TRV
Translation
King James Version
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
Complete Jewish Bible
Kefa said to him, “Aeneas! Yeshua the Messiah is healing you! Get up, and make your bed!”
Berean Standard Bible
“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
American Standard Version
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And straightway he arose.
World English Bible Messianic
Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Yeshua the Messiah heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then said Peter vnto him, Aeneas, Iesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise and trusse thy couch together. And he arose immediately.
Young's Literal Translation
and Peter said to him, `Aeneas, heal thee doth Jesus the Christ; arise and spread for thyself;' and immediately he rose,
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In the KJVVerse 27,251 of 31,102
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Commentary on Acts 9 verses 32–35
32 ¶ And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Here we have, I. The visit Peter made to the churches that were newly planted by the dispersed preachers, Act 9:32. 1. He passed through all quarters. As an apostle, he was not to be the resident pastor of any one church, but the itinerant visitor of many churches, to confirm the doctrine of inferior preachers, to confer the Holy Ghost on those that believed, and to ordain ministers. He passed dia pantōn - among them all, who pertained to the churches of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, mentioned in the foregoing chapter. He was, like his Master, always upon the remove, and went about doing good; but still his head-quarters were at Jerusalem, for there we shall find him imprisoned, Act 12:2. He came to the saints at Lydda. This seems to be the same with Lod, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned Ch1 8:12; Ezr 2:33. The Christians are called saints, not only some particular eminent ones, as saint Peter and saint Paul, but every sincere professor of the faith of Christ. These are the saints on the earth, Psa 16:3.
II. The cure Peter wrought on Eneas, a man that had been bedridden eight years, Act 9:33. 1. His case was very deplorable: He was sick of the palsy, a dumb palsy, perhaps a dead palsy. The disease was extreme, for he kept his bed; it was inveterate, for he kept his bed eight years; and we may suppose that both he himself and all about him despaired of relief for him, and concluded upon no other than that he must still keep his bed till he removed to his grave. Christ chose such patients as this, whose disease was incurable in a course of nature, to show how desperate the case of fallen mankind was when he undertook their cure. When we were without strength, as this poor man, he sent his word to heal us. 2. His cure was very admirable, Act 9:34. (1.) Peter interested Christ in his case, and engaged him for his relief: Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole. Peter does not pretend to do it himself by any power of his own, but declares it to be Christ's act and deed, directs him to look up to Christ for help, and assures him of an immediate cure - not, "He will make thee," but, "He does make thee, whole;" and a perfect cure - not, "He makes thee easy," but "He makes thee whole." He does not express himself by way of prayer to Christ that he would make him whole, but as one having authority from Christ, and that knew his mind, he declares him made whole. (2.) He ordered him to bestir himself, to exert himself: "Arise and make thy bed, that all may see thou art thoroughly cured." Let none say that because it is Christ that by the power of his grace works all our works in us therefore we have no work, no duty, to do; for, though Jesus Christ makes thee whole, yet thou must arise and make use of the power he gives thee: "Arise, and make thy bed, to be to thee no longer a bed of sickness, but a bed of rest." (3.) Power went along with this word: he arose immediately, and no doubt very willingly made his own bed.
III. The good influence this had upon many (Act 9:35): All that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. We can scarcely think that every individual person in those countries took cognizance of the miracle, and was wrought upon by it; but many, the generality of the people in the town of Lydda and in the country of Saron, or Sharon, a fruitful plain or valley, of which it was foretold, Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, Isa 65:10. 1. They all made enquiry into the truth of the miracle, did not overlook it, but saw him that was healed, and saw that it was a miraculous cure that was wrought upon him by the power of Christ, in his name, and with a design to confirm and ratify that doctrine of Christ which was now preached to the world. 2. They all submitted to the convincing proof and evidence there was in this of the divine origin of the Christian doctrine, and turned to the Lord, to the Lord Jesus. They turned from Judaism to Christianity; they embraced the doctrine of Christ, and submitted to his ordinances, and turned themselves over to him to be ruled and taught and saved by him.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 32–35. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Acts 21
"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 why did he not wait for the man's faith, and ask if he wished to be healed? In the first place, the miracle served for exhortation to many: hear then how great the gain.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Acts 21
"Arise, and make thy bed:" he does well to give a proof of the miracle: for they not only released men of their diseases, but in giving the health they gave the strength also. Moreover, at that time they had given no proofs of their power, so that the man could not reasonably have been required to show his faith, as neither in the case of the lame man did they demand it. As therefore Christ in the beginning of His miracles did not demand faith, so neither did these. For in Jerusalem indeed, as was but reasonable, the faith of the parties was first shown; "they brought out their sick into the streets, but as Peter passed by, his shadow at least might fall upon some of them"; for many miracles had been wrought there; but here this is the first that occurs. For of the miracles, some were wrought for the purpose of drawing others to faith; some for the comfort of them that believed.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Acts 21
"And Peter said unto him, Eneas," etc. But before discourse, before exhortations, he says to the lame man himself, "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole." This word he believed in any wise, and was made whole. Observe how unassuming he is: for he said not, "In the Name," but rather as a sign he narrates the miracle itself, and speaks as its Evangelist.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Acts
Aeneas, the Lord Jesus Christ heals you. Rise and make your own bed. He who had been cured of paralysis was immediately commanded to rise and make his bed, spiritually suggesting that whoever perceives the foundation of faith in their heart should not only shake off the torpor in which they previously lay fatigued, but also prepare good works in which they can rest.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Acts 9:34 recounts the miraculous healing of Aeneas, a paralytic in Lydda, through the apostle Peter. This powerful event serves as a vivid demonstration of the authority and healing power of Jesus Christ, working through His chosen instruments, and results in immediate, undeniable restoration, leading to widespread conversion in the surrounding region.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The passage powerfully employs Direct Discourse, quoting Peter's exact words, which lends authenticity and immediacy to the miracle account. Peter's command, "arise, and make thy bed," utilizes the Imperative Mood, highlighting the authority with which he speaks, an authority derived from Jesus Christ. There is a strong sense of Contrast and Dramatic Irony in the command to "make thy bed" for a man who has been bedridden for eight years; this mundane task becomes the extraordinary proof of a divine miracle. Furthermore, the phrase "And he arose immediately" creates a powerful Juxtaposition between Aeneas's long-term paralysis and his instantaneous healing, emphasizing the overwhelming power of God. The act of "making his bed" also functions as Symbolism, representing Aeneas's complete restoration to functionality, independence, and a new life, mirroring the spiritual transformation offered by Christ.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The healing of Aeneas in Acts 9:34 profoundly illustrates the active continuation of Christ's ministry through His apostles, demonstrating that the power and compassion of Jesus did not cease with His ascension but were extended through the Holy Spirit. This miracle underscores the New Testament's consistent portrayal of Jesus Christ as the ultimate healer, not only of physical ailments but, more significantly, of the spiritual paralysis caused by sin. Peter's declaration, "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole," serves as a theological anchor, reminding believers that all true restoration—physical, emotional, or spiritual—originates from Christ's sovereign power and grace. It also highlights the role of human instruments in God's redemptive plan, showing that ordinary individuals, yielded to Christ, can be channels for extraordinary divine intervention.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 9:34 offers a profound invitation to reflect on the nature of God's power and our role as His instruments in the world. Just as Aeneas experienced a complete and immediate transformation, we are reminded that Jesus Christ possesses the power to bring wholeness to every area of our lives—healing emotional wounds, delivering from spiritual bondage, and restoring broken relationships. This passage encourages us to place our faith entirely in Christ as the ultimate source of all healing and restoration, rather than relying on our own strength or limited resources. Furthermore, Peter's clear attribution of the miracle to Jesus teaches us humility and proper perspective: we are merely vessels through whom God chooses to work. Our task is to faithfully declare Christ's power and truth, trusting that He will bring about His purposes. The command for Aeneas to "make thy bed" also serves as a powerful call to action for us: once we have experienced God's transformative touch, our lives should bear tangible evidence of that change, demonstrating our new freedom and capacity to serve Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who was Aeneas and why is his healing significant?
Answer: Aeneas was a man living in Lydda who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. His healing is significant because it was a public, immediate, and undeniable miracle performed by Peter, clearly attributed to the power of Jesus Christ. This miracle served as powerful evidence of the truth of the Gospel and the active presence of the Holy Spirit through the apostles, leading to widespread conversions in Lydda and Sharon, as recorded in Acts 9:35.
Why did Peter tell Aeneas to "make thy bed"?
Answer: The command to "make thy bed" served as tangible, irrefutable proof of Aeneas's complete healing. For a man who had been bedridden for eight years, the ability to perform such a simple, self-sufficient act was a clear and public demonstration that he was fully restored. It was a practical instruction that confirmed the miracle to all witnesses, much like Jesus' command to the paralytic in Mark 2:11 to "take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house." It symbolized a return to normalcy and dignity, moving from a state of dependency to one of capability.
How does this miracle relate to the broader ministry of the apostles in Acts?
Answer: This miracle is consistent with the broader ministry of the apostles throughout the Book of Acts, which is characterized by powerful signs and wonders performed through the Holy Spirit. These miracles, like the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3:1-10, served to authenticate the apostles' message about Jesus Christ, confirm their divine commission, and draw people to faith. They demonstrated that the resurrected Christ was actively working through His church, validating the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The healing of Aeneas by Peter, through the power of Jesus Christ, serves as a profound echo and foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate redemptive work. Aeneas's eight years of paralysis vividly portray the spiritual helplessness and incapacitation of humanity under the dominion of sin, unable to "arise" or "make their bed" of their own accord. Just as Peter, acting as Christ's representative, brought immediate and complete physical wholeness to Aeneas, so too does Christ, through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, offer immediate and complete spiritual wholeness to all who believe. The declaration "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole" points directly to the Son of God as the sole source of true healing—healing from the sickness of sin, the paralysis of spiritual death, and the brokenness of a fallen world. This miracle anticipates the new creation in Christ, where believers are raised from spiritual death to new life (Ephesians 2:1-5), empowered to walk in obedience and bear fruit (Romans 6:4). Ultimately, Aeneas's physical restoration points to the glorious hope of resurrection and the complete renewal of body and soul that will be fully realized in Christ's return (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).