(You know, just in case God has forgotten something) Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. During his conversion 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. (5) Sauls salvation was an act of divine grace. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. here - view only). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). * [9:13] Your holy ones: literally, your saints.. Did they think their task would be a simple one? Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? WebExplain why Ananias was told that Saul was a 'Chosen Vessel' Give an account of the vision which Saul had while traveling on the road to the Damascus. 9 What happened to Sapphira in the Bible? 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." The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. 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). Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. the citation of Ps 2:7 in Pauls speech at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33). Thank God that is what happened. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ananias son of Nebedeus (or Nedebeus) was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 23:2) and Caesarea (Acts 24:1). What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the . We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. 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). The first evidence of Sauls conversion was his immediate identification with the church in Damascus. 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus.129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. He constantly defended the gospel against those who would diminish grace and seek to pollute it with works. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him (Daniel 2:22). There is no story in Acts more important than Saul/Pauls call, his encounter with the risen Christ. (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. 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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The Church at Peace. . 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. (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! There are affinities between his conversion experience and Ezekiels inaugural vision, in which the prophet saw the likeness of the heavenly throne and above it a likeness as it were of a human form (Ezek. And now, he is preaching the same message. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Theologically, we know this as the doctrine of mans total depravity.151 Paul surely believed that it was essential for men to begin with the understanding of their own sin, for in his Epistle to the Romans, he took the first two and one-half chapters to prove that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). At first he found himself in the position of being regarded as an apostate by the Jews and suspect by the Christian community of Jerusalem. Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. 12 It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hopethe glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. We are given a little insight from the account in Acts 12 when Peter was imprisoned and it appeared he would soon be executed, as James had already been, and as we would infer Herod purposed to do with Peter (Acts 12:1-4). 18 According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. To him be honor and might forever. In 2 Corinthians 11:32 Paul speaks of an ethnarch of Aretas, the king of the Nabataean Arabs, who guarded the city to prevent him escaping from it. It was almost as though Saul had looked intently into the beam of an intensely powerful carbon-act light, the kind used as search lights. No one, it would seem, was even thinking of what God was about to do. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. In different contexts, preachers might want to draw specific analogies concerning those for whom the congregation should be praying even though it cuts against our grain to do so. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3). It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. Finally, we shall attempt to focus on the application of this passage to our own lives. Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. They could not out-argue him. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. It was due to the intervention of Barnabas, a man who would prove to be a lifetime friend of Paul, that the apostles risked a meeting with him and then granted him the freedom to associate with the saints in Jerusalem. Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. 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 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. It was bright enough to bring about a period of blindness. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. . Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for At length, in Gods good time, the door opened, and the events of half a lifetime assumed final and complete significance. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Wm. 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. One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. 1:1; 1 Cor. The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. Furthermore, in Acts 26:10 Paul testifies that he received letters from the chief priests, not just the chief priest alone. After this incident with Paul we hear no more There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. The apostles had nothing to do with Sauls conversion, and they were reluctant to believe it had happened or to welcome him into their fellowship. 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). When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. 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). 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ,/1Xa} V= endstream endobj 133 0 obj 634 endobj 94 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 88 0 R /Resources 95 0 R /Contents [ 98 0 R 100 0 R 102 0 R 104 0 R 122 0 R 124 0 R 126 0 R 129 0 R ] /MediaBox [ 0 0 792 612 ] /CropBox [ 0 0 792 612 ] /Rotate 0 >> endobj 95 0 obj << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB ] /Font << /F1 109 0 R /F3 106 0 R /F4 107 0 R /F6 118 0 R /F7 116 0 R >> /XObject << /Im1 127 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 131 0 R /GS2 130 0 R >> /ColorSpace << /Cs5 96 0 R >> >> endobj 96 0 obj [ /CalRGB << /WhitePoint [ 0.9505 1 1.089 ] /Gamma [ 2.22221 2.22221 2.22221 ] /Matrix [ 0.4124 0.2126 0.0193 0.3576 0.71519 0.1192 0.1805 0.0722 0.9505 ] >> ] endobj 97 0 obj 1512 endobj 98 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 97 0 R >> stream His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. Nevertheless, conversion has certain elements which are vital and which are to be present in any salvation experience. Web3. I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. 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). WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, Q 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. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. Saul, in my opinion, is portrayed by Luke as the first-fruits of these promises. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 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 will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? 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. Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. Think about what happened as a result of this man overcoming his fear and obeying God. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose He sent me so that you can on it belonged to the Roman province of Syria, but had a measure of municipal autonomy in the loose federation of cities called the Decapolis. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7; cf. . 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f came under Alexander the Great's rule. 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). It does not store any personal data. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). 1:11--2:10; Philippians 3:1-14; Colossians 1:24-29; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 6:13-16; 2 Timothy 1:8-12; Titus 2:11-15; 3:1-7. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. What happened to Straight Street since then? Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. 10 i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. 11 The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of To persecute them was to persecute Him. 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. Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. 1:29, 30, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. Ananias came to Saul with grace to liberate him from his wrong-headed beliefs and open his heart to Jesus. We know from Romans 7, for example, that Paul had struggles in his spiritual walk. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. He goes for broke. 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. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. But the gospel is good news for sinners. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. 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. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Not everyone can be Paul, but we all can and should be Ananias. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peters feet. Why this swift act of judgment? 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. We will next seek to learn how this description of Sauls conversion fits into and contributes to the development of Lukes argument in Acts. What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? It was evidently a term used by the early followers of Jesus to denote their movement as the way of life or the way of salvation. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181. 149 It is more significant than might be supposed at first glance that the only occurrence of the title `Son of God in Acts should be in this report of Sauls early preaching. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. We are simply told that the message itself was proclaimed powerfully and that people were amazed at the message and its miraculous impact on Sauls own conduct. 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. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? 23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. (Acts 9:17) and that Saul was to "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:17). Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. One cannot help but wonder if it did not send chills up and down Pauls spine when he cast the spell of blindness on the Jewish false prophet, Bar-Jesus: And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was This first account occurs when the word is first spread to the Gentiles. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). 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). Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, Amen. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deuteronomy 28:28-29). I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46).