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. Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4). The call of salvation is a call to change. 145 We may note incidentally the two new descriptions of the Christians used here. 9oY+ WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? by the sin of Adam. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. Introduction. Did Peter and Paul meet? sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w Indeed, God would reveal His sovereignty by using Saul to further the gospel, first by his opposition (which scattered the church and spread the gospel), and then by his conversion (which resulted in his powerful proclamation of Jesus as Messiah). Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? But why would they be called his disciples? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. 1:16f. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 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). The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. A man who, along A vision, in this context, was a supernatural sight from God. When all is said and done, the miracle which took place on the way to Damascus (and likely in Damascus as well) was that Saul saw Jesus as the Son of God, as the Messiah, and as his Savior and Lord: Am I not free? The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. We know from Romans 7, for example, that Paul had struggles in his spiritual walk. 17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. 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). Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. . A devout Hellenistic Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, Saul was a member of the Pharisees and was taught by none other than Gamaliel, whom we have already met (Acts 5:34-40). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Matt. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. Saul recognized that he was a sinner, and that his righteousness was but dung before God. 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. 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). What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. WebAnanias went. The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. 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.'" Just as Saul was called to a live of suffering, so Peter tells his readers that they too, like all saints, are called to suffer for His name: To this {suffering} you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it . He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Before he reached Damascus a light flashed in front of Saul that was so bright he fell down on the ground. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. 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. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. The voice from heaven did not call out, Have you ever heard of the four spiritual laws?152 Ananias was sent to Saul only. i3&K>Kpg 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). Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. . There is no more appropriate conclusion to our message than the words of the apostle Paul, which immediately follow those above, and which aptly express the response of the Christian to the wisdom, the grace, and the sovereignty of the God who has saved us, and who works all things together for His glory and for the good of His chosen ones: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Sauls vision prepared him for the arrival of Ananias, clearly indicating that he was the one God had appointed to reveal His will for him. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. 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). 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. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. Not only does the narrator tell the story of Sauls transformation from persecutor to apostle in Acts 9, Saul himself re-tells the story twice when defending himself before persecutors (before the tribune in Jerusalem, Acts 22:1-21; and before Agrippa, Acts 26:1-23). Think about what happened as a result of this man overcoming his fear and obeying God. The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. They do not understand the gospel well enough. It was his preaching that resulted in the conversion of many Gentiles, and it was his writing (his epistles) to these saints which greatly strengthened them in their faith. 3. 1. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. The first question which must be asked with regard to the interpretation of this text is this: What is the meaning of this text in the context of the whole book? Luke has included this account of Sauls conversion in order to contribute to the argument which he is seeking to develop. 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). 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. . WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). While Paul may not have brought about the execution of all those whom he arrested, including women as well as men (verse 2), verse 1 strongly suggests that this was his desire and ambition. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. We can learn more about his life in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and we can still read some of the letters he wrote that have been collected into the Bible, such as Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. Used by permission. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? It was only with the exit of Saul from the Holy Land, back to his native land (Tarsus), that peace once again returned. The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 1:29, 30, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. 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. But then the preacher can continue that even though Ananias didnt know about Sauls epiphany, he did as the Lord told him anyway. The "Straight Street" or Via Recta in Latin, was a straight His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). a. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l If the unity of Christ and His body, the church, were a vital truth with respect to Sauls persecution of the church, it was also a vital truth for him as a Christian. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. From 64 B.C. But the gospel is good news for sinners. Web3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? 2 What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? 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. 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. Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. 4. God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles. He was, indeed, Stephens replacement. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). And now, he is preaching the same message. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. 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 spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. With the conversion of Saul, persecution of the church did not stop, for now some of the Hellenistic Jews were opposing his preaching (and no doubt, the church at large as well). I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. Q&A 1. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. No one, it would seem, was even thinking of what God was about to do. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. Elsewhere in Acts, such as with the apostles, Stephen and Philip, the message of the gospel was underscored by signs and wonders which accompanied the message. (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. Acts ix. It was Gods initiative all the way. It was a city in the days of Abraham, and at the time of the Israelite monarchy it was the capital of the most important Aramaean kingdom. And when this time comes, God will use their obedience to serve Him: For if their rejection be the salvation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15). I. With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. 2 What do we know about Ananias in Acts 9? The passage which we are studying can be divided into these major segments: We will begin this lesson by making some general observations concerning this account of Sauls conversion,134 after which we will examine the sequence of events leading up to Sauls conversion, the events surrounding his conversion, and the consequences of his conversion as depicted by Luke. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Start FREE. After this incident with Paul we hear no more In this approach, preachers will offer their congregations a chance to relate to Sauls epiphany as a way of meeting Christ in the midst of our lives and being transformed by that encounter. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. of him. At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. All rights reserved. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. Did they think their task would be a simple one? Hypocrisy is the most dangerous spiritual virus to infect the church. 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. Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. 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." By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 116-117. * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? %PDF-1.2 % Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> 15:21). He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 132 The impact of Sauls conversion on his message and his ministry is testified to by A. T. Robertson: Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Sauls conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. But hidden in its shadows is another inspiring story, and one to which most people in the pew may more easily relate. 00:00. Nevertheless, Ananias obeyed. But as Saul grew in strength and as his arguments were irrefutable, just as Stephens had been (Acts 6:10), his opponents realized that the only way to silence Saul was to kill him. When Saul looked at the disciples of The Way (Jesus disciples) all he saw was a heretical sect that was a threat to the nation of Israel and Gods Law. We will next seek to learn how this description of Sauls conversion fits into and contributes to the development of Lukes argument in Acts. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 1:15; Eph. There is a great basis for comfort in the sovereignty of God. Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? The laying on of Ananias hands was also an expression of unity, as was the later right hand of fellowship extended by some of the apostles to Saul (Galatians 2:9). It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. Leave them; they are blind guides. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 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). WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. and the other is a deceptive, self-serving half-truth from people interested Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. the citation of Ps 2:7 in Pauls speech at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33). 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. To both Ananias (Acts 9:10) and Saul (Acts 9:12). Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. 5:3-4). This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. 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. And laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. Who told Saul to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street? Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit because it was the Holy Spirit who dwelt in the apostles, giving them their power and authority. A( ) Ananias is obscure. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). 10i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. 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). 5He said, Who are you, sir? The reply came, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.e He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. 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). 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. (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.