What was Lydda?

Lydda was a significant ancient town in the region of Judea, mentioned in the New Testament book of Acts. It is most notably remembered as the site where the Apostle Peter performed a miraculous healing, leading to widespread belief in Jesus Christ. The Greek name Λύδδα (Ludda) is derived from the Hebrew לוֹד (Lod), which refers to the same city in the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 8:12). Lydda was located on the coastal plain of Israel, about 10-12 miles southeast of Joppa and on the road between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean port of Caesarea.

Historically, Lydda was established by the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:12), and after the Babylonian exile, it was resettled by returning Jews (Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 11:35). By the time of the New Testament, Lydda had become a mixed Jewish–Gentile town with a notable presence of believers in Jesus.

Biblical Reference

Lydda is mentioned explicitly in Acts 9:32-35, during the early spread of the gospel following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The passage states:

“As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ‘Aeneas,’ Peter said to him, ‘Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.’ Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9:32-35, NIV)

What Happened in the Bible

Peter’s visit to Lydda occurs as part of the early missionary movement of the apostles beyond Jerusalem. While traveling among the believers, he arrives at Lydda and encounters a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed for eight years. In the name and power of Jesus Christ, Peter commands Aeneas to rise—and he is immediately healed. This public miracle serves as a testimony to the risen Lord, resulting in many people in Lydda and the surrounding plain of Sharon turning to the Lord in faith.

This healing was not merely a physical act of mercy; it was a demonstration of the gospel’s power, verifying Peter‘s apostolic authority and the truth of the message he preached. The miracle prepared the way for broader evangelistic success in the region and led to further ministry, including Peter’s subsequent journey to Joppa where he raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36–43).

Meaning for Today’s Christians

Lydda reminds believers that the power of Jesus to heal, restore, and transform is not bound by time or place. Peter’s miracle at Lydda shows that Jesus continues His ministry through His followers. The healing of Aeneas serves as a picture of spiritual renewal: just as Aeneas was raised from paralysis, so sinners are raised to new life in Christ by faith.

This passage also illustrates the importance of gospel-centered ministry that attends to both physical and spiritual needs. Peter did not heal for the sake of spectacle but as a means to glorify Christ and point people to salvation.

Connection to Jesus and the Gospel

The healing at Lydda was done in the name of Jesus Christ, making it clear that the authority and power originated from Him, not Peter. This is consistent with Jesus’ ministry on earth, where He healed the sick and preached the kingdom of God. Jesus promised His followers that they would do greater works through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:12), and Peter‘s act in Lydda fulfills this promise.

Moreover, Aeneas’s healing foreshadows the ultimate healing and resurrection that Jesus guarantees to all who trust in Him. It is a foretaste of the physical and spiritual restoration promised in the gospel—a restoration that begins now through the new birth and is completed in the resurrection of the body at Christ’s return.

Broader Biblical Themes

1. The Expansion of the Gospel

Lydda is a testament to the geographical and ethnic expansion of the early church. The gospel, once confined to Jerusalem, was spreading to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The conversion of many in Lydda shows the power of the gospel to reach diverse communities.

2. Healing as a Sign of the Kingdom

Physical healing in Scripture often accompanies gospel proclamation as a sign of the in-breaking Kingdom of God. Just as Jesus healed to point to the spiritual healing He offers, so the apostles continued this ministry to testify to His ongoing reign.

3. Faith and Response

The people of Lydda and Sharon “turned to the Lord” after witnessing Aeneas’s healing. This reflects a biblical pattern where God‘s mighty acts call for a response of repentance and faith. The miracle was not an end in itself but a call to trust in Jesus.

4. The Role of Apostolic Witness

Peter’s ministry in Lydda illustrates the apostolic witness foundational to the early church. His visit and miracle authenticated his message and laid the groundwork for the church’s growth in that region.

Reflection Questions

1. What does the healing of Aeneas teach us about the authority of Jesus and the power of the gospel?

2. In what ways can we be instruments of healing—physical, emotional, or spiritual—in our own communities?

3. How does Peter’s willingness to travel and minister among believers challenge us to go beyond our comfort zones in gospel mission?

4. What “Lydda moments” has God used in your life to draw your attention to His power and presence?

5. How does the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to towns like Lydda encourage you in the mission of the church today?

Lydda stands as a powerful example of how ordinary places and everyday moments can become platforms for extraordinary encounters with the risen Christ. Through the ministry of Peter, the power of Jesus was made visible, and the gospel advanced—just as it continues to do through faithful believers today.