Before he reached Damascus a light flashed in front of Saul that was so bright he fell down on the ground. 3 He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes? 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. 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. What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! He started to KNOW GRACE! In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. Did they think their task would be a simple one? 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. also Isaiah 64:6). After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? It is not clear whether this official was a representative of the king resident in Damascus to look after the interests of the Arabs there, or whether Damascus at this time was under the control of Nabataea. I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 168. He spoke of it as the movement from darkness to light (Colossians 1:12-13; Ephesians 4:8-14) in which the new believer should now walk. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. 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. They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. came under Alexander the Great's rule. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). 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 . That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. It's still there and you can still see the evidence of the colonnades (click 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). How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? 9. With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. 4. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. 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 . Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. See Appendix B for information on Sauls Theology in the Book of Romans. 2 Cor. Saul is welcomed into the church. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:24-27). * [9:20] Son of God: the title Son of God occurs in Acts only here, but cf. Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16). Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. 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. Transform us as you transformed Paul. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;* so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.h 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. Here the Jews were strong in numbers (10,000 butchered by Nero later) and here some disciples had found refuge from Sauls persecution in Judea and still worshipped in the synagogues. Handed down. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. The Lord 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. (Philippians 1:4-9). The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. He didnt know that the risen Christ had confronted Saul on the road to Damascus just as Christ is now confronting him This sets up a flashback to verses 1-9. They are also very significant in what they conveyed to Saul. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. One moment, Saul is inflicting pain and suffering on others who trust in Jesus as the Messiah, the next, he is enduring suffering for the sake of Jesus, the Messiah. 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. 1:16f. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). Saul Preaches in Damascus. For Paul, the method of proclaiming the gospel must be consistent with the message itself, and so it was. The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. 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). What do you suppose the saints would have prayed at this special prayer meeting? 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. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. 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. AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! 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. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11). Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Acts 9:19-23 Saul in Damascus. Did Peter and Paul meet? Shape us into children who rejoice in knowing and proclaiming you to the world. 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. Dont let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. 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). Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. Sauls Conversion. by the sin of Adam. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). We know that the salvation of men rests ultimately with God and not with usand not even with the one whom we wish to see saved. For now, he was told to proceed on to Damascus, where he would be given his next instructions.144 His blindness certainly gave Saul the opportunity to dwell on these events. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:12-16). They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. 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. (6) Little emphasis is placed on Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit. 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. 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. He is trying to inform God of whats going on. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. 16For (I)I will show him how many things he must suffer for My (J)names sake.. The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. It does not store any personal data. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. 143 . Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. 00:00. The question must be asked as to whether or not Sauls conversion has a more general application and relevance. The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. Saul was knocked to the ground and confronted with the reality that hed been working against God rather than helping God. 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. The remaining verses of this account describe the results of Sauls conversion, all of which serve as dramatic proof of his radical transformation as a result of his encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. No doubt God had used Ananias to serve as Sauls first Barnabas. Just as Barnabas would vouch for Saul with the apostles in Jerusalem, so Ananias, a highly respected Jewish Christian, would vouch for Saul here. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death (Philippians 3:7-10). Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. The words and actions of Ananias are an evidence of his faith and obedience to the divine commission he was given, as outlined by Luke in the verses above. sight. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. Suppose you were a Christian who had just arrived in Damascus, and you had been able to learn the whereabouts of a group of believers. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This divine illumination is that miracle which God performs within a lost, blinded, dead soul, so as to bring about salvation: 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. 180-181. WebThe Conversion of Saul. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. And the second group, who were waiting for Saul to come and help them deal with the followers of the Way, were about to discover that Saul had joined them, perhaps bringing other members of the opposition along with him. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We know from Romans 7, for example, that Paul had struggles in his spiritual walk. Ananias and Saul in Damascus. There would likely be another group of people meeting on the evening before Saul arrived in Damascusthose who did not believe in Jesus as their Messiah, and who eagerly sought the eradication of the church in their city. The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Ananias hesitation to visit Saul showed that he had good relationship with Jerusalem, for he knew of the trouble that the persecutor had raised against the early converts, and of the goal of his mission to Damascus. Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for, And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting, he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before, I will show him how many things he must suffer for My. in expanding, as well as justifying, their earthly wealth and power. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? 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. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. 2 What do we know about Ananias in Acts 9? What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. They too rebelled against God and forsook His word and persecuted His prophets. It says nothing about him receiving the Holy Spirit. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. "how many things he must suffer for They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. The first thing we shall do is to make some observations on the passage as a whole to attempt to see the forest before we scrutinize the trees.
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