Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he also came
down to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aene'as, who
had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him,
"Aene'as, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And
immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and
they turned to the Lord.
In a Nutshell
Peter's work, continuing Jesus' healing ministry, continues as the work expands.
Questions
Why, do you think? Why did Luke have to tell us what Peter was doing?
When Luke concludes the section dealing with Saul's conversion he tells us of the amazing unity that had been forged between believers in Galilee, Samaria and Judaea (Jerusalem). This was indeed a miraculous work of God's Spirit. It was a breath-taking breakthrough. It should not be underestimated for its importance in supporting the extension of the gospel in the earliest decades of the church's life.
Now Luke tells us what he knew about Peter's activities at this time, going here and there among believers. Had the danger of arrest and imprisonment passed with the conversion of Saul? It seems that something had changed. Luke tells his story in a way that helps us see that the apostles, though given important work by Jesus Himself, were not in control of the events by which the Holy Spirit was pushing out the boundaries of their mission. Besides, they were not called to be "in control." They were to pray and to preach. And so when it was necessary to appoint the Seven they had said, "We will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word"(6:4). That is an interesting thing. This is how those Jesus commissioned to keep His ministry alive (1:1) made their impact.
Some say that we are told about Peter because Luke wanted to give him some kind of equal share, and there may be something in that. After all, from Chapter 13 on we have extensive account of Paul's missionary journeys. But it doesn't really explain Luke's intention in writing Acts as he has. Luke tells us how the Holy Spirit led Peter to Joppa via Lydda. Something special began to occur when Peter was at Joppa. Lydda is between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean coast. Going "in and out" among all the believers Peter is indeed like a shepherd, like Jesus (John 10). The healing of Aeneas reminds us of the earlier healing at the temple shortly after the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Clearly, the apostolic work included caring for, and healing, the sick. It was not only the residents of Lydda who were affected by this shepherd's care. The people of Sharon, the Samarian coastal plain, knew they had been blessed by the Lord.
They shall see the glory
of the Lord, the majesty of our God … Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks,
for my people who sought me (Isaiah 35:2, 65:10).