9:32
Peter apparently was carrying out something of an itinerant ministry, travelling from place to place. Here we read that he came to the saints at Lydda. This, along with Acts 9:13, is one of the first occurrences of Christians being referred to as saints. The word saint means “consecrated to God”. In Roman Catholic thinking, and perhaps common usage, it tends to focus on the person, seeing them as somehow being better than the average person, being holier. In the Bible it is perhaps more accurate to put the focus on God. He has set people apart for His own purposes. Saints referred to all Christians, not just a few, and the focus is on our identity, who we are in the world. We have been set apart by God for His purposes.
Lydda was 25 miles north west of Jerusalem and was an important coastal city.
9:33-35
Aeneas was paralyzed and had been confined to bed for eight years. His condition was well established. Peter declares to him “Jesus Christ heals you”. Notice two things about this. First, it is clear that the healing comes from Jesus. Secondly, the healing is declared with certainty. In line with this certainty, the man is healed immediately. This had an effect on all the people. We do not need to take “all” literally, but it does imply that the healing had a major effect. Moreover, it also implies that there was no doubt about the efficacy of the healing. The people also turned to the Lord. The purpose of all things is that people turn to Jesus.
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