Jesus did not address the entire group but said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? The others knew that something unusual was going on, but they did not grasp it (Acts 22:9). Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. 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. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. In this chapter we have, I. He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. What happened to Straight Street since then? 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 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). 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:7). It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. 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 (Philippians 3:1-9; cf. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the 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. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. Perhaps Ananias called a meeting of the church to discuss how they would deal with Sauls arrival. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse 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. Amen. My names sake". He paid for his education by working for the priests. 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). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. 4. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.. 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, When all is said and done, the miracle which took place on the way to Damascus (and likely in Damascus as well) was that Saul saw Jesus as the Son of God, as the Messiah, and as his Savior and Lord: Am I not free? Pauls opposition resulted in the scattering of the Christians from Jerusalem, thus taking the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1; 11:19-21). Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. It was an act of faith and The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. Acts ix. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. I see a man who is confident, aggressive, and zealous, rather than a man troubled by inner doubts. 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. During the subsequent Roman rule, the And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end (Isaiah 60:20). It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. For less than $5/mo. Even if he were not one of these men, he would surely have hated to hear the gospel. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. Then he (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. 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. 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. The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. 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. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7). Could Judas have been a Christian? Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This can hardly be possible. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Jesus was alive and not still in the grave! WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. 1:26); but for Saul the one who bore a human form identified himself as a historical person: `I am Jesus. Few of Sauls distinctive insights into the significance of the gospel cannot be traced back to the Damascus-road event, or to the outworking of that event in his life and thought. 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. The words of Jesus, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? related by Luke with no variation in all three accounts, exerted a profound and lasting influence on the thought of Paul. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. Both are call stories. What is meant by the competitive environment? I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. The results of Sauls preaching were predictable, very much like the response Saul would have had (or did have) to the preaching of the gospel before his conversion. 10. here - view only). 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. * [9:8] He could see nothing: a temporary blindness (Acts 9:18) symbolizing the religious blindness of Saul as persecutor (cf. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. When Ananias 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. 22But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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 He sent me so that you can That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. 142 His companions therefore took him by the hand and led him through the gate of Damascus to the place where, presumably, arrangements had been made for him to stay. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 185. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day (2 Timothy 1:8-12). The two messages cannot be reconciled. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) He became a priest himself in 1823. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. by the sin of Adam. During his conversion Saul is welcomed into the church. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). But hidden in its shadows is another inspiring story, and one to which most people in the pew may more easily relate. Q&A 1. Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. %PDF-1.2 % sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W The light was the light of His glory. Saul, as it were, saw the light, but in addition, he was to become a light, a light to the Gentiles, as well as to his own people. So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. In Damascus, the Lord had spoken to a man named Ananias, and the Lord told Ananias to find Saul and to lay his hands on Saul and pray so that Sauls sight would be restored. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. Thank God that is what happened. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of The only question is who is the LORD? 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. 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. This is why Jesus was so receptive of sinners and so hard on the self-righteous. To Him be the glory forever. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). 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). But why would they be called his disciples? Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). 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). . This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But his blindness was symbolic of his condition. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. There will be no more night. * [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. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. One of the most dramatic revelations of Sauls Damascus road experience was that he was not serving God, but he was persecuting Him. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. It is also bad news for the self-righteous. They do not understand the gospel well enough. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. When Saul reached Jerusalem, the Christians there also were afraid of him, because they thought he was going to have them all arrested. Saul was the bad guy. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peters feet. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. 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). Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. He was, indeed, Stephens replacement. A devout Hellenistic Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, Saul was a member of the Pharisees and was taught by none other than Gamaliel, whom we have already met (Acts 5:34-40). 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. Blaiklock, for example (pp. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. (N)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. 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. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? Why do you think the street was named "Straight" When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. They found that their cause was literally shut down by Sauls arrival, and the wind was taken out of their sails by his conversion. 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. . The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. 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. 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. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11). He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes? He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. WebThe Conversion of Saul. 1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? Their story is rarely shown in art, but is the subject of one of the Raphael Cartoons, and a panel on the Brescia Casket, both illustrated here. If the worst sinner (Saul) was not too sinful to save, then you are not too sinful for God to save. I was inclined to think that most of us, experientially, are called to faith in Christ only to gradually learn Gods will for our life, progressively revealed to us as we walk in Him. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, He officiated as high priest from about AD 47 to 52. 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). 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. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple (vs. 26). However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and Just as Saul was called to a live of suffering, so Peter tells his readers that they too, like all saints, are called to suffer for His name: To this {suffering} you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. The conversion of Saul is important in another way. There is no more appropriate conclusion to our message than the words of the apostle Paul, which immediately follow those above, and which aptly express the response of the Christian to the wisdom, the grace, and the sovereignty of the God who has saved us, and who works all things together for His glory and for the good of His chosen ones: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! The first words spoken to Saul were, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4). And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. 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. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? 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. Thus, it is grace which sustains the saint, in addition to saving him: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited (Hebrews 13:9). 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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). I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. called for him to be slapped. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. 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. Though I have fallen, I will rise. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. When one looks at all the references to this event, it was, in fact, a personal appearance of the risen, glorified Jesus to Saul (cf. 10i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. Paul recognized that his ministry was that of bringing the light to those who were lost, including the Gentiles, kings, and his fellow-Israelites: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). When we look at Pauls great love and compassion for the saints, we have to remind ourselves of the hate he once had toward them. Used by permission. This first account occurs when the word is first spread to the Gentiles. This Paul knew and testified to. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. (3) Sauls salvation was personal. 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). Thus, whenever he spoke of his conversion and his call to ministry, he always spoke of this incident as an act of divine grace, of Gods unmerited favor, of an act of mercy toward him: I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:15-16). How many times should a shock absorber bounce? WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian.