ to himself, and the interpretation to others of the purposes of God. The one concentrated passion of the life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this note in a man, you feel he is a man after God’s own heart. Never allow anything to deflect you from insight into Jesus Christ. It is the test of whether you are spiritual or not. To be unspiritual means that other things have a growing fascination for you. ‘Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside, So enchanted my spirit’s vision, Gazing on the Crucified.’ Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; (NASB: Lockman) KJV Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. immediately 2 Cor 3:14; 4:6 and was Acts 2:38,41; 13:12,13,37,38; Acts 22:16 Acts 9 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE SCALES FELL FROM SAUL'S EYES And (kai) connects the falling scales with the laying on of hands. Spurgeon on the results of Ananias' obedience - They were — 1. Immediate; for Paul received his sight, was comforted and baptized at once. 2. Extensive; for this Paul became a preacher of the gospel to every land. Go ye, then, wherever God sends you. Everybody is not a Paul, but yet you may find a Paul among your converts. The pearl fisher plunges into the sea; he does not know whether or no he shall bring up a pearl that will decorate an emperor's diadem, but he searches the deeps in that hope. No matter though the fisherman himself may be coarse and rugged, yet he may light upon a priceless pearl. And you, whoever you may be, plunge into your work with whole-hearted devotion (cf Mt 4:19), and you shall yet discover some hidden jewel which shall adorn Immanuel's diadem. (The Good Man Ananias - A Lesson for Believers) Immediately (2112)(eutheos from euthus = straight, immediate) is an adverb which generally means at once, right away, forthwith, straightaway, without an interval of time or a point of time subsequent to a previous point of time (time when Ananias laid his hands on Saul). All of Luke's uses of eutheos in Acts - Acts 9:18; Acts 9:20; Acts 9:34; Acts 12:10; Acts 16:10; Acts 17:10; Acts 17:14; Acts 21:30; Acts 22:29 There fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight - Presumably this occurred as Ananias laid his hands on Saul. The something like scales that fell was a reflection of the healing power of God, not the laying on of hands. Warren
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MacArthur comments that "One sure mark of a transformed life is the desire to be with fellow Christians...That does not mean, or course, that Christians are to have no contact with unbelievers. But a professing Christian who prefers the company of the people of the world is probably still one of them.” The apostle John puts it this way "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death." (1 John 3:14+). John
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MacArthur adds “Saul must have seemed to them to be the quintessential wolf in sheep’s clothing, now trying to destroy from within what he had previously tried to destroy from without.” Peterson comments that "Even believers who have seen the power of God at work in their own lives can doubt God’s ability to change others. It is also true that, ‘this shows a misdirected fear of the persecutor rather than God (cf. Luke 12:4–5)’" (Pillar NT Commentary) All of Luke's uses of phobeo Lk. 1:13; Lk. 1:30; Lk. 1:50; Lk. 2:9; Lk. 2:10; Lk. 5:10; Lk. 8:25; Lk. 8:35; Lk. 8:50; Lk. 9:34; Lk. 9:45; Lk. 12:4; Lk. 12:5; Lk. 12:7; Lk. 12:32; Lk. 18:2; Lk. 18:4; Lk. 19:21; Lk. 20:19; Lk. 22:2; Lk. 23:40; Acts 5:26; Acts 9:26; Acts 10:2; Acts 10:35; Acts 13:16; Acts 13:26; Acts 16:38; Acts 18:9; Acts 22:29; Acts 23:10; Acts 27:17; Acts 27:24; Acts 27:29; Bob
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MacArthur - Paraklēsis (encouragement) has the root meaning of coming alongside someone to give assistance by offering comfort, counsel, or exhortation. It is precisely the kind of assistance exemplified by the Good Samaritan, who, after doing everything he could for the robbed and beaten stranger, “took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you’ ” (Luke 10:35; cf. Lk 10:30, 31, 32, 33, 34). (MacArthur, J. Philippians. Chicago: Moody Press)
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MacArthur applies the fact that Peter was "on the move" in all those regions - Peter was not set in some hierarchical office but was moving, which made it easy for God to direct him. Those actively involved in ministry are usually the ones to whom God grants the most ministry opportunities. God has always seemed to entrust His richest ministries to His busiest saints. Just being wholeheartedly active in ministry places one in strategic opportunities.” Jack Andrews - QUESTION: Is our town different because we are here? Are we making a difference in this town? Johnny Hunt said, “D.L Moody passed through the cities of Great Britain and Ireland and left behind him a tail of Bible Institutes, evangelistic associations, missions, revived churches, and redeemed lives. How many broken hearts comforted, broken lives mended, broken homes rebuilt, would one have found in his trail?” God used Peter, God used D.L Moody, and God can use you and me. (Expository Sermons) He came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda - Came down is used because Peter presumably came from the higher elevations of Jerusalem or Samaria (from about 300 meters to about 30 meters above sea level for Lydda). Lydda (also called Lod in OT - 1 Chr 8:12) lies about 25 miles NW of Jerusalem at the intersection of the Kings Highway (map) and the road from Jerusalem to Joppa. It is interesting to note that if you have ever flown to Israel, you probably landed at Lod, the site of the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. If one examines the route of Peter's journeys on this map, notice that God is providentially bringing Peter closer and closer to Caesarea Maritima (by the sea). Lydda is inland, Joppa on the coast and Caesarea further up the coast to the North. It appears that God is progressively "positioning" or preparing Peter to take the Gospel to the Gentile Cornelius (in Caesarea), as described in Acts 10. Lydda while predominantly Jewish but did have a mixture of Gentiles. Where did these saints in Lydda hear the Gospel? While there could have been some believers who were "scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria" in Acts 8:1+, there is another possibility. Recall that in Acts 8:40 Phillip traveled through this area (see Phillip's journey on this map - note Azotus to Lydda) and was "preaching the Gospel" so these saints Saints (Acts 9:13, 41)(40)(hagios) is literally a holy one and properly means set apart, separated, distinct, holy. In the Bible hagios describes a man or woman who (when by grace through faith they believe in Jesus) is apart by God and for God. Their eternal position in God's eyes is that they are holy because they are in an unbreakable blood covenant with Christ and are one with Him and identified with Him. the supreme Holy One. The saint's positional holiness is imputed to their "spiritual account" from Christ. As holy ones they are brought near and into God's holy presence as Paul describes in Romans 5:2+ (cf Eph 2:6+). Those who are holy in their position, need to daily seek to be holy in their practice (1 Pe 1:15+). Stated another way, one is proven to be "holy" to an unholy world by his or her holy lifestyle, such a lifestyle ONLY being possible by daily reliance on the supernatural enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (cf Gal 3:3+, Eph 5:18+, Gal 5:16+). In summary, if you are a genuine believer in Jesus Christ, you are a genuine saint. No church announcement or pronouncement is necessary to make you a saint. St Paul is no more of a saint than you are. We are all on equal footing at the foot of Christ's Cross. So next time you meet with a believer, you might want to surprise them by saying something like "Good morning, saint ____ (their first name)!" Try it! THOUGHT TO PONDER - Saints have been supernaturally set apart (sanctified by the Holy Spirit, 1Pe 1:2+; 2Th 2:13, Ro 15:16+, Acts 20:32+, Acts 26:18+, 1 Cor 1:30, 6:11) for a special purpose (cp Ep 2:10+ - see also God's Masterpiece, Mt 5:16+, Php 2:15+), set apart from the world (Gal 6:14+, cp Jas 4:4+, 1 Jn 2:15+, 1 Jn 2:16+, 1 Jn 2:17+), the power of Sin and the fallen flesh (Ro 6:6+, Ro 6:11+, Ro 6:12, 13, 6:14+) and the dominion of the devil (Col 1:13+, Acts 26:18+, Heb 2:14, 15+) and unto God (Ro 14:7, 8, 9+). Hagios is Paul's favorite description of believers and designates the believer's position in Christ (see discussion of in Christ and in Christ Jesus) as holy or set apart from that which is secular, profane, and evil and dedicated unto God, His worship and His service (note order - worship before service, cp Mary and Martha - Lk 10:38, 39, 40, 41, 42+). Saints are now to live in this present evil age (Gal 1:4) in a manner which reflects what we were redeemed and "re-created" to be (1Pe 2:24, 25+; cp 2 Cor 7:1+) --- holy ones in character (character is what God knows we are; reputation is who other people think we are) and conduct, set apart by God to be exclusively His possession (1 Cor 6:19, 20+, Titus 2:14+) manifesting holiness of heart. Contrary to some religious teachings, the Bible itself never uses the word hagios or saint to refer to a "special class" of believers who are a "notch above" the rest. We are all equal at the foot of His Cross! (cp 2 Cor 3:5,6+, saints have "a faith of the same kind" as Peter! - 2Pe 1:1+) To reiterate, those who are holy in position (in Christ) now have the responsibility (and the power) to live holy in their experience (Christ like). Positional holiness is tantamount to justification, while experiential holiness represents progressive sanctification (growth in holiness or Christ likeness). (See related topic - Three Tenses of Salvation) Lydda (click map for Peter's possible route to Lydda) is found only in Acts (Acts 9:32, 35, 38) Greek form of Lud or Lod. It stands in the plain of Sharon nine miles from Joppa, and is called Lidd or Ludd. It acquired great importance during the Crusades as the native place of St. George, patron saint of England. Acts 9:33-34.(See summary with multiple other references) Related Resources: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Lydda American Tract Society Lydda Easton's Bible Dictionary Lydda Fausset Bible Dictionary Lydda Holman Bible Dictionary Lydda Hitchcock Bible Names Lydda Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Lydda Lod, Lydda Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Lydda Morrish Bible Dictionary Lydda Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary Lydda People's Dictionary of the Bible Lydda Watson's Theological Dictionary Lydda Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Lydda McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Lydda (2) Lydda The Jewish Encyclopedia Lydda ILLUSTRATION - When the U.S. government decided to build the first transcontinental railroad, two railroad companies were commissioned to do the work. The Central Pacific began laying track east from Sacramento, California, while the Union Pacific began working west from near Omaha, Nebraska. The two lines met at Promontory, Utah, in May 1869, and drove the last spike to connect the continent. The church began with two lines moving toward each other, each having a separate beginning point but destined to meet and be joined. These lines were the Jews and Gentiles, two great bodies of people God was bringing together to make one new unified body (Eph. 2:15). And the two “foremen” He was using were Peter and Paul (Gal. 2:7). The Life God Blesses By Dr. David Jeremiah Scripture: Acts 9:32–43, especially Acts 9:36 At Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. Introduction: The violinist Paganini stood before a packed house and played a number of difficult pieces, but one of the strings on his violin broke. He improvised on three strings, but a second string broke. Near the end of the concerto, a third snapped! Amazingly, he finished the piece on one string. The audience stood and applauded till all hands were numb. In the same way, think of what God can do with one man or one woman whom He blesses and uses. 1. A Life Marked by Ministry (Acts 9:32–33). God uses a life marked by ministry. Peter was a go-getter, going everywhere with the gospel. God seems to use busy people. It seems like every biography I read tells the story of someone who’s on the move, doing the work God has assigned. We find God’s will by being about the will He’s already revealed to us. 2. A Life Marked by Humility (Acts 9:34–35). As Peter itinerated, he came to Lydda where he found a certain man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for years. Peter told him, “Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Peter approached Aeneas, not to seek glory for himself, but for the Lord. God will not use those who are not humble in His sight. If you want to be impressed with yourself, God won’t bless you; but if you’ll allow God to work in your life and if you’ll give Him the glory, He will honor you. Peter wasn’t the healer, just the instrument. This was a one-person miracle, but its impact affected the entire city and area. Peter dealt with one man, but many turned to the Lord. Was Peter a God-blessed minister? I guess he was! 3. A Life Marked by Availability (Acts 9:36–39). From the restoration of Aeneas, Peter moved to the resurrection of Dorcas. The second miracle was a result of being available for the first one. If Peter hadn’t been in Lydda, they wouldn’t have come to get him. Walking with the Lord is an adventure. We start one place, and one opportunity leads to another. And Peter was willing to go. He didn’t have any roots that would keep him from being where God wanted him to be. This woman (Tabitha is her Aramaic name, and Dorcas is her Greek name; both words mean gazelle) was apparently a very graceful woman. The Bible calls her a “certain disciple.” She was full of good works and charitable deeds. Verse 39 says she sewed tunics and garments for those around her. She was a model of the verse saying we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10). When Dorcas died, her friends washed her body, laid her in an upper room, and went for Peter. 4. A Life Marked by Dependency (Acts 9:40–41). Peter needed something in that hour he couldn’t provide, so he knelt and prayed. We need a spirit of dependency: “Lord, if You don’t do something here, nothing’s going to happen.” When Peter finished praying, he turned to Dorcas, and said, “Arise.” She opened her eyes and sat up. Imagine the joy in the church that day. 5. A Life Marked by Productivity (Acts 9:42). The life God blesses is marked by productivity because everyone in Joppa heard of this, and as news spread more progress was recorded for the kingdom. 6. A Life Marked by Flexibility (Acts 9:43). This verse is about Peter’s remaining among the Gentiles. Peter has yet to deal with the idea that Gentiles are included in the church. He’d grown up with traditional Jewish prejudices, so when he dwelt with Simon the tanner—oh my goodness, tanners dealt with dead bodies. To a Jew, a tanner was an outcast from synagogue and society. Now everyday Peter woke up to see stinking animal skins hanging through the house. God was teaching Peter that the legalistic life was over, and now in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Conclusion: God blesses a life that’s marked by ministry. What are you doing to serve God? A life marked by humility. Do you give the glory to Christ for what He’s doing in your life? A life marked by availability. Are you willing to go to Joppa? A life marked by dependency. When you do something for God, do you kneel and pray? A life marked by productivity. When you serve the Lord, something’s going to happen. And a life marked by flexibility. Are you willing to serve God no matter the circumstances? Acts 9:33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed (NASB: Lockman) KJV 9:33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. who had been bedridden eight years Acts 3:2; 4:22; 14:8; Mark 5:25; 9:21; Luke 13:16; John 5:5; 9:1,21 Acts 9 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries There he found a man named Aeneas - Notice Aeneas did not find Peter but Peter found Aeneas. Acts 9:32 says Peter came down to the saints, so it was seem that it was in this group of believers that he encountered Aeneas, whose name means "praise." Was Aeneas saved? Some commentators do not think he was but in a sense it is a moot point because if he wasn't, he soon would be (see Acts 9:35 = "ALL"). This is the only mention of Aeneas. It is interesting that here Luke gives us the lame man's name here and in Acts 3:2 he says "a certain man who had been lame." Spurgeon on Aeneas. Found (2147)(heurisko) means to find after searching and so to discover (Mt 7:7) or to find accidentally or without seeking in the sense of happening to come across (Mt 12:44). Most likely in this context, the sense is that in the group of believers, Peter came across one who was lame. The Greek verb heurisko is first in the sentence for emphasis. Who had been bedridden eight years - "who had been confined to a mattress." (NET) When I was in medical school I did a rotation in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and saw patients paralyzed for many reasons ranging from genetic defects in infants to accidents in vigorous, productive young adults. It was one of the most heart rending rotations of my entire medical training. So when Luke describes Aeneas as bedridden, it congers up many images of human beings unable to carry out even the most basic things dealing with personal hygiene and daily survival. Such was the case of Aeneas for 8 long years! Steven Ger - Peter encountered a believer (ED: AS NOTED NOT ALL COMMENTATORS AGREE) named Aeneas, who had become a bedridden paralytic eight years earlier, in A.D. 32 (ED: THE DATES ARE APPROXIMATIONS), during Jesus' earthly ministry. (Twenty-First Century Commentary-Acts) Bedridden is 3 words - katakeimai = lying + epi = upon + krabattos = mattress, pallet, cot, bed For he was paralyzed - We are not told why he was paralyzed, but that it was for 8 years in contrast to the lame man in Acts 3 who was lame from birth. Paralyzed (3886)(paraluo from pará = from + lúo = to loose) means to loosen beside, to relax, to weaken, to disable, to undo, to cause to be feeble, to be paralyzed. It is used in NT only in the passive voice (action from without or outside of the recipient). Here paraluo is in the perfect tense which indicates this was Aeneas permanent condition, whatever the cause. Acts 9:34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up. (NASB: Lockman) KJV 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. Jesus Christ Acts 3:6,12,16; 4:10; 16:18; Mt 8:3; 9:6,28-30; John 2:11 Acts 9 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A PROVIDENTIAL MEETING WITH A PURPOSE In God's providence, Peter an apostle and Aeneas a lame man are brought together, yes to give physical healing to Aeneas but of far greater eternal value of bring salvation to all the souls in this region and ultimately magnifying God's grace and glory in and through Jesus Christ. O, to be so sensitive to the Spirit's leading in our life! Peter said to him, "Aeneas - Notice Peter's absolute confidence. He knew God's will. Now imagine if he had done this in his dependence on his own human wisdom and fleshly strength and nothing had occurred. Those watching this event would surely be impacted and probably negatively. And yet Peter's first words (at least according to Luke) after finding or discovering this lame man were "Jesus Christ heals you." How could he be so confident? While the text does not say, one has to believe Peter was a man continually filled with the Spirit and he had his "spiritual ears" attuned to listen to the Spirit's urgings. And so Peter knew God's will and knew this is what he was to say. How wonderful would it be if were so in touch with Jesus, that moment by moment we knew what He was calling us to say or do! Jesus Christ heals you - The idea is "this instant the Messiah heals you" or "heals you here and now." In other words the Greek tense indicates that healing takes place when Peter speaks. Note that Peter did not say "Peter heals you." Jesus is the Healer. Jesus is Jehovah Rapha. Peter did not claim he had the power to heal Aeneas. Peter was an instrument, a willing "vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Ti 2:21+), but Jesus was the Source of the supernatural Power. And so Jesus gets the "credit" and the glory. Not a man but the Messiah (cf Ps 115:1). Also given that Peter used the specific Name Jesus Christ indicates that Aeneas must have had some knowledge of the Messiah. Alexander