Impatient men forget that God is not bound by time. (N)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. . What Paul learned about himself, personally, on the road to Damascus he came to understand and to preach concerning all men. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. SAUL The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 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. 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. 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of Gods grace given me through the working of his power. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? * [9:13] Your holy ones: literally, your saints.. When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. Who was Ananias of Damascus in the New Testament Ananias small act of obedience led to a great harvest for the kingdom. Saul Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. 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. No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. 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. Amen. 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. 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. * [9:119] This is the first of three accounts of Pauls conversion (with Acts 22:316 and Acts 26:218) with some differences of detail owing to Lukes use of different sources. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Damascus, a city some 150 miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, was one such city. Sauls Conversion. 28, p. 185. As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. Start FREE. 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. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. When the Christians learned that the Hellenists to whom Saul had preached were plotting to kill them, they helped him escape through Caesarea and on to Tarsus. What happened to Saul when Ananias laid hand on him? No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. (3) Sauls salvation was personal. This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal. 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. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. 3. 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. The Lord Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision. I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. . Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here am I, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.145 15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My names sake.. It was as the Son of God that Christ was revealed to him on the Damascus road (Gal. Enough revelation for the moment. Ananias is not the last believer who has seen fit to keep God up to date (The Storytellers Companion to the Bible: The Acts of the Apostles). 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. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. sight. He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. the light and blind passages above). 129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. 15:21). 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray (Revelation 18:23). He started to KNOW GRACE! For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. You, my brothers, were called to be free. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? Rising Strong Small Groups . And Jesus took the persecution of Christians very personally. The first words spoken to Saul were, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4). Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. Rising Strong Small Groups 2 What do we know about Ananias in Acts 9? They found that their cause was literally shut down by Sauls arrival, and the wind was taken out of their sails by his conversion. 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. (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. 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! He goes for broke. From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of Gods choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). Why was Ananias afraid? There are all too many autonomous Christians, those who feel that coming to faith in Christ does not necessitate identifying with His body, the church. What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. Why was Ananias afraid of helping 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. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. Proving (sunbibazon). Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:7). His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast (Galatians 2:8-9). Those things in which Saul would have formerly trusted for his standing before God, he saw in an entirely different light after God found him and saved him: 4b If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. Verses 1 and 2 vividly depict Sauls intent, his intense desire and determination to rid the world of Christianity by taking active, aggressive, severe action against those saints who had fled from Jerusalem. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. This blindness was only removed by faith in Christ, a miracle brought about by divine action: In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see (Isaiah 29:18). 15:10; Gal. Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight? Dont let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. In Damascus, the Lord had spoken to a man named Ananias, and the Lord told Ananias to find Saul and to lay his hands on Saul and pray so that Sauls sight would be restored. In Pauls speech in Acts 22, he describes Ananias as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt in Damascus (Acts 22:12). No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for (6) Sauls salvation was a conversion, a radical change. 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! 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. Saul, in my opinion, is portrayed by Luke as the first-fruits of these promises. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Web3. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. Sauls Baptism. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. 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). Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. Ananias After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. This is why Jesus was so receptive of sinners and so hard on the self-righteous. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. And look, you blind, that you may see. 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. Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. There is no story in Acts more important than Saul/Pauls call, his encounter with the risen Christ. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. 9oY+ Q&A 1. 3On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.c Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. also Isaiah 64:6). 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). 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 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). He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 2 Cor. 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. To both Ananias (Acts 9:10) and Saul (Acts 9:12). At least we can say that no one had enough faith to believe it, even as Peter stood at the door, knocking to get in (12:12-17). Sauls conversion was a miracle, short and simple, but not so much the result of the external miracle of the bright light and the voice of the Lord as the internal transformation and illumination which God wrought: 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man (Galatians 1:15-16). 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. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. Acts does not tell us that he goes on to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, found churches in urban centers across the Roman Empire, stand true to the gospel while on trial for his faith over and again, and end up under house arrest in Rome awaiting a trial before Caesar. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. Pauls experience was not visionary but was precipitated by the appearance of Jesus, as he insists in 1Cor 15:8. The Church at Peace. 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. Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? But as I see the call of God referred to in the New Testament, it seems that the call of salvation assumes other callings, to which Paul and other New Testament writers made frequent reference: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1). Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. And having escaped from Damascus in a basket, most likely alone, he probably returned to Jerusalem alone, without a witness who could corroborate his claims. It is no wonder then that this one who was Sauls all in all would be the focus, the substance, of the gospel which he preached: But we preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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). Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 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). 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. Julius Caesar confirmed those rights and privileges anew to the Jewish nation (although Judaea was no longer a sovereign state), and more particularly to the high-priesthood. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), pp. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. I. (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. Let us be careful to discern what changes the gospel requires and what changes it does not. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. It is no wonder that a fair amount of the text is devoted to a description of Sauls attempt to associate with the local church, first at Damascus, and then in Jerusalem. He paid for his education by working for the priests. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? 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. WebThe Good Ananias: A Lesson for Believers. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). 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. There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 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). This light would thus have been very bright indeed. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16). 1. 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. Verse 18 tells us that, "straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and he arose and was baptized." Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? When he found him, 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 your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'" 9:31). The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias. His Word Today What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 17) and the restoration of the man after the shattering experience he had known, and for the early ministry in Tarsus, Syria, Cilicia, and Antioch, which prepared mind and method for the major assault on the pagan world. One moment, Saul was persecuting the church; shortly thereafter he was seeking to fellowship with the saints. . How many times should a shock absorber bounce? Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. 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. What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? WebThe Conversion of Saul. If Ananias and Sapphira were born again believers and God judged them for their sin, it means that even though Jesus was judged for sin, God still judged them for their sin. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. Ananias Get up and go to the street called Straight, to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. (13) As Stephens death, instigated (or at least assisted) by Saul, resulted in an intense and widespread persecution of the churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere, so Sauls conversion seems to have been directly related to the return of peace (cf. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. Could it be that God had also appointed someone to meet Saul as he entered the city, with specific instructions as to where he was to stay? He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). 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. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". His conversion was the beginning of a life-long process of maturing and growth in the Lord. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. (12) The same Saul who played a role in Stephens execution was to become, in large measure, his replacement. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. Have you had such an encounter? Then Jesus told them, You are going to have the light just a little while longer. The Story of Ananias: Faith over Fear | Tactical Christianity 1 What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Then he A vision, in this context, was a supernatural sight from God. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. 87-89), plays out the two views of Sauls conversion, the first (and seldom held the view of Ramsay), that Saul was suddenly and radically converted; second, that there was a considerable process involved. Why this swift act of judgment? God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles.
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