THE HEALING OF AENEAS

Acts 9:32-35 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints, which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of 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.

In the verse preceding the lesson text we find at this time, in New Testament history, that the church of Christ at Jerusalem was now having peace and rest, and experiencing growth in number and in faith. The persecution of the first church at Jerusalem favorably resulted in the dispersion of Christians into other provinces and countries. Because of this, the church of Christ grew and multiplied with new congregations of Christians being founded throughout the known world. During this period, Peter traveled to various cities in Judea visiting churches that had been recently established resulting from godly men being sent out and preaching the gospel message of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. The lesson text tells us that Peter came to visit the church of Christ made up of the saints, which dwelt at Lydda. This town is almost on the border of Judea, and is located about ten to twelve miles southeast of the city of Joppa.

Coming to the church in Lydda, Peter found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. That is, Aeneas had been unable to get out of his bed for the last eight years due to the serious illness of palsy. Webster defines palsy as a paralysis in all, or any part, of the body, that is often accompanied with involuntary tremors. It is a paralytic condition that results when the motor centers of the brain are dysfunctional and disables the proper use of the muscles of the human body. Indeed, palsy was a very serious, debilitating disease that was prevalent during these biblical days. Jesus, Himself, healed many infirmities and cured many diseases of men and women during His personal ministry here on earth, including the disease of palsy (See Matt. 4:24).

Palsy was a chronic, deep-rooted disease having no known cure. Miraculously curing diseases, such as palsy, was extremely significant in establishing faith in Christ Jesus as the Savior and Son of God, and also in the assurance that the gospel message of salvation was indeed God's word as proclaimed by Holy Spirit-inspired apostles and first-century disciples of Christ. By miracles both Christ and His gospel message were established. Jesus performed many miracles in the presence of His disciples that they might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name (John 20:30-31). The teaching of the apostles, including the apostle Paul, was confirmed with miraculous signs and wonders (See Rom. 15:18-19, 2 Cor. 12:12).

A miracle is an event or action that contradicts known natural and scientific laws and is attributable directly to the inspiration of God or to His influence through His Holy Spirit-inspired messengers. Therefore the things taught by Jesus while here on earth, as well as the gospel message taught by His inspired apostles and disciples, were irrefutably established by the performance of miracles. The New Testament word of God cannot be denied because they were proven truthful by miracles, which God, through Jesus Christ, Himself, ordained.

Such was the miraculous healing of Aeneas. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. In no way does Peter suggest that the healing of Aeneas came from his own ability. Nor does any other apostle or inspired disciple of God take credit for the miraculous deeds that were accomplished in the name of Christ Jesus on similar occasions. Here, Peter attributes the authority and power that resulted in the healing of Aeneas to Jesus Christ just as he did in the healing of the man lame from birth. In that incident Peter said to the lame man, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk (Acts 3:6). And in his defense before the Sanhedrin involving this miraculous event, Peter testified, Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole (Acts 4:10).

Thus, Peter established and confirmed the irrefutable gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ that cannot be denied, And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.