Acts 9:33

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. AND THERE HE FOUND A CERTAIN MAN NAMED ENEAS - probably, from his Greek name, a Hellenistic Jew. Since he is simply called 'a man' of such a name, Bengel, Humphry, and Lechler conclude he was not then a believer, though he must have heard of the cures which Jesus performed. Meyer, Alford, and Alexander are doubtful. But since the historian tells us that a general conversion of the district resulted from the cure of this man, is it likely that he would have said nothing of Aeneas' own conversion if he had not been a believer before? Accordingly (with Hackett and Webster and Wilkinson), we judge that he was himself one of "the saints which dwelt at Lydda." WHICH HAD KEPT HIS BED (OR 'PALLET:' SEE THE NOTE AT ) eigh...

32-35 Christians are saints, or holy people; not only the eminent ones, as Saint Peter and Saint Paul, but every sincere professor of the faith of Christ. Christ chose patients whose diseases were incurable in the course of nature, to show how desperate was the case of fallen mankind. When we were wholly without strength, as this poor man, he sent his word to heal us. Peter does not pretend to heal by any power of his own, but directs Eneas to look up to Christ for help. Let none say, that because it is Christ, who, 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 use the power he gives thee....

Verse 33. _A CERTAIN MAN NAMED ENEAS_] This name has been celebrated in the annals of heathen poetry, in that beautiful work of the poet Virgil, called the _AEneid_; which gives an account of the misfortunes, travels, wars, c., of a Trojan prince of this name, after the destruction of his native city, Troy. On the difference of names which so frequently occurs in some pasts of the Scriptures, Calmet makes the following judicious remarks: As both _Greek_ and _Hebrew_, or _Syriac_, were commonly spoken in Palestine, most persons had _two_ names, one _Greek_ and the other _Hebrew_. Thus Peter was called _Cephas_ in Hebrew, and _Petros_ in Greek. Paul was called _Saul_ in Hebrew, and _Paulos_ in Greek. The person in Acts 9:36, _Tabitha_ in Hebrew, and _Dorcas_ in Greek. And the paralytic person cured by Peter, _Hananiah_ in Heb...

ENEAS - This is a Greek name; and probably he was a Hellenist. See the notes on Acts 6:1. SICK OF THE PALSY - See the notes on Matthew 4:24....

EXPOSITION ACTS 9:1 _But _for _and, _A.V.; _breathing _for _breathing out, _A.V.; _threatening _for _threatenings, _A.V. THREATENING AND SLAUGHTER. The phrase ἐμπνέων ἀπειλῆς κ.τ.λ., is rather a difficult one, and is variously explained. Schleusner takes the genitives in "threatening and slaughter" as genitives of the thing desired, "punting after threatening and slaughter" (comp. Amos 2:7). Meyer explains it "out of the threatenings and murder [in his heart] breathing hard at the disciples"—an expression indicating passion. Alford, taking nearly the sense of the A.V., makes "threatenings and slaughter" to be as it were the very material of his breath, whether breathed out or breathed in. Considering that ἐμπνέω means "to br

AND THERE HE FOUND A CERTAIN MAN,.... In a house in that city, into which he entered: NAMED AENEAS; which is a Gentile name, and so might the person be; though there is mention made of this name among the Jews. We read of one R. Samuel Bar, אנייא "Aenea, or Aeneas" l; but it was more common among the Greeks. Aeneas the Trojan is well known in history, who, after the destruction of Troy, went into Italy, and settled there; and from him the Trojans are sometimes called Aeneadae. The name comes from the Greek word αινω, "ainoo", which signifies "to praise"; and Aeneas is one "worthy of praise": though Jerom m takes it to be an Hebrew name, which he interprets "one that answers", or a "poor man", or "misery"; as if it came from the Hebrew word ענה, "anah", which signifies "to answer, or to afflict". WHICH HAD KEPT HIS BED EIGHT YEARS, AND WAS SICK OF THE PALSY; so that the distemper was gr...

CHAPTER 9 __ 1. The vision of Glory on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1). 2. Instructions given to Ananias (Acts 9:10). 3. Saul filled with the Spirit, is baptized and preaches that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:17). 4. Saul persecuted and back in Jerusalem (Acts 9:23). 5. Further Acts of Peter (Acts 9:32). The previous chapter must be looked upon in its main part as a parenthesis. The record now leads us back to the close of the seventh, and the person who was connected with the great tragedy enacted there is prominently brought n

Æ NEAS. His name shows him to have been probably a Hellenist. This story is modelled on that of the paralytic in Mark 2:1. Many of the words are the same; the case is similar, and only the command to the patient is different. He is told that Jesus is curing him, and that he is to rise and manage his bed himself, which others had hitherto done for him. The use of the Name (Acts 3:6 *) is effective; and the result is seen by all the inhabitants of Lydda and in the plain of Sharon; a general conversion to the Lord follows....

SURRENDER (Acts 9:1-9)...

WHICH HAD KEPT HIS BED. lying on. bed (Greek. _krabbaton._ See note on Mark 2:4). EIGHT YEARS. from (Greek. _ek._ App-104.) eight years. SICK OF THE PALSY. paralyzed. See note on Acts 8:7....