Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 9:35
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord.
35. all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him ] No doubt his case of eight-years-long paralysis was well known to the dwellers in the village and neighbourhood, and to see such a one about in their midst again would be a cause for general remark and enquiry into the manner of his restoration. “When the Scripture saith all it doth not comprehend every one, how many soever it noteth, but it putteth all for the more part, or for many, or for the common sort of men” (Calvin on this verse).
Saron ] Heb. Sharon. It is doubtful whether by this name is intended some village in the neighbourhood of Lydda or the whole district known as the “plain of Sharon,” and extending along the coast from Joppa to Csarea. No place of this name has been noticed in the neighbourhood, and as in the original the word has the article, “the Sharon,” it is better to refer it to the district.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And all – The mass, or body of the people. The affliction of the man had been long, and was probably well known; the miracle would be celebrated, and the effect was an extensive revival of religion.
Saron – This was the champaign, or open country, usually mentioned by the name of Sharon in the Old Testament, 1 Ch Act 9:16; Act 27:29; Ca. Act 2:1; Isa 33:9. It was a region of extraordinary fertility, and the name was almost proverbial to denote any country of great beauty and fertility. Compare Isa 33:9; Isa 35:2; Isa 65:10. It was situated south of Mount Carmel, along the coast of the Mediterranean, extending to Caesarea and Joppa. Lydda was situated in this region.
Turned to the Lord – Were converted; or received the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, Act 11:21; 2Co 3:16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 35. All that dwelt in Lydda and Saron saw him] Saron was that champaign country that lay between Joppa and Lydda. The long affliction of this man had been well known; and his cure, consequently, became a subject of general examination: it was found to be real. It was known to have been performed by the grace and mercy of Christ; and the consequence of all this conviction was that all these people became Christians.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Lydda: see Act 9:32. Saron is the name of a city, 1Ch 5:16, but here it is rather the name of a country, (which the masculine article usually shows), lying between Mount Tabor and the lake of Tiberias, a very fruitful plain, 1Ch 27:29; Son 2:1.
Turned to the Lord; to the owning of his truth. Error (if in fundamentals) keeps us from God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
35. all that dwelt at Lydda andSaron(or “Sharon,” a rich vale between Joppa andCsarea).
saw him, and turned to theLordthat is, there was a general conversion in consequence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 n; 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, 1Ch 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 o, the whole country by Joppa and Lydda is called Saron, in which are large and fruitful fields; and on Isa 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 p are spoken of as the best; and the word is by the commentators of the Misna interpreted q by “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 So 2:1 has rendered it by the garden of Eden: it had its name either from , “Shur”, which signifies to behold afar off, from the fine and large prospect that might be taken on it; or from “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, So 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 s. It was a country, the Jews say t, 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 u. 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.
n De locis Hebraicis, fol. 94. M. o Comment. in Isa. xxxiii. 9. p Misn. Bava Kama, c. 10. sect. 9. q Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Bava Bathra, c. 6. sect. 2. r Misn. Nidda, c. 2. sect. 7. s T. Bab Sabbat, fol. 77. 1. t Gloss. in T. Bab. Sota, fol. 43. 1. u T. Hieros. Sota, fol. 23. 1. Vajikra Rabba, sect. 20. fol. 161. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Sharon (). The Plain of Sharon, not a town. Thirty miles long from Joppa to Caesarea.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Saron. Rev., properly, Sharon. Always with the definite article : the plain; extending thirty miles along the sea from Joppa to Caesarea.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And all that dwelt in Lydda and Saron saw him,” (kai eidan auton pantes hoi katoikountes) “And all those who resided in (Ludda kai ton Sarona) Lydda and Saron saw him,” the one who was cured or healed from his eight years of bed-confining palsy or paralysis, of a population of more than two thousand; They saw him as he witnessed of Jesus and his saving and healing power, Luk 8:26-40.
2) “And turned to the Lord,” (aitines epestrepsan ton kurion) “And who turned to the Lord,” who were influenced thereby turned to the Lord, as many did when Jesus saved the fallen woman of Samaria, after her witness for him, and as many did in Jerusalem, after Peter and John healed the paralytic at the Gate Beautiful, Joh 4:39-42; Act 4:4; Act 5:14. To turn to the Lord means to change course and direction of life by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, Act 11:18; Act 11:21; Act 20:21; 2Co 7:10; Isa 55:6-7; Eze 33:11; 2Pe 3:9.
This healed, saved, former palsied man not only witnessed in the city of Lydda but also in the Maritine Plain of Sharon between the Mt Carmel range and Joppa, for about 30 miles. He witnessed and let his light shine for Jesus as every redeemed believer should, Mat 5:15-16; Joh 20:21; Act 1:8; Rom 1:14-16.
This miracle healing led to the conversion of many of the Jewish people in Lydda, 1Co 14:21-22; Heb 2:4.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
35. And all those. His meaning is, that the miracle was published abroad, and was known throughout the whole city. For when the Scripture saith all, it doth not comprehend every one how many so ever it noteth; but it putteth all for the more part, or for many, or for the common sort of men. Therefore, the sense is, that whereas there was but a small number of godly men there, a great part of the people became members of the Church. And in this clause is expressed the fruit of the miracle, because they embraced Christ and his gospel. Wherefore those men corrupt miracles, whosoever they be, which look only upon men, and do not turn their eyes toward this end, that being instructed concerning the power and grace of Christ, they may stick only to him. Therefore that token of Christ’s divine power which he showed was the beginning of turning to him. (633)
(633) “ Initium et praeparatio conversionis ad ipsum,” was a preparation and commencement of conversion to him.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(35) All that dwelt at Lydda and Saron.The latter name indicates a district rather than a town. The presence of the article with it, and its absence from Lydda, indicates that men spoke of the Saronthe plainthe woodlands (so it is rendered by the LXX.: 1Ch. 5:16; 1Ch. 27:29; Son. 2:1; Isa. 35:2)as we speak of the weald. It lay between the central mountains of Palestine and the Mediterranean, and was proverbial for its beauty and fertility (Isa. 33:9; Isa. 65:10).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
35. Saron The ancient and beautiful plain of Sharon, celebrated in the Old Testament for its fertility and flowers. In Canticles it is said, “I am the rose of Sharon;” and Isaiah celebrates “the excellency of Carmel and of Sharon.” The richness and beauty of the plain survives the desolations of the land.
All turned to the Lord It became an entirely Christian locality. It was a mixed population, Jew and Gentile, but all adopted one faith.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.’
And the result was that the people of Lydda and in the plain of Sharon round about responded almost as one, and turned to the Lord as they saw the paralysed man walking among them. They had been spiritually paralysed and now they were healed. Note the dual implication of the fact that they turned ‘to the Lord’. They came back to God and responded to Jesus Christ.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Ver. 35. And Saron ] Alias Assaron, the same perhaps with Acheron or Ekron, counted by the very heathens the devil’s house; for there Beelzebub, the prince of devils, was worshipped, 2Ki 1:3 . a
a
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
35. . ] Not ‘ all, who had turned to the Lord ,’ as Kuin.: this would make the mention of the fact unmeaning, and surely more would see him than the believers merely. The similar use of in the ref. shews its meaning to be commensurate with the preceding , and to gather them into a class, of which that which follows is predicated. All that dwelt in L. and S. saw him; which also (i.e. and they) turned to the Lord . A general conversion of the inhabitants to the faith followed.
] Perhaps not a village, but (and the art. makes this probable) the celebrated plain of that name, extending along the coast from Csarea to Joppa, see Isa 33:9 ; Isa 35:2 ; Isa 65:10 ; Son 2:1 ; 1Ch 27:29 ; and Jerome on Isaiah 33, 65, vol. iv., pp. 436, 780.
Mariti (Travels, p. 350) mentions a village Saren between Lydda and Arsuf (see Jos 12:18 , marg. E. V.): but more recent travellers do not notice it. See Winer, Realw., where other places of the same name are mentioned.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 9:35 . , on accentuation see critical notes: “at Lydda and in Sharon,” R.V. In Sharon, because it was not a town as Lydda, but rather a level tract, the maritime plain between Carmel and Joppa, so called in Hebrew (with article), meaning “the Level”; in Greek, the Forest, , LXX, because it was once covered by a great oak forest; full of quiet but rich beauty; cf. 1Ch 27:29 , Isa 33:9 ; Isa 35:2 ; Isa 37:24 ; Isa 65:10 , celebrated for its pasturage, Son 2:1 . “The masculine article doth show that it is not named of a city, and so doth the LXX article in Isa 33:9 ,” J. Lightfoot, Hor. Heb. There is no ground for supposing that it meant a village in the neighbourhood, as no place bearing the name Saron can be satisfactorily cited, but cf. Nsgen, in loco; see G. A. Smith, Hist. Geog. of the Holy Land , pp. 52, 147, 148; Edersheim, Jewish Social Life , p. 74; Hamburger, Real-Encyclopdie des Judentums , i., 6, p. 897. : the expression may be taken to mean that a general conversion of the inhabitants followed. Rendall renders “and all that dwelt, etc., who had turned to the Lord, saw Him,” i.e. , attested the reality of the miracle, Acts , pp. 72 and 232. But it might fairly be urged that many would see the man besides those who had become Christians. It helps us to understand the passage if we remember with Nsgen (so Bengel) that the expression . applies not to God the Father, but to Jesus Christ, so that we learn that a conversion of the Jewish population at Lydda to the claims of Jesus as the Messiah was the result of the miracle (see also Hackett’s useful note). On the use of see Alford’s note on Act 7:53 , quoted by Page (Winer-Schmiedel, p. 235). For the phrase . . cf. Act 14:15 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
turned. See Act 11:21; Act 14:15; Act 15:19; Act 26:18, Act 26:20.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
35. . ] Not all, who had turned to the Lord, as Kuin.: this would make the mention of the fact unmeaning,-and surely more would see him than the believers merely. The similar use of in the ref. shews its meaning to be commensurate with the preceding , and to gather them into a class, of which that which follows is predicated. All that dwelt in L. and S. saw him;-which also (i.e. and they) turned to the Lord. A general conversion of the inhabitants to the faith followed.
] Perhaps not a village, but (and the art. makes this probable) the celebrated plain of that name, extending along the coast from Csarea to Joppa, see Isa 33:9; Isa 35:2; Isa 65:10; Son 2:1; 1Ch 27:29; and Jerome on Isaiah 33, 65, vol. iv., pp. 436, 780.
Mariti (Travels, p. 350) mentions a village Saren between Lydda and Arsuf (see Jos 12:18, marg. E. V.): but more recent travellers do not notice it. See Winer, Realw., where other places of the same name are mentioned.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 9:35. [, all) Lydda, according to Josephus, was a town as large in compass as a city. Therefore this was a numerous conversion.-V. g.]- , Saron) Saron was the name of the tract, in which was the town of Lydda. Hence the article is added.- , to the Lord) Jesus Christ. Those are said to be converted to the Lord who have already before embraced the Old Testament: ch. Act 11:21 (which presumes the reading, Act 9:20, ); 2Co 3:16. The Gentiles are said to be converted to God, Act 15:19; Act 20:21.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
all: Act 4:4, Act 5:12-14, Act 6:7, Act 19:10, Act 19:20, Psa 110:3, Isa 66:8
Saron: 1Ch 5:16
turned: Act 9:42, Act 11:21, Act 15:19, Act 26:18-20, Deu 4:30, Psa 22:27, Isa 31:6, Lam 3:40, Hos 12:6, Hos 14:2, Joe 2:13, Luk 1:16, Luk 1:17, 2Co 3:16, 1Th 1:9, 1Th 1:10
Reciprocal: Act 4:30 – and that Act 5:14 – believers Act 26:20 – turn
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Act 9:35. Saw him and turned to the Lord. While the New Testament was in the making, the Lord empowered his apostles and other workers to perform miracles as evidence of their connection with Him. (See Joh 20:30-31; Eph 4:8-14.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 9:35. Saron. The Old Testament Sharon, that beautiful plain extending along the coast of Palestine for some thirty miles between Joppa and Csarea. Its singular beauty and fertility are frequently noticed in the poetical books of the Old Testament. So Isaiah, who (Isa 35:2) writes of the glory of Lebanon, and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; and King Solomon in the Song of Songs (Act 2:1) tells us of the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. In the chronicles of the Crusades, the forest of Saron was the scene of one of the most romantic adventures of Richard.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 32
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
35. Here we find that the healing of Aeneas was wonderfully blessed of God in the awakening of the entire community, including the city of Lydda and the Plain of Sharon, extending from the sea back to the great mountain highlands of Judah and Benjamin. Consequently, many in those regions turned to the Lord. We see that it is our glorious privilege to serve our Master in the ministry of both soul and body, either proving an inspiration and an auxiliary of the other. Paul commands us earnestly to seek these gifts of the Spirit (1Co 12:31); among which you will find the gifts of healings. In the Apostolic succession, we should preach from house to house, everywhere ministering to the sick in the interest of the soul and body. Thus you will find the Lord will bless your ministry to the sick, making it a valuable auxiliary in your access to the souls of the healthy as well as the sick.
DORCAS IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD
The mechanical arts were then in their infancy, no factories having been invented. Weaving cloth was an art so rare that it was sought after by the wives and daughters of kings, appreciated as a royal encomium, embellishing their names with historic renown. Homer very graphically describes how Penelope, the beautiful queen of Ulysses, the king of Ithaca, excelled as a weaver, executing the work with her own royal hands. Hence Dorcas was celebrated, appreciated, honored and beloved not only for the rarity of her genius, but for her saintly philanthropy, which proved a benediction to many.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 35
Saron; a fertile and populous tract of country near to Lydda.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
9:35 And all that dwelt at {o} Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
(o) Lydda was a city of Palestine, and Saron a first-class country, and a place which was excellent for grazing, between Caesarea of Palestine and Mount Tabor, and the lake of Gennesaret, which goes far beyond Joppa.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Sharon was the name of the section of maritime plain that stretched from Joppa to Mt. Carmel. Lydda was near its southeastern edge, and Caesarea was at its center on the Mediterranean coast. As with the healing of the lame temple beggar, and Jesus’ healings of the paralytics at Capernaum and Jerusalem, the healing of Aeneas resulted in many people hearing the gospel and believing in Jesus.
One of the reasons Luke included this healing in his book seems to have been because the results of this healing affected the people living in this area of Palestine. One of these people was the Gentile Cornelius, who will figure significantly in the next chapter.