lydda Summary and Overview

a town in the tribe of Ephraim, mentioned only in the New Testament (Acts 9:32, 35, 38) as the scene of Peter's miracle in healing the paralytic AEneas. It lay about 9 miles east of Joppa, on the road from the sea-port to Jerusalem. In the Old Testament (1 Chr. 8:12) it is called Lod. It was burned by the Romans, but was afterwards rebuilt, and was known by the name of Diospolis. Its modern name is Ludd. The so-called patron saint of England, St. George, is said to have been born here.

(strife), the Greek form of the name, #Ac 9:32,35,38| which appears in the Hebrew records as LOD a town of Benjamin, founded by Shamed or Shamer. #1Ch 8:12; Ezr 2:33; Ne 7:37; 11:35| It is still called Lidd or Ludd, and stands in part of the great maritime plain which anciently bore the name of Sharon. It is nine miles from Joppa, and is the first town on the northernmost of the two roads between that place and Jerusalem. The watercourse outside the town is said still to bear the name of Abi-Butrus (Peter), in memory the apostle. It was destroyed by Vespasian, and was probably not rebuilt till the time of Hadrian, when it received the name of Diospois. When Eusebius wrote (A.D. 320-330) Diospolis was a well-known and much-frequented town. The modern town is, for a Mohammedan place, buy and prosperous.

LYD'DA , the Greek name for the Hebrew Lod, the present Lydd, now a village, but in ancient time a flourishing town situated in the plain of Sharon, a few miles east of Joppa, on the road to Jerusalem. It was burnt several times by the Romans, but again rebuilt. Vespasian gave it the name of Diospolis, "city of Jupiter," but the old name prevailed. It was the birthplace of St. George, the patron saint of England, and Justinian built a church in his commemoration. By the Saracens it was again burnt, but rebuilt by the Crusaders. Now the church is in ruins, but the village is prospering. Here St. Peter healed the paralytic AEneas. Acts 9:32.

(See LOD.) The result of Peter's cure of the paralytic Aeneas, one of the "saints which dwelt at Lydda," was, "all that dwelt in Lydda and Saron (the adjoining maritime plain, Sharon) saw him and turned to the Lord" (Acts 9:32-35). Now Ludd, nine miles from Jaffa, the first town on the northernmost of the two roads between Jaffa and Jerusalem. The Benjamites occupied and built, i.e. fortified and enlarged, it originally (1 Chronicles 8:12) and reoccupied it after the return from Babylon (Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 11:35). The Romans named it Diospolls. It became the seat of a bishopric. Here was buried, and probably born, George, England's legendary patron saint and martyr; a church in his honour was erected over his remains, the beautiful ruin of which is still standing.