However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. remark on the symmetry with which Luke sets forth the two stories: The simultaneous preparation of the hearts of Ananias and of Saul, and the simultaneous preparation of those of Peter and Cornelius,the questioning and hesitation of Peter and the questioning and hesitation of Ananias,the one doubting whether he might make friendship with the Gentiles, the other doubting whether he might approach the enemy of the Church,the unhesitating obedience of each when the Divine will was made known,the state of mind in which both the Pharisee and the centurion were found,each waiting to see what the Lord would say to them,this close analogy will not be forgotten by those who reverently read the two consecutive chapters. Ananias First, there are problems which appear to be serious. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). It is the invitation for sinful Israelites to be saved, by repenting and calling on the name of the Lord for salvation: Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Sermons about Ananias And Saul - SermonCentral.com Saul, in my opinion, is portrayed by Luke as the first-fruits of these promises. A Period of Peace After Sauls Conversion (Acts 9:31) Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. On various occasions in his epistles, Paul made either direct or indirect references to his former life of opposition and his radical conversion.132 Pauls theology, his lifestyle, his ministry, and his methodology, all are rooted in his conversion. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 136. It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. 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. Then he 4. Have you had such an encounter? * [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. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. was Ananias 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. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). God struck Ananias and Sapphira dead for hypocrisy While their penalties seem extreme to us today, God judged them guilty of sins so serious that they threatened the very existence of the early church. Road to Damascus No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. 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. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. 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). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? This Paul knew and testified to. You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. 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. But his blindness was symbolic of his condition. After this incident with Paul we hear no more ANANIAS Lest anyone think they are too sinful to save, let me remind you that when Paul wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, he quickly added, among whom I am foremost of all.. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. Sauls conversion was also his call to ministry, and this conversion experience is strikingly similar to that of one of his predecessors, Ezekiel: 1:4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the northan immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. (12) The same Saul who played a role in Stephens execution was to become, in large measure, his replacement. 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. 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. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. A man who, along 5He said, Who are you, sir? The reply came, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.e There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. A vision, in this context, was a supernatural sight from God. What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. In the Bible, Reuben and Saul were of no relation to each other. 1:1; 1 Cor. To persecute them was to persecute Him. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. Saul, why do you persecute me? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 1:4, 26-28; 2:1-7).143. And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. And if this was important for Saul to do, it was equally important for the church to accept him into their fellowship, as an expression of their unity in Christ. 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. l. [9:14] 9:12; 26:10; 1Cor 1:2; 2Tm 2:22. 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. 1:29, 30, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} Paul Receive the Holy Spirit by the Laying By your magic spell all the nations were led astray (Revelation 18:23). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". . get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! So it would appear. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, ESCAPES IN A BASKET Saul Preaches in Damascus. I. Howard Marshall summarizes the problem in these words: Nevertheless, we obtain a different impression of things from Galatians 1:16-24, according to which (1) Paul did not confer with men after his conversion nor go to the apostles in Jerusalem, but (2) departed to Arabia and then returned to Damascus; then (3) three years later he went to Jerusalem for a visit lasting a fortnight during which he saw only Peter and James, and at this time he was unknown by sight to the churches of Judea; thereafter (4) he went to Syria and Cilicia. 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. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 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). The first evidence of Sauls conversion was his immediate identification with the church in Damascus. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). 1. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Ananias Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. 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). It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. 1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). 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. Ananias and Saul - Holy Land of God . Why was Ananias afraid? This would mean that the Gospel isnt as good as we thought it was and that God violates the law of double jeopardy where He punishes the same sin twice. 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, 2 Cor. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes? We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). 3. But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Damascus was an important town, about 150 miles (242 km) from Jerusalem, with a considerable Jewish population. 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. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. This doctrine does not hold that men are as bad as they could be in each area of their life, but that sin has permeated every dimension of a persons life. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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 The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. 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. Ananias Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and Ananias had not only heard of how Saul had been systematically destroying the church in Jerusalem, hunting down men and women and turning them over to the authorities, but also knew that he was on the march to Damascus, ready to destroy that church as well. the light and blind passages above). Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. In the end, then, Ananias decision to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street (verse 11) to lay hands on Saul was a decision to risk his life to do the will of God. /w\/)sr?o|cBw3>E> It was an act of faith and In the process, Saul was to greatly extend the outreach of the gospel to the Gentiles. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. 116-117. It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. Ananias When Saul reached Jerusalem, the Christians there also were afraid of him, because they thought he was going to have them all arrested. If the worst sinner (Saul) was not too sinful to save, then you are not too sinful for God to save. He started NOW to trust God. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. He goes for broke. * She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. (N)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. This old city is the most enduring in the history of the world (Knowling). 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:8-11). Only a radical conversion can produce this attitude in the life of a man like Saul: For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:8). He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). Saul was received as a true believer, as a brother.146 The laying on of Ananiass hands, however, was a distinct act of identification with Saul. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. 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. 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.. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. 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). Both are call stories. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. 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. My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. 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. My names sake". The church in Damascus has been talking about Saul and its members rightfully afraid of him he has, after all, been dragging Christians out of house after house, throwing them into prison, and desiring their deaths. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. 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. 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 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. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. 26o When he arrived in Jerusalem* he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to (1 Corinthians 7:15, 17-22, 24).154. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. The conclusion of many of the commentators is that Sauls conversion was a much longer process than I see reflected in this account, or in any other. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). 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. Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). 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). Those who think themselves worthy of Gods blessings (as many Jews did in that day) are those who are in trouble. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. Ananias was that kind of a disciple. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Lessons from a Fearful Follower You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. 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). 00:00. 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. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. They could not out-argue him. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. In fact, more is written of what Saul said and did because he was saved than is written of what he said and did resulting in his salvation. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. (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. Frequent biblical texts speak of God in terms of light: You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalm 76:4). 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. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 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. The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). 12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight., 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (C)how much [a]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. Ananias All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. Web3. 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. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. To establish the congregations identity with Ananias, the preacher might want to begin in the middle of the passage which actually looks back to Acts 8:1-3 (and 9:1). Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. 180-181. Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. 6:17; Phil. Q Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. When he was still very young, Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy. During the subsequent Roman rule, the Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. 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. 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). A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). A( ) Ananias is obscure. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. Used by permission. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Now that the Lord had identified Himself as Jesus, Saul recognized that he was the sinner. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? Not everyone can be Paul, but we all can and should be Ananias. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. 11The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.
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