LYDDA, in Hebrew, Lud or Lod, by the Greeks and Latins called Lydda or Diospolis, in the Way from Jerusalem to Cæsarea Philippi. It lay to the East of Joppa four or five Leagues from this City. Lydda belonged to the Tribe of Ephraim. It seems to have been inhabited by the Benjamites, at the Return of the Jews Neh. xi. 35.from the Babylonish Captivity: Lydda is one of the three Toparchies which were dismembred from Samaria, and given to the Jews°. Saint Peter coming to Lydda, cured a Man there sick of the Palsy, whose Name was Æneas.
Acts ix. 33, 34.The Jews inform us, that after the Destruction of Jerusalem, they set up several Academies in different Places of Palestine, and in particular at Lydda, where the famous Akiba was a Professor for some Time. Gamaliel succeeded him, and was obliged to retire to Japhna. After them appeared Tasipho or Trypho, another famous Rabbin, whom some have confounded with Trypho the Jew, the Person that has a Part in Justin’s Dialogue.