Acts 9:35

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

Acts 9:35 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
New Living Translation (NLT)
35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.
The Message Bible (MSG)
35 Everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them.
American Standard Version (ASV)
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
35 Everyone who lived in the city of Lydda and the coastal region of Sharon saw what had happened to Aeneas and turned to the Lord in faith.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
35 Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord.

Acts 9:35 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 9:35

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron
Saron, which is here joined to Lydda, is the name of a fruitful country on the borders of the Mediterranean sea, between Joppa and Caesarea, beginning at Lydda. There were two countries in the land of Israel called Saron, as Jerom observes F14; there was one between Mount Tabor, and the lake of Tiberias; and there was another which reached from Caesarea of Palestine, to the town of Joppa; the former was inhabited by the Gadites, and was beyond Jordan, ( 1 Chronicles 5:16 ) the other was on this side Jordan, near Lydda. And this is what is here meant; and of which the same writer elsewhere says F15, the whole country by Joppa and Lydda is called Saron, in which are large and fruitful fields; and on ( Isaiah 65:10 ) which the Vulgate Latin renders, "and the plains shall be for folds of flocks", he observes, that "Sharon", in the Hebrew text, is put for plains or champaign country; and adds, all the country about Lydda, Joppa, and Jamnia, is fit to feed flocks: and agreeably to this, in Jewish writings, the calves of Sharon F16 are spoken of as the best; and the word is by the commentators of the Misna interpreted F17 by (rvym) "a plain", or champaign country; for this was not the name of a single town or city, but of a country, bordering on Lydda, and the above mentioned places; in which were several towns and villages, and the inhabitants of those that were nearest Lydda are here designed. It was such a fruitful and delightful country, that the Targum on ( Song of Solomon 2:1 ) has rendered it by the garden of Eden: it had its name either from (rwv) , "Shur", which signifies to behold afar off, from the fine and large prospect that might be taken on it; or from (rv) "Shar", which signifies the navel, because it was a valley or plain surrounded on every side with mountains and hills: it abounded in flowers and fruits; hence mention is made of the rose of Sharon, ( Song of Solomon 2:1 ) and in vines; hence we frequently read of the wine of Saron {r}, and which was so very good, that they mixed two parts of water with one of wine F19. It was a country, the Jews say F20, whose earth was not fit to make bricks of; and therefore houses made of them did not stand long, but needed repairing often in seven years: hence the high priest, on the day of atonement, used to pray for the Saronites, that their houses might not become their graves F21. Now when the inhabitants of this place, as well as of Lydda,

saw him;
that is, Aeneas, made whole, who had been ill of a palsy, and had kept his bed eight years, they were so impressed with it, that it issued in their conversion:

and turned to the Lord:
they believed in Christ, embraced his Gospel preached by Peter, professed faith in him, and submitted to his ordinances; being turned by powerful efficacious grace, they turned their feet to keep his testimonies.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 De locis Hebraicis, fol. 94. M.
F15 Comment. in Isa. xxxiii. 9.
F16 Misn. Bava Kama, c. 10. sect. 9.
F17 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Bava Bathra, c. 6. sect. 2.
F18 Misn. Nidda, c. 2. sect. 7.
F19 T. Bab Sabbat, fol. 77. 1.
F20 Gloss. in T. Bab. Sota, fol. 43. 1.
F21 T. Hieros. Sota, fol. 23. 1. Vajikra Rabba, sect. 20. fol. 161. 4.

Acts 9:35 In-Context

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 5:16; 1 Chronicles 27:29; Song of Songs 2:1; Isaiah 33:9; Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 65:10
  • 2. S Acts 2:41; Acts 11:21
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.