He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. 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. Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. But why would they be called his disciples? 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? on it belonged to the Roman province of Syria, but had a measure of municipal autonomy in the loose federation of cities called the Decapolis. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181. Why was Ananias afraid? Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Rather than attempt to pacify Ananias or to alleviate his apprehension, God went on to tell him that Saul would not only be a brother, but he would be His instrument for bringing the gospel to Gentiles too. WebExplain why Ananias was told that Saul was a 'Chosen Vessel' Give an account of the vision which Saul had while traveling on the road to the Damascus. Acts 26:18). Encourage and rebuke with all authority. What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. When he was still very young, Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy. Not everyone can be Paul, but we all can and should be Ananias. I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. Why this swift act of judgment? Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. 11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusp named Saul, for he is praying. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 12and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him, that he may regain his sight. This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. 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. vii.) He spoke of salvation as dying to the old manner of living and as rising from the dead in order to live an entirely new life (Romans 6). * [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. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? The Lord Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision. Jesus was alive and not still in the grave! to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:18). Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. 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. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 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. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. 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. There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36). The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. 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. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. What happened to Straight Street since then? l. [9:14] 9:12; 26:10; 1Cor 1:2; 2Tm 2:22. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, Please come to us without delay. 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. For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. What did Ananias do for Saul? One moment, Saul was opposing Jesus, as though He were the sinner; the next, Saul is on his face before this Jesus, calling Him Lord. We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, 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. 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. 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). This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9). 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. When Paul spoke of his conversion here in Galatians 1, he did not speak of the light which shone without, but rather of the light which shone within. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. Note Pauls summary of the gospel at the end of Galatians 2: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20). a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. came under Alexander the Great's rule. Fourth, if we had all the facts, there would be no problem. The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 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. 9oY+ But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles. 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. One is the truth from God Himself, Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. The church sent him on his way to Tarsus by way of Caesarea. But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. 2, called him Ananias ben Nebedeus. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. 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. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. Your merchants were the worlds great men. No one, it would seem, was even thinking of what God was about to do. The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. Nevertheless, conversion has certain elements which are vital and which are to be present in any salvation experience. What Paul learned about himself, personally, on the road to Damascus he came to understand and to preach concerning all men. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. 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). To Him be the glory forever. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed. My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. 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). 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? 16For (I)I will show him how many things he must suffer for My (J)names sake.. The result of that reluctant leap of faith is that Sauls eyes are opened and he is baptized, becoming part of (and eventually a leader in) the very church he sought to wipe out. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. 15:21). Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. 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. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. 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. CE!L;oza!sQjaTsg The famous story of St. Pauls conversion from being an outrageous persecutor of the gospel of Christ to be an illustrious professor and preacher of it. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). the Romans . A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? He is trying to inform God of whats going on. 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. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). The LORD identified Himself as the Jesus, whom he had been persecuting. 8 Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? The first is to ask the congregation to identify with Saul himself. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Pauls Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Cor. in expanding, as well as justifying, their earthly wealth and power. He goes for broke. From the fact that three different accounts of Sauls conversion are recorded in Acts, we know this event had to play a crucial role in the expansion of the church. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. During the subsequent Roman rule, the 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. But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? When Saul reached Jerusalem, the Christians there also were afraid of him, because they thought he was going to have them all arrested. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". He should not be circumcised. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.. Web'And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:7). WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. He amazed everyone because they knew he was speaking the same words as the people he had been persecuting. It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. 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. He constantly defended the gospel against those who would diminish grace and seek to pollute it with works. Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18). 1:1; 1 Cor. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It was bright enough to bring about a period of blindness. 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. The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. His career as a persecutor of Christians seems to have begun with Stephen, but it quickly spread to all of the Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 7:588:3). How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in 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 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. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! 2:1 He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 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. 1:16f. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3). 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). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 1:26); but for Saul the one who bore a human form identified himself as a historical person: `I am Jesus. Few of Sauls distinctive insights into the significance of the gospel cannot be traced back to the Damascus-road event, or to the outworking of that event in his life and thought. 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). Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. * [9:2] The Way: a name used by the early Christian community for itself (Acts 18:26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 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. 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 If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. also 16:17; 18:25-26). 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus (A)named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias., 11So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul (B)of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. 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. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. 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. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. 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). Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. Introduction. How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? He became a priest himself in 1823. Web17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me 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). The two messages cannot be reconciled. One moment, Saul was persecuting the church; shortly thereafter he was seeking to fellowship with the saints. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. the citation of Ps 2:7 in Pauls speech at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33). ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 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. Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. 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.