These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Q&A 1. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul. The first is to ask the congregation to identify with Saul himself. 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. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} 3 And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who art Thou, Lord?139 And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. 7 And the men who traveled with him140 stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.141 8 And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.142 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. It was only with the exit of Saul from the Holy Land, back to his native land (Tarsus), that peace once again returned. 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. 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! He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. (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. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. This light would thus have been very bright indeed. There are no exceptions in this all of Romans 3:23, as Paul indicated in these Old Testament words, cited just before: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE (Romans 3:10b-12). 2 Cor. It is hardly likely that at this stage Saul recognized Jesus as Lord, though he does so greet him in 22:10 `What shall I do, Lord? A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, pp. 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). Damascus was an important town, about 150 miles (242 km) from Jerusalem, with a considerable Jewish population. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. But the gospel is good news for sinners. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. Ananias and Saul. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). He started to KNOW GRACE! 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. God changed him from being a man who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and a persecutor of the Christians into a bold missionary who preached the Gospel wherever he went. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. Preachers working through the narrative lectionary with their congregations, then, will do well to explore this passage in detail in order to establish the character of Paul well for the second half of Acts (Acts 13-28; see how this role is foreshadowed in 9:15), which shifts the focus from the ministry of the Twelve in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to his role in taking the gospel throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and even to Rome (see Acts 1:8). Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. 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. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. 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. . 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. . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? 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. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. 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. Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. To Him be the glory forever. 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. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (N)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 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. Those who think themselves worthy of Gods blessings (as many Jews did in that day) are those who are in trouble. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. WebThe Conversion of Saul. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. . This can hardly be possible. This account is accompanied by an asseveration of its truth which suggests that some people were contradicting it.133. Transform us as you transformed Paul. The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9). 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. I do not question that he did receive the Spirit, but merely observe that this receiving of the Spirit (accompanied by the laying on of hands) was not something Luke wanted to emphasize. Is paralegal higher than legal assistant? Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Handed down. If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. . Those whose lives Saul would gladly have taken in his unsaved days now sought to save his life by sending him away. 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. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). . the light and blind passages above). WebAnanias went. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. Who told Saul to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street? 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). Ananias (/nnas/ AN--NY-s; Ancient Greek: from Hebrew , Hananiah, favoured of the LORD) was a disciple of Jesus at Damascus mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, which describes how he was sent by Jesus to restore the sight of Saul of Tarsus (who later was called Paul the Apostle) and . Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. Did they send for Saul? WebAnd Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. 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. 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 Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. To Paul, his relationship, by faith, to Jesus Christ was also the beginning of his new relationship to the body of Christ, the church: Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 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. After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. 9 What happened to Sapphira in the Bible? 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. ,%d/3o3o6jda=|4S-LJ3ajLcNfZyV;CkCl>390q
{KQ0lQ)0>~cy:CJkP|4M-\v also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). WebAnanias, had he disobeyed Christ, would not have helped Saul on that path in which he, as Paul the apostle, did so much, and suffered so much, for Christ. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. (10) Sauls encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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). 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. 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 ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 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. I can believe the saints who gathered to pray would have prayed for the protection of the church in Damascus and for the safety of individual saints, especially the leaders and the most visible Christians. Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day (2 Timothy 1:8-12). For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. The two messages cannot be reconciled. Second, we are not given enough information in the biblical text to solve them dogmatically. And thus, in Gods time, Saul was dramatically converted, seeing the Christ whom he had been persecuting, risen from the dead and in His heavenly glory. Did Peter and Paul meet? 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. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. (1 Corinthians 9:1). Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. 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. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved 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. 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.'" `}Hq)l2hZ0r89asO70Da`qg 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). 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. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching?