The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f 1:15; Eph. 1:16; cf. He is trying to inform God of whats going on. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. But his blindness was symbolic of his condition. It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. What if They'd Said No 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). 1:16f. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? Devotion Saul For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). 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. 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. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave 15:10; Gal. How old was Jesus when he was crucified? He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. `}Hq)l2hZ0r89asO70Da`qg Israel was also blind, and Pauls blindness was but a specific example of this blindness: The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. The New International Version 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. Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. When Saul stood up, he discovered he was completely blind, and the men who were with him had to lead him by his hand until they reached Damascus. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. 152 I do not mean to criticize the four laws of Campus Crusade, which have been used of God to bring many to faith in Christ. 149 It is more significant than might be supposed at first glance that the only occurrence of the title `Son of God in Acts should be in this report of Sauls early preaching. Luke is emphatic in his representation of mans salvation as having been ordained and orchestrated by God, as a manifestation of His sovereign grace: And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in The Lord Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision. ANANIAS Dont let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. 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. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 113. It is also bad news for the self-righteous. 15:8; Gal. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter 92 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 94 /H [ 1243 743 ] /L 503600 /E 43371 /N 16 /T 501642 >> endobj xref 92 42 0000000016 00000 n 0000001188 00000 n 0000001986 00000 n 0000002200 00000 n 0000002434 00000 n 0000002614 00000 n 0000002636 00000 n 0000004226 00000 n 0000004248 00000 n 0000005775 00000 n 0000005798 00000 n 0000008986 00000 n 0000009009 00000 n 0000012094 00000 n 0000012305 00000 n 0000013156 00000 n 0000014011 00000 n 0000014230 00000 n 0000014604 00000 n 0000014827 00000 n 0000023280 00000 n 0000023869 00000 n 0000024230 00000 n 0000024446 00000 n 0000024731 00000 n 0000024987 00000 n 0000025380 00000 n 0000026152 00000 n 0000026257 00000 n 0000029454 00000 n 0000029477 00000 n 0000032108 00000 n 0000032131 00000 n 0000034910 00000 n 0000034933 00000 n 0000037945 00000 n 0000040047 00000 n 0000040070 00000 n 0000043063 00000 n 0000043141 00000 n 0000001243 00000 n 0000001964 00000 n trailer << /Size 134 /Info 91 0 R /Root 93 0 R /Prev 501632 /ID[<3cb89dccfaad5f26269ffad0f6f6443b><3cb89dccfaad5f26269ffad0f6f6443b>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 93 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 89 0 R >> endobj 132 0 obj << /S 672 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 133 0 R >> stream NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. (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. Damascus, a city some 150 miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, was one such city. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Obedience is often not easy, but it is very likely the most direct way forward and the clearest way to honor God. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. It was almost as though Saul had looked intently into the beam of an intensely powerful carbon-act light, the kind used as search lights. This silence is instructive, in my opinion. 10. 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. 13But Ananias replied, Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones* in Jerusalem.k They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). 4. 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. It may be that Sauls conversion was the instrument God used to convert these followers of Saul, so that they really were his disciples, in a two-fold sense. was Ananias Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Rising Strong Small Groups . 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:8-11). It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. Preachers working through the narrative lectionary with their congregations, then, will do well to explore this passage in detail in order to establish the character of Paul well for the second half of Acts (Acts 13-28; see how this role is foreshadowed in 9:15), which shifts the focus from the ministry of the Twelve in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to his role in taking the gospel throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and even to Rome (see Acts 1:8). It is one of the few accounts of a conversion which is described with some detail (although this detail is much less than we would prefer). Saul and Ananias The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It was as the Son of God that Christ was revealed to him on the Damascus road (Gal. If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. The life-changing implications of conversion are expressed in these words of Paul to Titus: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. When one looks at all the references to this event, it was, in fact, a personal appearance of the risen, glorified Jesus to Saul (cf. 1:2; 2 Tim. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). 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. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) It was an act of faith and 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. What do you suppose the saints would have prayed at this special prayer meeting? Acts 9 Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. (Philippians 1:4-9). 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. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). 136. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? 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, The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. In this occasion, no one seems to have prayed for Peters miraculous escape. A( ) Ananias is obscure. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Saul was also blinded, which identified him with the blindness of the nation Israel of which the Old Testament prophets wrote (see above). It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Ananias We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. WebThe Conversion of Saul. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6-7). * [9:3143] In the context of the period of peace enjoyed by the community through the cessation of Pauls activities against it, Luke introduces two traditions concerning the miraculous power exercised by Peter as he was making a tour of places where the Christian message had already been preached. Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight? 20:32; 26:18) is a common term in Pauls writings and describes Christians as people who have been set apart for Gods service and must show an appropriate character. Saul 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. You, my brothers, were called to be free. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for Amen (Romans 11:33-36). However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. Israel too will just as surely return to God; and when it happens, it will be all of God, all to His glory and praise: 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal. Both are call stories. \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. Unstoppable Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. Damascus was an important town, about 150 miles (242 km) from Jerusalem, with a considerable Jewish population. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. 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. Those whose lives Saul would gladly have taken in his unsaved days now sought to save his life by sending him away. Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. And now, he is preaching the same message. It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. They could not out-argue him. To Him be the glory forever. . When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. No change in life is greater than the change from unbelief to belief in Christ, from being lost and condemned to being saved and eternally secure, from being separated from God and others to being united with Him and with all believers. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). Continue Learning about Religious Studies. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7). Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the One who spoke to him was Jesus of Nazareth, the long-looked-for Messiah, the Consolation and Redeemer of Israel. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). This light would thus have been very bright indeed. When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Also, For the time being, God is using the disobedience of Israel to accomplish His purposes, but there is surely a time coming when Israel will be restored to the Lord, by faith in Christ. Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him, 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 They do not understand the gospel well enough. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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.. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. 15But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,m 6:17; Phil. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that the Romans . The words which Ananias spoke to Saul indicate he was also to lay hands on him so that he would receive the Holy Spirit (9:17). Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. also 16:17; 18:25-26). 1:11--2:10; Philippians 3:1-14; Colossians 1:24-29; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 6:13-16; 2 Timothy 1:8-12; Titus 2:11-15; 3:1-7. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. In fact, more is written of what Saul said and did because he was saved than is written of what he said and did resulting in his salvation. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. He also warned those who would corrupt grace, to make it a pretext for sin (cf. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple (vs. 26). He should not become uncircumcised. There are two primary options for preaching from this text. * It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. Shape us into children who rejoice in knowing and proclaiming you to the world. The argument of the Book of Acts is essentially this: The expansion of the gospel through the church as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. How many times should a shock absorber bounce? The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? 2:7; 2 Tim. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to (1 Corinthians 7:15, 17-22, 24).154. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Saul is welcomed into the church. We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. If Luke had any ax to grind on this issue, here would have been a great place to stress this matter, but he did not do so. WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. %PDF-1.2 % But why would they be called his disciples? In the process, Saul was to greatly extend the outreach of the gospel to the Gentiles. He was to come to the earth as the great light, the light to the Gentiles, and so He did. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). 148 I would assume that Saul was one of those who covered his ears so as not to hear the praise of Stephen, as reported in Acts 7:57. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. 15:21). 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. ,%d/3o3o6jda=|4S-LJ3ajLcNfZyV;CkCl>390q {KQ0lQ)0>~cy:CJkP|4M-\v What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. This divine illumination is that miracle which God performs within a lost, blinded, dead soul, so as to bring about salvation: 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. When he was still very young, Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy. Acts 9 Saul 2 What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? * She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Sauls conversion was to play a crucial role in the expansion of the gospel. Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.q 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 The results of Sauls preaching were predictable, very much like the response Saul would have had (or did have) to the preaching of the gospel before his conversion. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. (12) The same Saul who played a role in Stephens execution was to become, in large measure, his replacement. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. What happened to Saul when Ananias laid hand on him? also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. To both Ananias (Acts 9:10) and Saul (Acts 9:12). Saul was told at the time of his conversion that God had chosen him to bear witness to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the Jews (9:15). The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 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). As applied to our Lord, then, the title `Son of God marks him out as the true representative of the Israel of God and as Gods anointed king; but it is no merely official title. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. 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. * [9:36] Tabitha (Dorcas), respectively the Aramaic and Greek words for gazelle, exemplifies the right attitude toward material possessions expressed by Jesus in the Lucan Gospel (Lk 6:30; 11:41; 12:33; 18:22; 19:8). We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. Sapphira). 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. 23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. 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). The Conversion of Saul Hear, you deaf! He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes?