Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. But as I see the call of God referred to in the New Testament, it seems that the call of salvation assumes other callings, to which Paul and other New Testament writers made frequent reference: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1). Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. 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 This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Ananias (/nnas/ AN--NY-s; Ancient Greek: from Hebrew , Hananiah, favoured of the LORD) was a disciple of Jesus at Damascus mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, which describes how he was sent by Jesus to restore the sight of Saul of Tarsus (who later was called Paul the Apostle) and . Perhaps Ananias called a meeting of the church to discuss how they would deal with Sauls arrival. At length, in Gods good time, the door opened, and the events of half a lifetime assumed final and complete significance. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Wm. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? It was a city in the days of Abraham, and at the time of the Israelite monarchy it was the capital of the most important Aramaean kingdom. Indeed, God would reveal His sovereignty by using Saul to further the gospel, first by his opposition (which scattered the church and spread the gospel), and then by his conversion (which resulted in his powerful proclamation of Jesus as Messiah). Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. 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. When we look at Pauls great love and compassion for the saints, we have to remind ourselves of the hate he once had toward them. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 26 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. 2 Corinthians 4:14; cf. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. Yes, Lord, he answered. This would mean that the Gospel isnt as good as we thought it was and that God violates the law of double jeopardy where He punishes the same sin twice. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory (Isaiah 60:19). A vision, in this context, was a supernatural sight from God. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 8 Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And if Sauls blindness led to his own conversion, at least the blinding of Bar-Jesus contributed to the conversion of the proconsul (and perhaps too his own conversionwho knows?). Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. 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. 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.. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). I was inclined to think that most of us, experientially, are called to faith in Christ only to gradually learn Gods will for our life, progressively revealed to us as we walk in Him. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. 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. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. 143 . . His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. 1:16f. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. For less than $5/mo. 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. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. 130 In our text, we are told the Saul went to the high priest to ask for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus (9:1-2), but in Acts 22:5-6 Paul indicates that the Council (the Sanhedrin) was also involved in providing him with letters of authorization to arrest Christians in Damascus. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This blindness was only removed by faith in Christ, a miracle brought about by divine action: In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see (Isaiah 29:18). As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. It is not clear gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. (3) Sauls conversion experience was quick and dramatic in one sense, but it also involved a process, a process of at least three days.135. 13:1 On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity (Zechariah 12:1013:1). It is the invitation for sinful Israelites to be saved, by repenting and calling on the name of the Lord for salvation: Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). In other words a beginning point for narrating Acts 9:1-19 could be with Ananias knowledge of Saul as a persecutor, which he expresses in verse 13. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11). 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. Matt. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. Paul recognized that his ministry was that of bringing the light to those who were lost, including the Gentiles, kings, and his fellow-Israelites: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. Luke 3:22), it expressed his unique relationship and fellowship with the Father. Ibid. i3&K>Kpg required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. Ananias son of Nebedeus (or Nedebeus) was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 23:2) and Caesarea (Acts 24:1). It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. Damascus was an important town, about 150 miles (242 km) from Jerusalem, with a considerable Jewish population. The remaining verses of this account describe the results of Sauls conversion, all of which serve as dramatic proof of his radical transformation as a result of his encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. Here Saul took the various items in the life of Jesus of Nazareth and found in them the proof that he was in reality the Messiah (ho Christos). The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). God changed him from being a man who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and a persecutor of the Christians into a bold missionary who preached the Gospel wherever he went. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. Saul was the bad guy. . Jesus did not address the entire group but said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? The others knew that something unusual was going on, but they did not grasp it (Acts 22:9). Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). 87-89), plays out the two views of Sauls conversion, the first (and seldom held the view of Ramsay), that Saul was suddenly and radically converted; second, that there was a considerable process involved. . In our text Ananias was instructed to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might receive his sight (9:12). 43* r And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. * [9:43] The fact that Peter lodged with a tanner would have been significant to both the Gentile and Jewish Christians, for Judaism considered the tanning occupation unclean. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse When Ananias 2. WebThe Conversion of Saul. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? WebAnd Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, Did they think their task would be a simple one? But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God (John 3:19-21). Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). If the worst sinner (Saul) was not too sinful to save, then you are not too sinful for God to save. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). The apostles had nothing to do with Sauls conversion, and they were reluctant to believe it had happened or to welcome him into their fellowship. It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? How true are two of the proverbs, which read: The mind of a man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). It is not just in the Book of Acts that the importance of Sauls conversion is evident. We honor him on May 14. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. [ a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 9oY+ 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lords freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christs slave. 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. . 139 A. T. Robertson writes, It is open to question if kurie should not here be translated Sir as in 16:30 and in Matt. No doubt God had used Ananias to serve as Sauls first Barnabas. Just as Barnabas would vouch for Saul with the apostles in Jerusalem, so Ananias, a highly respected Jewish Christian, would vouch for Saul here. 5:3-4). 142 His companions therefore took him by the hand and led him through the gate of Damascus to the place where, presumably, arrangements had been made for him to stay. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 185. The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. Why did Saint Paul change his Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end (Isaiah 60:20). The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. (1 Corinthians 9:1). 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 1:4, 26-28; 2:1-7).143. Ananias who was Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. He paid for his education by working for the priests. They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. With the conversion of Saul, persecution of the church did not stop, for now some of the Hellenistic Jews were opposing his preaching (and no doubt, the church at large as well). Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. 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. Have you had such an encounter? This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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! (3) Sauls salvation was personal. WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. Could it be that God had also appointed someone to meet Saul as he entered the city, with specific instructions as to where he was to stay? Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:24-27). The conclusion of many of the commentators is that Sauls conversion was a much longer process than I see reflected in this account, or in any other. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. But as Saul grew in strength and as his arguments were irrefutable, just as Stephens had been (Acts 6:10), his opponents realized that the only way to silence Saul was to kill him. He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} * Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Suppose you were a Christian who had just arrived in Damascus, and you had been able to learn the whereabouts of a group of believers. 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. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. Why was Ananias afraid? In this chapter we have, I. 137 The Way is a designation for the new movement used several times in Acts 9:19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; cf. The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. Your merchants were the worlds great men. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. Start FREE. But the gospel is good news for sinners. Did Peter and Paul meet? 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. 28, p. 185. 39So Peter got up and went with them. This account is accompanied by an asseveration of its truth which suggests that some people were contradicting it.133. 23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
