Peter In Lydda: A Man Healed Series

AN APPLICATION FOR TODAY

Wherever the risen Christ is present in the person of one of His faithful born again Christians there is new power to overcome the handicaps of human existence. Miracles do happen. They happened then and they happen now. A Christian fellowship in which there is no signs of new life, no indication that people are rising above the dead level of their old selves, that they are conquering the fears and anxieties that threaten the smooth operation of their lives—in that fellowship there is something radically wrong. Jesus promised that through the gift of the Spirit, His disciples would do greater things, and according to the stories in the Book of Acts, they went on to do them. Jesus had no monopoly on miracles. The miracles we have in the New Testament are the signs of the tremendous surplus and overflow of divine energy that had come into the world through Jesus and was being communicated to men through channels chosen by Him. It was a sign in the language of that day. The language of our day may differ, but the sign is the same—NEW LIFE AS THE RESULT OF RESURRECTION POWER.

scripture reference and special notes.

{1] (Acts 8:40) But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

{2] At this point I need to mention a view held by some Bible Scholars. Acts 12:17 states, “But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.” Note that it says that Peter “went into another place.” The idea is that Peter’s ministry in the coastal cities should be placed chronologically after Acts 12:17—after he escaped from prison in Chapter 12, he journeyed to the coastal cities and ministered to the saints. This is only supposition, since scripture doesn’t confirm this view.

{3] It has often been argued that Aeneas was not a Christian. If, however, the “there” of verse 33 is taken as referring to the “saints of Lydda,” rather than merely “Lydda,” he is associated with the Christians.

{4] (Luke 7:13-15) And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak . And he delivered him to his mother.

{5] (Luke 13:12) And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

{6] “Jesus Christ maketh thee whole” could also be translated “Jesus Christ has healed you.”

{7] (Mk. 2:11) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

{8] (Lk. 5:24) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

{9] (Lk. 8:55) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.