Acts 9:32

King James Version (KJV)

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

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

As Peter passed throughout all quarters - Δια παντων, Bp. Pearce thinks, should be translated, not through all quarters, but through all the saints. The Churches having rest, the apostles made use of this interval of quiet to visit the different congregations, in order to build them up on their most holy faith. Of Saul we hear no more till Acts 11:30, which is supposed to be about five years after this time; eight in all from his conversion. Peter, it seems, had continued in Jerusalem all the time that the Churches were in a state of persecution throughout the whole land. Great as he was, he never evidenced that steady determinate courage by which St. Paul was so eminently distinguished; nor did he ever suffer half so much for God and his truth.

To the saints - The Jews, who had been converted to Christianity.

Which dwelt at Lydda - A town in the tribe of Ephraim, almost on the border of Judea, and nigh unto Joppa: it was about ten leagues from Jerusalem, and was afterwards known by the name of Diospolis, or the city of Jupiter.

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

To the saints - To the Christians.

Which dwelt at Lydda - This town was situated on the road from Jerusalem to Caesarea Philippi. It was about 10 or 12 miles southeast from Joppa, and belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. It was called by the Greeks Diospolis, or city of Jupiter, probably because a temple was at some period erected to Jupiter in that city. It is now so entirely ruined as to be a miserable village. Since the Crusades, it has been called by the Christians George, on account of its having been the scene of the martyrdom of a saint of that name. Tradition says that in this city the Emperor Justinian erected a church.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Christians are saints, or holy people; not only the eminent ones, as Saint Peter and Saint Paul, but every sincere professor of the faith of Christ. Christ chose patients whose diseases were incurable in the course of nature, to show how desperate was the case of fallen mankind. When we were wholly without strength, as this poor man, he sent his word to heal us. Peter does not pretend to heal by any power of his own, but directs Eneas to look up to Christ for help. Let none say, that because it is Christ, who, by the power of his grace, works all our works in us, therefore we have no work, no duty to do; for though Jesus Christ makes thee whole, yet thou must arise, and use the power he gives thee.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

32. Came to pass. See on Luke 1:8. The phrase is typical of Luke’s style. He uses it at least 39 times in his Gospel, and 14 times in Acts. It usually marks a juncture in the narrative.

Peter. From this point until ch. 11:25, the record leaves Saul and turns to the work of Peter. Because of this, the present section is sometimes described as “The Acts of Peter.” It is evident, however, that Luke gives this account of Peter’s ministry not as a partial biography of this pillar of the church, but as a part of his over-all literary plan of depicting the conversion of the Gentiles. When, through the work of Peter, this new phase of Christian service is well on its way, the writer returns to Saul’s career and concentrates on his missionary labors among the Gentiles.

Luke’s narrative (Acts 8:25) had left Peter, with John, preaching the gospel to Samaritan villages on his way back to Jerusalem. After his return he received a 15-day visit from Saul (Gal. 1:18). But it is clear that the apostles did not cloister themselves in Jerusalem; they went farther afield and ministered to newly established groups of believers. Such visits helped to unify the infant church and promote its balanced growth.

Passed. Gr. dierchomai, “to go through.” For its missionary significance see on ch. 8:4 (cf. Luke 9:6).

Throughout all quarters. This may also be translated “among them all,” referring either to the church groups of v. 31 or to the “saints” mentioned later in this verse.

Saints. See on v. 13.

Lydda. Lod of the OT (1 Chron. 8:12; Ezra 2:33; Neh. 7:37; 11:35), known in modern times as Ludd. The town was founded by settlers from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chron. 8:1, 12), in the rich plain of Sharon. It lay 11 mi. (17.7 km.) southeast of Joppa, and a day’s journey northwest of Jerusalem. Josephus (Antiquities xx. 6. 2) called it a village “not less than a city in largeness.” At the request of Judas Maccabaeus, Demetrius Soter transferred it to the holdings of the Temple at Jerusalem (1 Maccabees 11:32-34). Under the rule of the Roman Cassius, noted for his brutal seizure of property and funds, the inhabitants were sold as slaves (Josephus Antiquities xiv. 11. 2 [275]). However, it had recovered its former prosperity, and appears at this time to have been the seat of a flourishing Christian community. In the wars preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, it was burned by Cestius Gallus a.d. 66 (Josephus War ii. 19. 1 [515, 516]), when most of its inhabitants had gone to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, and was occupied by Vespasian in a.d. 68 (ibid. iv. 8. 1 [444]). When the city was rebuilt, probably under Hadrian (c. a.d. 130), it was renamed Diospolis (City of Zeus). It was later the seat of one of the chief bishoprics of the Syrian church. Its outstanding characteristic seems to have been its poverty. According to an ancient Jewish commentary, Rabbi Nathan (a.d. 160) said, “There are ten portions of poverty in the world, nine in Lydia [Lydda] and one in the rest of the world” (Midrash Rabbah, on Esther 1:3, Soncino ed., p. 30). It is quite likely that the faith of Christ was planted in the city by Philip the evangelist. The town would be on the road that Philip would travel as he passed through “all the cities” on his way from Azotus to Caesarea (see on Acts 8:40).

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
The Story of Redemption, 281

This chapter is based on Acts 9:32 to 11:18.

Peter, in pursuance of his work, visited the saints at Lydda. There he healed Aeneas, who had been confined to his bed for eight years with 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.” SR 281.1

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 131-2

This chapter is based on Acts 9:32-43; Acts 10; Acts 11:1-18.

In the course of his ministry the apostle Peter visited the believers at Lydda. Here he healed Aeneas, who for eight years had been confined to his bed with palsy. “Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole,” the apostle said; “arise, and make thy bed.” “He arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.” AA 131.1

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Cross References

the saints