Acts 9:32

Acts 9:32 says, And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.  Through the end of the chapter, we leave Saul and move to Peter's ministry at the time.  Peter was traveling "through all quarters" and came down to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.  We hear today of someone who has been made a saint after they die, but we as followers of Christ are already saints.  This doesn't mean that we are anything great of our own goodness or holiness.  It simply means we are set apart for God's use. We are never to be worshipped or prayed to.  Those saints at Lydda were simply sinners saved by grace, set aside from the world to do God's will.   Verse thirty-three adds, And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.  While at Lydda, Peter met a man named Aeneas, who had been bed ridden with palsy for eight years. That was a long time to be suffering, and we as Christians may suffer physically a long time in this world.  Verse thirty-four continues, And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.  Peter had met him on a personal level, and so must we meet people the same way today.  Peter told him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ made him whole and to arise and make his bed.  What would you do in Aeneas's place? First, Aeneas had to believe that Peter wasn't crazy.  Would we in the same situation?  Then, more importantly, he had to believe that this Jesus Christ could heal him.  It took faith in the messenger and the message.  Verse thirty-five concludes, And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.  We are told he arose immediately, and all that lived at Lydda and Saron saw him and believed and turned to the Lord.  Though Aeneas benefited physically from his encounter with Peter, even more people benefited spiritually.  If Peter were being investigated by a committee to see if he were qualified for sainthood, they would likely classify the healing of Aeneas as a miracle Peter performed.  They would be wrong.  Peter was simply acting as a spokesman for Jesus Christ.  People do not perform miracles.  God does. They would also likely miss the greater miracle that occurred that day:  All that lived at Lydda and Saron, saw him (Aeneas), and believed and turned to the Lord.