Acts 9 35

Acts 9:35 kjv

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:35 nkjv

So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:35 niv

All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:35 esv

And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:35 nlt

Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.

Acts 9 verses

Acts 9 35 Meaning

Acts chapter 9 verse 35 states that following Peter's healing of Aeneas in Lydda, all the inhabitants of Lydda and the surrounding region of Sharon witnessed this divine power and responded by turning their allegiance and faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse highlights the profound and widespread spiritual impact of a verifiable miracle performed by God's apostle, demonstrating divine validation for the gospel message and resulting in significant community-wide conversion.

Acts 9 35 Context

Acts chapter 9 marks a significant transition in the early church's narrative, following the dramatic conversion of Saul. Peter, the lead apostle, moves beyond Jerusalem into Judea. This verse specifically describes a pivotal moment during Peter's missionary journey to the saints in Lydda. Having healed Aeneas, a paralyzed man who had been bedridden for eight years (Acts 9:33-34), the verse details the widespread and immediate impact of this undeniable miracle. The event takes place in Lydda (modern Lod), a significant town on a major road, and its impact stretches to the fertile Plain of Sharon, a broader geographical region. This regional conversion signals the Holy Spirit's ongoing work to expand the Gospel's reach beyond the immediate circles of Jerusalem, laying groundwork for future evangelistic thrusts, including Peter's encounter with Cornelius in chapter 10. The historical context indicates that such a public, verifiable miracle would have a profound effect in a society familiar with divine signs and wonders.

Acts 9 35 Word analysis

• All (Πάντες - Pantes): This Greek word is comprehensive, signifying the universality of the response within the specified region. It conveys that this was not a handful of people, but a significant, communal turning. This highlights the widespread and convincing nature of the miracle.
• who lived (οἱ κατοικοῦντες - hoi katoikountes): A present participle, indicating the continuous dwelling or inhabiting of these places. It refers to the settled population, emphasizing that the entire communities residing in these areas were impacted, not just visitors or specific groups.
• in Lydda (Λύδδα - Lydda): A specific Judean town, approximately 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem. It was a well-known ancient Jewish settlement and a crucial point on the road from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Peter's ministry here indicates the Gospel's geographical expansion beyond the capital.
• and Sharon (καὶ τὸν Σαρῶνα - kai ton Sarōna): Refers to the coastal plain of Sharon, a fertile region extending north of Lydda towards Caesarea. Including this broader region alongside the specific town of Lydda highlights the extensive geographical reach of the Gospel through this miracle.
• saw him (εἶδον αὐτόν - eidon auton): "Saw" indicates direct observation and visual verification. This wasn't merely hearsay; people witnessed the once paralyzed Aeneas walking, providing tangible and undeniable evidence of the miraculous healing. "Him" refers to Aeneas.
• and turned (καὶ ἐπεστράφησαν - kai epestraphēsan): From the Greek verb epistrephō, meaning "to turn, return, turn back." In the New Testament, particularly in Acts, this term is a key theological word for conversion, signifying a decisive spiritual turning from a former way of life (e.g., sin, idolatry, unbelief) to God. It implies repentance and faith. The aorist passive form denotes a completed action that was done to them or in which they participated fully.
• to the Lord (ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον - epi ton Kyrion): In Acts, "the Lord" most often refers to Jesus Christ. This phrase clarifies the object of their new allegiance and faith. They turned to Jesus as their sovereign, recognizing His lordship and saving power, rather than maintaining their former religious practices or allegiances.

Words-group Analysis

• "All who lived in Lydda and Sharon": This phrase underlines the extensive and collective impact of the miracle, showing the Gospel's powerful effect reaching across an entire region, fulfilling the prophetic pattern of the church's expansion outlined in Acts 1:8. It suggests a community-wide spiritual awakening.
• "saw him, and turned to the Lord": This directly connects the tangible evidence of the miracle (seeing the healed Aeneas) with the spiritual outcome (conversion). The miracle served not as an end in itself but as a powerful, divine validation of Peter's ministry and the message of Christ, compelling people to a saving faith in Jesus as Lord.

Acts 9 35 Bonus section

The use of epistrephō ("to turn") as a primary term for conversion in Acts (e.g., Acts 3:19, 11:21, 14:15, 15:19, 26:18, 28:27) emphasizes that true faith involves a fundamental change of direction and allegiance. It is a turning from sin and dead works to the living God, which is a complete reorientation of life's purpose and devotion. Peter's miracle at Lydda is an echo of Christ's own healing ministry, demonstrating the empowering of the apostles to continue Jesus' work and validating their claims. Furthermore, Lydda's strategic location along the major Roman road connecting Jerusalem to the coastal cities facilitated the rapid spread of the news of this revival, geographically connecting events leading directly into Peter's crucial ministry to Gentiles in Joppa and Caesarea in the subsequent chapter.

Acts 9 35 Commentary

Acts 9:35 succinctly describes a significant moment in the early church's spread, demonstrating God's sovereign power to authenticate His messengers and His message. Peter's healing of Aeneas was a publicly verifiable miracle, transforming a long-suffering man into living proof of divine intervention. This event was not confined to a small circle but impacted "all who lived in Lydda and Sharon," indicating a substantial, regional turning to the Lord. The phrase "turned to the Lord" encapsulates the essence of biblical conversion: a deliberate and decisive spiritual reorientation of one's life, shifting allegiance from self, sin, or false gods to the living Christ, accepting His lordship and salvation. This widespread conversion underscores the fact that the early church's growth was fueled by God's manifest power working through miraculous signs and the faithful proclamation of the Gospel. Such events reveal that God's plan involves not just individual redemption but also community transformation.

• Examples:
  • The miracle highlights that tangible demonstrations of God's power often accompany the proclamation of His truth.
  • A life visibly transformed by God serves as a powerful witness, prompting others to consider the claims of Christ.
  • God uses specific interventions to draw people to Himself, leading to collective spiritual renewal in areas.