Acts 9:32-43 | You Will Do Greater Things Than Theseনমুনা

After the dramatic conversion of Saul, the former persecutor was now being persecuted himself because he proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God. When the church learned of a plot to kill him, they sent him away. Then, in the verse immediately preceding this week’s plan, we read that the church throughout all Judea and Samaria had peace and that the believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The church was growing in Judea and Samaria (Acts 9:31).

Jesus himself walked in the fear of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit. His entire life was oriented to honoring and obeying his Father. He had promised his disciples that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16). Now the disciples were living with the same God-orientation, helped and comforted by the same Spirit.

In this week’s plan, we pick up again with Peter, who was walking in the footsteps of Jesus and healing people just as Jesus did. We will look at the first healing today, and we will pick up with the second—and even greater—miracle tomorrow.

Peter came to the disciples of Jesus who lived in the Samaritan town of Lydda, and he found a man named Aeneas. He was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. Echoing the words of his Master, but with a twist, Peter said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up!” And he got up immediately (Acts 9:34).

Did you catch the twist? Throughout Acts, the believers continue the works of King Jesus, empowered by the Spirit of Jesus, and they bear witness to Jesus in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). It wasn’t Peter who healed Aeneas, but Jesus. The people of Lydda and the surrounding area knew this. In response to the healing of Aeneas, the people didn’t turn to Peter, but to the Lord.

The words Peter spoke, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you,” point to the deeper reality that Peter lived with confidence in and obedience to Jesus. It wasn’t just Peter’s words, but the way he lived that pointed others to the Lord. How can you live with the same Christ-orientation so that others are drawn to the Lord? What’s holding you back?