We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). 10i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. What a shock these words must have been to Saul, who up to this point, seems to have prided himself for his faithfulness to Judaism! a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. `}Hq)l2hZ0r89asO70Da`qg Here the Jews were strong in numbers (10,000 butchered by Nero later) and here some disciples had found refuge from Sauls persecution in Judea and still worshipped in the synagogues. But why would they be called his disciples? Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). A letter delivered at that time by a Roman ambassador to Ptolemy VIII of Egypt concludes with the demand: If any pestilent men have fled to you from their own country {Judaea}, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their law (1 Macc. And thus, in Gods time, Saul was dramatically converted, seeing the Christ whom he had been persecuting, risen from the dead and in His heavenly glory. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. 10 i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. 11 The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. When the man asked why he should do this, the pastor said, I dont believe anyone can continue hating someone when they have consistently prayed for that person to be blessed by God. Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). 12and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him, that he may regain his sight. on it belonged to the Roman province of Syria, but had a measure of municipal autonomy in the loose federation of cities called the Decapolis. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181. What is meant by the competitive environment? Saul was not content to punish some and to drive the rest from the holy city. He did not want to merely contain Christianity or to drive it from Jerusalem; he wanted to rid the earth of Christianity and its followers. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. The salvation of Saul was to result in the gospel being preached to distant people and lands, and in the extension of the church to many key cities. When Saul reached Jerusalem, the Christians there also were afraid of him, because they thought he was going to have them all arrested. . WebA study of the language describing what resulted from Ananias going to Saul should help in determining the part played by Ananias in Saul's being "filled with the Holy Spirit." The conversion of Saul is a very crucial event in this book, which spells out from a historical point of view (Romans, from a theological viewpoint) the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the plans and purposes of God. Their story is rarely shown in art, but is the subject of one of the Raphael Cartoons, and a panel on the Brescia Casket, both illustrated here. Sauls conversion was also his call to ministry, and this conversion experience is strikingly similar to that of one of his predecessors, Ezekiel: 1:4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the northan immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Pauls Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Cor. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. Frequent biblical texts speak of God in terms of light: You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalm 76:4). 9oY+ The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here am I, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.145 15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My names sake.. Lest anyone think they are too sinful to save, let me remind you that when Paul wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, he quickly added, among whom I am foremost of all.. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. 26:63; Luke 22:67, 70). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ananias and Saul in Damascus. Did Peter and Paul meet? To Paul, his relationship, by faith, to Jesus Christ was also the beginning of his new relationship to the body of Christ, the church: Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. There are two primary options for preaching from this text. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, Before he reached Damascus a light flashed in front of Saul that was so bright he fell down on the ground. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). The passage which we are studying can be divided into these major segments: We will begin this lesson by making some general observations concerning this account of Sauls conversion,134 after which we will examine the sequence of events leading up to Sauls conversion, the events surrounding his conversion, and the consequences of his conversion as depicted by Luke. To put it differently, the account of Sauls conversion in Acts 9 is but the first of three accounts, the other two coming from the lips of Paul himself. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. Did they send for Saul? It was only with the exit of Saul from the Holy Land, back to his native land (Tarsus), that peace once again returned. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. That is because our Lord always confronts, convicts, and converts men and women individually, in the light of their own actions and beliefs. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all (D)who call on Your name., 15But the Lord said to him, Go, for (E)he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before (F)Gentiles, (G)kings, and the (H)children[b] of Israel. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Let us be careful to discern what changes the gospel requires and what changes it does not. It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. The casting of this spell on this false prophet could therefore have been an act of kindness, as Gods blinding of Saul had been, intended to cease his opposition and perhaps even to bring about his conversion. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 26o When he arrived in Jerusalem* he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. He paid for his education by working for the priests. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. 5:3-4). Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). . * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. It is hardly likely that at this stage Saul recognized Jesus as Lord, though he does so greet him in 22:10 `What shall I do, Lord? A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, pp. Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Sauls vision prepared him for the arrival of Ananias, clearly indicating that he was the one God had appointed to reveal His will for him. Ananias came to Saul with grace to liberate him from his wrong-headed beliefs and open his heart to Jesus. Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. 17(K)And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and (L)laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord [c]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and (M)be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate. The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. 17) and the restoration of the man after the shattering experience he had known, and for the early ministry in Tarsus, Syria, Cilicia, and Antioch, which prepared mind and method for the major assault on the pagan world. Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. To persecute them was to persecute Him. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians 3:1-9; cf. 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord appeared in a vision to a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in need of help. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. During his conversion The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. 9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. The narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings Read more. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Thus, whenever he spoke of his conversion and his call to ministry, he always spoke of this incident as an act of divine grace, of Gods unmerited favor, of an act of mercy toward him: I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:15-16). Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse He should not become uncircumcised. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? 1 What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Ananias fulfills his task: He laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain 19and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.*. called for him to be slapped. Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). The first thing we shall do is to make some observations on the passage as a whole to attempt to see the forest before we scrutinize the trees. At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? This is why Jesus was so receptive of sinners and so hard on the self-righteous. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7; cf. 4. They could not out-argue him. And when the Galatians began to depart from the true gospel, Paul rebuked them for turning from Him: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel (Galatians 6). (7) Those who were saved by Sauls ministry were convinced by the power of the gospel message he preached and not by miraculous signs and wonders. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. He trusted that Christ had a future purpose for Saul (verse 15) even though Sauls past as he knew it seemed to point toward a different future. also 16:17; 18:25-26). We can learn more about his life in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and we can still read some of the letters he wrote that have been collected into the Bible, such as Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians. This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it . He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. In this occasion, no one seems to have prayed for Peters miraculous escape. The result of that reluctant leap of faith is that Sauls eyes are opened and he is baptized, becoming part of (and eventually a leader in) the very church he sought to wipe out. Why was Ananias afraid? WebThe Conversion of Saul. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. It is not clear whether this official was a representative of the king resident in Damascus to look after the interests of the Arabs there, or whether Damascus at this time was under the control of Nabataea. I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 168. 15:8; Gal. Ananias and Saul. Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36). Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. He sent me so that you can Then a voice said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?, Saul asked the voice, Who are you, sir?, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. We do not know the exact time when Saul was saved. to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:18). I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? In Peters words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord(v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). How humorous it seems to hear Ananias informing the Lord that Saul was an enemy, one who had caused many Christians great suffering and adversity, as though He was unaware of this! Have you had such an encounter? (6) Sauls salvation was a conversion, a radical change. Q&A 1. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. Their attempt to deceive the apostles was an attempt to deceive God putting the Spirit of the Lord to the test (v. 9) and they paid the price! Hb```f``:Ab,=`.9Z3{x5v\);]c#qea #'&D|z:wyKN,0(t\tbRFhT2thS2(9.`mNbq)-pk^;>:+pq2Ck AUbK=N\2M/`KqGLZS1 $[S|Rd\.9i'9T\.EXdxlYcqb The answer is: Jesus. 132 The impact of Sauls conversion on his message and his ministry is testified to by A. T. Robertson: Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Sauls conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. The laying on of Ananias hands was also an expression of unity, as was the later right hand of fellowship extended by some of the apostles to Saul (Galatians 2:9). If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. WebAnswer: > 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. Here I am, Lord, he replied. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. He had heard of all the terrible things Saul had done to Christians in Jerusalem and how it was his intent to do the same in Damascus, Ananias town. Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. How much better to petition God to save those whom we are concerned about, a God who desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). He sent me so that you can 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul,why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. This doctrine does not hold that men are as bad as they could be in each area of their life, but that sin has permeated every dimension of a persons life. He sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell from Sauls eyes. What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? There he was transfigured before them. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? Did they think their task would be a simple one? Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this.
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