The two messages cannot be reconciled. i3&K>Kpg There are all too many autonomous Christians, those who feel that coming to faith in Christ does not necessitate identifying with His body, the church. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lords freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christs slave. 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, No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. Saul could only be persecuting Jesus through the members of His body, the church. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 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. Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? 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). This silence is instructive, in my opinion. Saul was not aware, until after our Lords words, that the One who had interrupted his journey was Jesus, and that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, the LORD, but he was certain, at this point, that whoever this One was, He was the LORD. He wrote letters to the first churches in order to help them understand the Scriptures and to tell them how to live as good Christians. His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. They were based, as I understand it, on what the Lord had revealed to Ananias and not on any confession or actions of Saul, for these seem to follow these initial actions and words of Ananias. A man who, along You, my brothers, were called to be free. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. 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. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. 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. But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his 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. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that All rights reserved. It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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. Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. In Jerusalem, as in Damascus, Saul spoke out boldly proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ, the promised Messiah. He sent me so that you can Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. 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 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. 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. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. 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. 180-181. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Hear, you deaf! Saul was not content to punish some and to drive the rest from the holy city. He did not want to merely contain Christianity or to drive it from Jerusalem; he wanted to rid the earth of Christianity and its followers. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. (5) There is a good deal of emphasis on the results of Sauls conversion. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. 34Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. 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. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. 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). 17So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit. 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. Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. No change in life is greater than the change from unbelief to belief in Christ, from being lost and condemned to being saved and eternally secure, from being separated from God and others to being united with Him and with all believers. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Your merchants were the worlds great men. I see a man who is confident, aggressive, and zealous, rather than a man troubled by inner doubts. Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 20and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. sight. 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, a city some 150 miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, was one such city. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16). What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. ,/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 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). NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. After this incident with Paul we hear no more 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. 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. 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. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? There may well have been a long time between Sauls conversion and his arrival at Jerusalem. 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). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. He says: It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. Here Saul took the various items in the life of Jesus of Nazareth and found in them the proof that he was in reality the Messiah (ho Christos). It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. For less than $5/mo. We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). 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. helpful to the Lord. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. During the subsequent Roman rule, the The Lord Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision. WebThe Conversion of Saul. 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. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. WebAnanias, I am sure. Saul is welcomed into the church. . 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. 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). At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. 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. * [9:3143] In the context of the period of peace enjoyed by the community through the cessation of Pauls activities against it, Luke introduces two traditions concerning the miraculous power exercised by Peter as he was making a tour of places where the Christian message had already been preached. But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 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. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Web3. The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. 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. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. Romans 6). 136. called for him to be slapped. There is no story in Acts more important than Saul/Pauls call, his encounter with the risen Christ. 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). Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Luke 3:22), it expressed his unique relationship and fellowship with the Father. Ibid. Ananias found In our text Ananias was instructed to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might receive his sight (9:12). It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. When God spoke to Ananias commanding him to go to the house where Saul was staying, he was to receive him as a brother; and he was told that he was called to suffer as Gods chosen vessel to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, kings, and to his fellow-Israelites. If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). Web'And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. 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). When Saul stood up, he discovered he was completely blind, and the men who were with him had to lead him by his hand until they reached Damascus. The only question is who is the LORD? Israel too will just as surely return to God; and when it happens, it will be all of God, all to His glory and praise: 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18). 00:00. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. Used by permission. 144 Was Ananias the one who told him what he must do? Then, on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a vision of Jesus. (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. 15:21). 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. Transform us as you transformed Paul. * [9:43] The fact that Peter lodged with a tanner would have been significant to both the Gentile and Jewish Christians, for Judaism considered the tanning occupation unclean. 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. Both are call stories. * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. And look, you blind, that you may see. the Romans . And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time. And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. in 1971. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. It is no wonder then that this one who was Sauls all in all would be the focus, the substance, of the gospel which he preached: But we preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. It is difficult to estimate the amount of resistance Ananias would have had to this divine instruction to receive Saul as a brother in the Lord. In spite of the clear and present danger, Ananias went and began to look for the Christian hunter Saul. The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. Shape us into children who rejoice in knowing and proclaiming you to the world. required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. 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 I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. 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). He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. 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 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. 17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.