3. 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 Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 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). The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. Saul, the typical (albeit more zealous) Jew, opposed God in the person of Christ and His body, the church, even while he thought he was serving Him. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. 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. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. Pauls conversion is one of the great stories of the early church, and it has rightfully inspired Christians from every generation. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). 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). For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. In Jerusalem, as in Damascus, Saul spoke out boldly proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ, the promised Messiah. 19and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.*. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. 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. They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. 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. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). Handed down. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. 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). 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. WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. Those who know themselves sinners, and who call upon Jesus for salvation, are saved: For WHOSOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13, citing Joel 2:32). One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? 8 Although I am less than the least of all Gods people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. That our Lords contemporaries believed the Messiah to be in some special sense the son of God is rendered probable by the wording of the high priests question to him at his trial: `Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? (Mark 14:61 par. Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. But hidden in its shadows is another inspiring story, and one to which most people in the pew may more easily relate. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? Could Judas have been a Christian? 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. And yet, even in opposing God, he furthered Gods purposes; he was instrumental in the evangelization of the Gentiles (Acts 8:1, 4; 11:19-21). WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. 22But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. At first he found himself in the position of being regarded as an apostate by the Jews and suspect by the Christian community of Jerusalem. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W 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). 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives. 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. We may not be able to identify the precise moment or the exact events which brought it about, but salvation does not happen in some kind of group way. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. We honor him on May 14. here - view only). The ultimate issue was Gods ability to saveeven the most committed unbeliever. 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 . There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. WebWe do not know whether Ananias already had previous experience miracles of healing, but the Lord was instructing him to interview the notorious Pharisee Saul, who fiercely persecuted Christians, and to heal his blindness. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. 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. 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). Pauls method was consistent with his message. That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. He sent me so that you can Who told Saul to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street? The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. Transform us as you transformed Paul. What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? helpful to the Lord. 1. * [9:20] Son of God: the title Son of God occurs in Acts only here, but cf. Saul, why do you persecute me? 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Did they think their task would be a simple one? 1:2; 2 Tim. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 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! Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. If there is one thing of which Saul is now convinced (by what he has so far seen and heard on the road) it is that whoever he is talking to is LORD. The Church at Peace. Did Peter and Paul meet? If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. He didnt know that the risen Christ had confronted Saul on the road to Damascus just as Christ is now confronting him This sets up a flashback to verses 1-9. When God spoke to Ananias commanding him to go to the house where Saul was staying, he was to receive him as a brother; and he was told that he was called to suffer as Gods chosen vessel to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, kings, and to his fellow-Israelites. He goes for broke. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? He sent me so that you can 3 He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord. 1:16; cf. 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. To the church, Saul turned out to be a friend, a fellow-believer, in fact, a flaming evangelist, who proclaimed Christ more clearly and powerfully than anyone had previously done in Damascus. The first is to ask the congregation to identify with Saul himself. It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. He started NOW to trust God. Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This three-fold repetition is a clear indication of the importance of this event, especially in the themes Luke is seeking to develop in the Book of Acts. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! This light would thus have been very bright indeed. During his conversion Why did Saint Paul change his 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. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, and said, You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 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). Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. 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. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? 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). Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Ananias found 2 Cor. Only a radical conversion can produce this attitude in the life of a man like Saul: For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:8). They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of The longer I study Sauls conversion, the more convinced I am that his conversion is typical. 1:29, 30, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, Then, on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a vision of Jesus. God struck Ananias and Sapphira dead for hypocrisy While their penalties seem extreme to us today, God judged them guilty of sins so serious that they threatened the very existence of the early church. Enough revelation for the moment. 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. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. Also, 2. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The conversion of Saul, as depicted in our text, was not only a divine call to salvation, but it was also a call to service. 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. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) He was to come to the earth as the great light, the light to the Gentiles, and so He did. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. Saul was not aware, until after our Lords words, that the One who had interrupted his journey was Jesus, and that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, the LORD, but he was certain, at this point, that whoever this One was, He was the LORD. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. Is paralegal higher than legal assistant? The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. Acts 9:19-23 Saul in Damascus. When Ananias 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. There are affinities between his conversion experience and Ezekiels inaugural vision, in which the prophet saw the likeness of the heavenly throne and above it a likeness as it were of a human form (Ezek. Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. In spite of the clear and present danger, Ananias went and began to look for the Christian hunter Saul. (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way,137 both men and women,138 he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. One cannot help but wonder if it did not send chills up and down Pauls spine when he cast the spell of blindness on the Jewish false prophet, Bar-Jesus: And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. Finally, we shall attempt to focus on the application of this passage to our own lives. Later, when Paul looked back on his past devotion and deeds, all done in the name of Judaism, he came to view his apparent righteous deeds for what they really weredung: 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! The same grace which was shown to Saul in his salvation is shown to all whom God calls to Himself: 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.
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