Acts 9 33

Acts 9:33 kjv

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

Acts 9:33 nkjv

There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.

Acts 9:33 niv

There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

Acts 9:33 esv

There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

Acts 9:33 nlt

There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

Acts 9 verses

Acts 9 33 Meaning

Acts 9:33 describes the encounter of the apostle Peter with a man named Aeneas in the town of Lydda. Aeneas is depicted as a long-term invalid, having been confined to bed for eight years due to paralysis. This verse sets the stage for a miraculous healing performed by Peter, demonstrating the power of Jesus Christ through His apostles, akin to the miracles performed by Christ Himself. It highlights God's compassion for suffering humanity and the visible manifestation of the Gospel's power.

Acts 9 33 Context

Acts 9:33 is situated within Peter's extended ministry in Judea, after the dramatic conversion of Saul (Paul) but before Peter's significant encounter with Cornelius and the Gentiles. The preceding verse (Acts 9:32) indicates that Peter was "passing through all parts," signifying his active evangelistic and pastoral work visiting "the saints who lived at Lydda." Lydda (also known as Lod or Diospolis) was an ancient town on the road between Jerusalem and Caesarea. It had a mixed population, including many Jews. Aeneas's long-term paralysis highlights the pervasive presence of suffering and disease in the ancient world, often seen as incurable and hopeless. This immediate context sets the stage for a demonstration of divine power through Peter, leading to a visible transformation that serves as a powerful witness to the truth of the Gospel. It underscores the apostles' continuity of Jesus' own healing ministry, extending the reach of God's power from Jerusalem outwards.

Acts 9 33 Word analysis

• There (ἐκεῖ - ekei): Refers to Lydda (Λύδδαν - Lyddan) mentioned in Acts 9:32, indicating the specific location where Peter's encounter took place. It emphasizes the setting of the miracle.
• he found (εὗρεν - heuren): From heuriskō, meaning "to find, discover, meet with." This implies that Peter, perhaps as part of his pastoral visitations among the saints, encountered Aeneas, rather than specifically seeking him out as a healing candidate, though his ministry would involve addressing suffering.
• a man (ἄνθρωπόν - anthrōpon): A common human being. The term genericizes Aeneas, focusing on his state as a person in need, representing humanity's general vulnerability to infirmity.
• named (ὄνομα - onoma) Aeneas (Αἰνέαν - Ainean): A specific and personal identification. Aeneas is a common Greek name, often associated with a Trojan hero, which might suggest a Hellenistic background or simply a common name of the time in that region. Naming him individualizes his suffering and makes the subsequent healing more concrete and personal.
• who had been (τὸν) bedridden (κατακεῖσθαι - katakeisthai): From katakeimai, meaning "to lie down," particularly "to be confined to bed" due to illness. This vividly describes his complete helplessness and inability to move or care for himself. It signifies a profound, debilitating physical state.
• for eight years (ἐξ ἐτῶν ὀκτὼ - ex etōn oktō): This temporal marker is crucial. "Eight years" underscores the chronic nature and long duration of his suffering, signifying its severe impact on his life and highlighting the impossibility of a human cure. It amplifies the miraculous nature of the upcoming healing.
• and was paralyzed (ὃς ἦν παραλελυμένος - hos ēn paralelymenos): From paralelymai, perfect passive participle of paralyō, meaning "to unloose, disable, paralyze." The perfect tense emphasizes a long-standing, completed state with continuing results. This defines the exact medical condition, total or partial loss of muscle function, which was incurable in the ancient world, marking Aeneas as entirely dependent and a profound case of human limitation. This description ensures the reader understands the severity of the affliction and thus the magnitude of the miracle.

• "There he found a man": This phrase connects Peter's ministry directly to the discovery of individuals in need, indicating an active, personal engagement with the communities he visited. It portrays the divine providence orchestrating the encounter.
• "bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed": This entire clause precisely details Aeneas's critical condition. The combination of "bedridden" and "paralyzed" paints a picture of extreme, debilitating, and chronic illness. The "eight years" timeframe highlights the persistent nature of his suffering, intensifying the subsequent miracle's impact by removing any doubt of natural recovery. This also contrasts the brevity of the healing command with the longevity of the illness.

Acts 9 33 Bonus section

The miracle concerning Aeneas at Lydda directly echoes the healing ministry of Jesus, particularly His encounters with paralytics. This connection establishes Peter as a true representative of Christ, exercising the authority and power that Jesus Himself possessed and had promised His disciples (John 14:12). The name Aeneas, a common Greek name, suggests that Peter's ministry in Lydda might have reached beyond exclusively Jewish believers, hinting at the broader outreach that would soon explicitly include Gentiles. This event is a stepping stone to the dramatic conversion of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10, showing the expanding scope of the Christian mission. The public, undeniable nature of Aeneas's long-term paralysis ensured that his immediate healing would serve as an irrefutable sign for those witnessing it and subsequently, for many across the regions of Lydda and Sharon (Acts 9:35) who would turn to the Lord.

Acts 9 33 Commentary

Acts 9:33 introduces Aeneas, a man whose protracted and debilitating condition of paralysis served as a profound testament to the power of Jesus Christ when channeled through Peter. This verse is not merely descriptive; it meticulously details Aeneas's long-term suffering ("eight years," "bedridden," "paralyzed") to set the stage for an undeniable miracle. Peter's "finding" Aeneas in Lydda underscores the apostolic ministry reaching out into Judean communities, addressing real-world suffering with the divine answer. This healing, following on the heels of Paul's conversion, re-establishes Peter's role as a primary instrument of God's power in the spread of the early church, acting similarly to how Jesus healed the paralytic (Matt 9; Mark 2). It's a tangible demonstration of God's compassion and the immediate, visible efficacy of the Gospel message. This event would profoundly impact the Lyddan community, serving as a powerful catalyst for their faith, illustrating that God's kingdom had truly "come near" with power and healing.