With this backdrop in place, the preacher can now focus on two movements of Ananias part of this story: his vision and conversation with the Lord (verses 10-16) and his laying hands on Saul leading to Sauls baptism (verses 17-19). 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Finally, we shall attempt to focus on the application of this passage to our own lives. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. (Acts 9:17) and that Saul was to "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:17). Ananias would probably be afraid to go see Saul because Ananias was a Christian, and Saul was coming to the city to arrest the Christians. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Saul, in my opinion, is portrayed by Luke as the first-fruits of these promises. What happened to Straight Street since then? Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Ananias Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.q (Philippians 1:4-9). 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. Did they send for Saul? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Ananias and Saul in Damascus. Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. They do not understand the gospel well enough. The words and actions of Ananias are an evidence of his faith and obedience to the divine commission he was given, as outlined by Luke in the verses above. 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! (2) While there is considerable emphasis on the conversion of Saul, there is very little detail given as to the precise time or the details of Sauls conversion. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. One moment, Saul is inflicting pain and suffering on others who trust in Jesus as the Messiah, the next, he is enduring suffering for the sake of Jesus, the Messiah. (1 Corinthians 9:1). 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. * [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). 2. In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. 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. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. 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! But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). 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! WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. It says nothing about him receiving the Holy Spirit. Paul Receive the Holy Spirit by the Laying To him be honor and might forever. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. 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). Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. (5) There is a good deal of emphasis on the results of Sauls conversion. Sermon Seeds: The Way Forward - United Church of Christ The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. In different contexts, preachers might want to draw specific analogies concerning those for whom the congregation should be praying even though it cuts against our grain to do so. (3) Sauls salvation was personal. Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. Why this swift act of judgment? Q&A 1. There would likely be another group of people meeting on the evening before Saul arrived in Damascusthose who did not believe in Jesus as their Messiah, and who eagerly sought the eradication of the church in their city. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. i3&K>Kpg I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. He was, indeed, Stephens replacement. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. 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. (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. Rising Strong Small Groups 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. On various occasions in his epistles, Paul made either direct or indirect references to his former life of opposition and his radical conversion.132 Pauls theology, his lifestyle, his ministry, and his methodology, all are rooted in his conversion. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. 21 And all those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests? 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding147 the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. 1:15). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. Yes, Lord, he answered. 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. 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. 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,* he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 116-117. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This is why Jesus was so receptive of sinners and so hard on the self-righteous. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. 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. Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. In His coming as the light, those who come to the light become lights to the world themselves: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2). Saul Visits Jerusalem. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. Shortly afterwards, the Lord spoke to a disciple named Ananias, asking him to go to Saul, place his hands on him, and restore his sight. He wrote letters to the first churches in order to help them understand the Scriptures and to tell them how to live as good Christians. I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. 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). 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. The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. Devotion Saul Acts ix. That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. . Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> The church sent him on his way to Tarsus by way of Caesarea. He got up and was baptized, Proving (sunbibazon). 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. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord. He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. 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. It does not store any personal data. 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. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. Pauls conversion is one of the great stories of the early church, and it has rightfully inspired Christians from every generation. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? . The splendid deliberateness with which God forged His human tool is the great lesson of these years. also Isaiah 64:6). 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. The voice from heaven did not call out, Have you ever heard of the four spiritual laws?152 Ananias was sent to Saul only. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. 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. Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. It is not a transition, but a transformation. Ananias had not only heard of how Saul had been systematically destroying the church in Jerusalem, hunting down men and women and turning them over to the 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. ANANIAS For all the saints. That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. Ananias Loves Paul Missions Lesson 2 Lesson at a Glance We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. Lesson: Conversion Saul and Ananias Prayer He says: It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. 2 Corinthians 4:14; cf. 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). I. Howard Marshall summarizes the problem in these words: Nevertheless, we obtain a different impression of things from Galatians 1:16-24, according to which (1) Paul did not confer with men after his conversion nor go to the apostles in Jerusalem, but (2) departed to Arabia and then returned to Damascus; then (3) three years later he went to Jerusalem for a visit lasting a fortnight during which he saw only Peter and James, and at this time he was unknown by sight to the churches of Judea; thereafter (4) he went to Syria and Cilicia. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. The first words of the Lord Jesus to Saul were intended to teach him the inseparable unity between Christ and His church. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. 9 What happened to Sapphira in the Bible? The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16). 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. 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). He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Let us suppose further that the church had gathered on this particular evening for a time of prayer, prompted by the news that Saul was soon to arrive, with all the necessary legal machinery (that is, the authorization of the chief priests and the Sanhedrin130) to arrest and extradite131 the saints who were in the city. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. 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. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. Romans 6). . 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. WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. Blaiklock, for example (pp. 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. 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). The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. It was only with the exit of Saul from the Holy Land, back to his native land (Tarsus), that peace once again returned. In Galatians 1, Saul wrote that God had called him while he was still in his mothers womb (Galatians 1:15). Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. 143 . Who was Ananias of Damascus in the New Testament Linking is encouraged, but content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed including, but not limited to such means as framing or other digital copying and/or distribution method, in whole or in part without the publisher's written consent. Thus, it is grace which sustains the saint, in addition to saving him: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited (Hebrews 13:9). and the other is a deceptive, self-serving half-truth from people interested The blindness to which Saul was subject for three days provided him with much time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. 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 New International Version to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his The words, Brother Saul must not have come easily to Ananias. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. (5) Sauls salvation was an act of divine grace. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Ananias Sauls Baptism. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias. His Word Today 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 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. 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. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). 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 6 For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). We know from other accounts (22:6; 26:13) that it was high noon when Saul was stopped in his tracks by a bright light from heaven. Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight? 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? Sermon Seeds: The Way Forward - United Church of Christ We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. . Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. came under Alexander the Great's rule. What else did Jesus explain to Ananias? Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. Luke 3:22), it expressed his unique relationship and fellowship with the Father. Ibid. 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. 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. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle It is not clear Acts 9 After this incident with Paul we hear no more The two messages cannot be reconciled. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Saul could only be persecuting Jesus through the members of His body, the church. 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. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3).

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