9:32 Now it came to
pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to
the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas,
who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him,
“Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose
immediately. 35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the
Lord.
The book of Acts is a book of action. Things are happening
all over the place and we are being told the highlights. Now we are leaving
Saul who has left for Tarsus and are rejoining Peter who is on a preaching tour
throughout Judah. His travels have taken him to Lydda which is almost straight
west of Jerusalem toward the coast of the Mediterranean near Joppa. There he
meets a paralyzed man named Aeneas who has been bedridden for eight years.
This man was named after the supposed son of the Greek
"god" Aphrodite. His name means 'praiseworthy'. Yet here he is
rendered helpless. No 'gods' have rescued him. Peter comes to him and says
"Jesus the Christ (Messiah) heals you. Arise and make your bed."
The news of what happened spread all over town and beyond and
many believed. Today it's common to have theologians explain away miracles.
Demon possession was epilepsy etc... yet it's hard to fake 8 years of
paralysis. This man wasn't brought into town as part of a healing circus show.
He was a local. They knew him. He was one of them. When they saw what Jesus
could do even for a paralyzed man they believed. They discovered the One who was
praise worthy.
It's important to realize what did not happen in Lydda. Not
everyone personally experienced an undeniable physical miracle. Most of them
didn't even see the moment the miracle happened. What they did see was a
healthy man walking that they knew had been a paralytic for years.
You may never experience a miracle of this magnitude yourself
but if you are open to evidence they still happen. Tumours disappear. Cancers
vanish. Eyesight returns without any medical intervention. Aeneas was named 'praiseworthy'
after the son of an impotent 'god', but thanks to Peter's faithfulness to God
and willingness to serve, he and his village discovered the One who truly is
praiseworthy.
Keep your eyes and ears open and you will find reasons to
call Him praiseworthy too.
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