Peter heals a paralyzed man in Lydda.

Acts 9:32-35

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
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“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.” Acts 9:32

Wherever the Apostles went to, they always made time to visit the brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. That is the desire of every Believer, to be in the company of fellow Believers. In today’s world, that is a rare occurrence as fellowship in the name of Jesus seems to be countered with disruption and barriers of all types.

On the map below, Lydda is seen circled in yellow [the bottom yellow circle]. The Plain of Sharon is seen in the oblong yellow circle. Joppa is northwest of Lydda, also circled in yellow.

“There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” Acts 9:33-35

To be bedridden and paralyzed for eight years would be known by everyone then and also nowadays. Nowadays, paralyzed people receive disability checks for their handicap, home health aide etc. If they got up and walked after eight years of collecting government subsidies they would be put in prison for fraud and made to pay back every dollar given to them over eight years. Today’s culture would never accept that a miraculous physical healing had occurred. Handicapped people would be more inclined to say “No” to a physical healing and would have to know the eternal riches of saying yes to the miracle of receiving the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. The gift of Salvation and eternal life has nothing to do with money nor physical healings. When Christians are arrested, it isn’t for disability fraud, but for our faith in Jesus Christ.

Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” And Aeneas did! He began to walk. There were no disability checks or government oversight involved. More importantly, Aeneas began to walk in Jesus Christ and he began to share his belief in the Lord. Aeneas returned home a Believer, not a worker of physical healings. The physical healing of Aeneas led many to believe in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. The focus of our faith must never be on physical healings but on Jesus Christ who forgives unbelief, gives the Holy Spirit, and grants eternal life. The Gospel is this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Today, the beast has power over physiology and over every single cell of the body and is able to give physical healings. That is the same beast that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel. Today’s atheistic culture supports anything that beast does and health professionals will even provide scientific reasons why the miracle took place and is not fraud at all. Those healings are done to mock the Living God, scoff at the need for Jesus Christ, and blaspheme the presence of the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus Christ, belief in God, living for Jesus Christ, and embracing the Holy Spirit is far more important than any physical healing.

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11