Acts 9:32-35 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And as Peter passed through all quarters Where the disciples that were dispersed had planted churches; he came to the saints that were at Lydda A town of Phœnicia, situated in the tribe of Ephraim, one day's journey from Jerusalem. It stood in the plain or valley of Sharon, which extended from Cesarea to Joppa, and was noted for its fruitfulness; and there The providence of God so ordering it, for the greater confirmation of the gospel; he found a certain man named Eneas His name is mentioned for the greater assurance of the fact here recorded; which had kept his bed eight years In so deplorable a state as to be quite incapable of rising from it, or any way helpful to himself, because of the palsy wherewith he was afflicted; and Peter Being moved with compassion for him, and concerned to relieve his misery, as well as to confirm the gospel which he preached, said, Eneas, Jesus Christ In whose name I preach and act, maketh thee whole Operates while I now speak to strengthen and restore thy weakened frame. The great difference there is between the manner in which this miracle is wrought by Peter, and that in which Christ performed his works of divine power and goodness, is very observable; and the different characters of the servant and the Son, the creature and the God, are strikingly apparent. Arise, and make thy bed Depending entirely upon his almighty agency. And he arose immediately The palsy instantly leaving him, and the disabled man being all at once strengthened. It deserves notice here, also, that no faith on the part of the person to be healed was required; and the like is observable in many other cases, where persons, perhaps ignorant of Christ, were surprised with an unexpected cure. But where persons petitioned themselves for a cure, a declaration of their faith was often required, that none might be encouraged to try experiments out of curiosity, in a manner which would have been very indecent, and have tended to many bad consequences. And all that dwelt in Lydda and Saron That is, many of the inhabitants of those places; turned to the Lord That is, did so as soon as they saw him restored to health and strength, whom they before knew to be weak and helpless, and when they had had an opportunity of being informed in the particulars of so unparalleled a fact.