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. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Think about what happened as a result of this man overcoming his fear and obeying God. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The Book of Galatians is but one example of this. * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. 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. That our Lords contemporaries believed the Messiah to be in some special sense the son of God is rendered probable by the wording of the high priests question to him at his trial: `Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? (Mark 14:61 par. 20:32; 26:18) is a common term in Pauls writings and describes Christians as people who have been set apart for Gods service and must show an appropriate character. 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. 5 Why did Ananias and Sapphira lie to God? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). . Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. In this approach, preachers are offering their congregation a chance to relate to Ananias dream that leads him to overcome his preconception of Saul (a correct but now outdated preconception), come to see Saul as someone God has called, and respond faithfully. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God (John 3:19-21). Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. 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 Even if he were not one of these men, he would surely have hated to hear the gospel. Blaiklock, for example (pp. 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. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? of him. (2) Sauls salvation was exclusively the work of a sovereign God. . What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? 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. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. Ananias (/nnas/ AN--NY-s; Ancient Greek: from Hebrew , Hananiah, favoured of the LORD) was a disciple of Jesus at Damascus mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, which describes how he was sent by Jesus to restore the sight of Saul of Tarsus (who later was called Paul the Apostle) and . 2:1 He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. One is the truth from God Himself, It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. 00:00. In this approach, preachers will offer their congregations a chance to relate to Sauls epiphany as a way of meeting Christ in the midst of our lives and being transformed by that encounter. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. 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. Both are call stories. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. If Luke had any ax to grind on this issue, here would have been a great place to stress this matter, but he did not do so. 8 Although I am less than the least of all Gods people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. 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 Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. 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. All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. The call of salvation is a call to change. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. Saul Visits Jerusalem. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. 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). God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. The result of that reluctant leap of faith is that Sauls eyes are opened and he is baptized, becoming part of (and eventually a leader in) the very church he sought to wipe out. 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. 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. WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. The conversion of Saul, as depicted in our text, was not only a divine call to salvation, but it was also a call to service. 9:31). These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). WebAnswer: > 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. Here I am, Lord, he replied. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? 143 . It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 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. 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. 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. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. 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. It was Gods initiative all the way. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 2:7; 2 Tim. . Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? A( ) Ananias is obscure. 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. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. Note Pauls summary of the gospel at the end of Galatians 2: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20). We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. Impatient men forget that God is not bound by time. Transform us as you transformed Paul. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? Preachers working through the narrative lectionary with their congregations, then, will do well to explore this passage in detail in order to establish the character of Paul well for the second half of Acts (Acts 13-28; see how this role is foreshadowed in 9:15), which shifts the focus from the ministry of the Twelve in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to his role in taking the gospel throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and even to Rome (see Acts 1:8). Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. Before he reached Damascus a light flashed in front of Saul that was so bright he fell down on the ground. 2, called him Ananias ben Nebedeus. (4) More space is devoted to the process of getting Ananias to Saul than is devoted to getting Saul to Damascus and to the home of Judas. 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. If there is one thing of which Saul is now convinced (by what he has so far seen and heard on the road) it is that whoever he is talking to is LORD. 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. And Jesus took the persecution of Christians very personally. 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. 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. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Second, we are not given enough information in the biblical text to solve them dogmatically. (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. This old city is the most enduring in the history of the world (Knowling). 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). Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? 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. And if Sauls blindness led to his own conversion, at least the blinding of Bar-Jesus contributed to the conversion of the proconsul (and perhaps too his own conversionwho knows?). They are also very significant in what they conveyed to Saul. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? 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. Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. 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. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4:14; cf. 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). The narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings Read more. How was Saul converted to Christianity? For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. To persecute them was to persecute Him. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. Say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. 5 And whether they listen or fail to listenfor they are a rebellious housethey will know that a prophet has been among them. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. 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). To him be honor and might forever. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. WebThe Conversion of Saul. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Saul went to other cities where he sought to arrest Christians and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Thus, persecuting the church was persecuting Jesus Christ. called for him to be slapped. As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. Acts does not tell us that he goes on to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, found churches in urban centers across the Roman Empire, stand true to the gospel while on trial for his faith over and again, and end up under house arrest in Rome awaiting a trial before Caesar. We know from Romans 7, for example, that Paul had struggles in his spiritual walk. From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of Gods choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. Pauls language in Acts 26:11 seems to mean that Damascus is merely one of other `foreign cities to which he carried the persecution. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. also 16:17; 18:25-26). Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 15:8; Gal. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Saul, the typical (albeit more zealous) Jew, opposed God in the person of Christ and His body, the church, even while he thought he was serving Him. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6-7). 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 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. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. 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. My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord. This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. It is not a transition, but a transformation. It says nothing about him receiving the Holy Spirit. 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. Obedience is often not easy, but it is very likely the most direct way forward and the clearest way to honor God. 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1. Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. 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). And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? WebAnanias went. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? Acts 9:19-23 Saul in Damascus. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). in 1971. east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city 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. Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. 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). What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). . Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.q Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As applied to our Lord, then, the title `Son of God marks him out as the true representative of the Israel of God and as Gods anointed king; but it is no merely official title. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Damascus was an important town, about 150 miles (242 km) from Jerusalem, with a considerable Jewish population. 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. The splendid deliberateness with which God forged His human tool is the great lesson of these years. 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). It was an act of faith and 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. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l Thank God that is what happened. It was as the Son of God that Christ was revealed to him on the Damascus road (Gal. Ananias and Saul. No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. 1:29, 30, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. 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). So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.. After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? For all the saints. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that ,/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 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). Handed down. The message of the gospel, to be sure, is always the same, but the approach is not. Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. Indeed, God would reveal His sovereignty by using Saul to further the gospel, first by his opposition (which scattered the church and spread the gospel), and then by his conversion (which resulted in his powerful proclamation of Jesus as Messiah).

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