26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 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. WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. Ananias is not the last believer who has seen fit to keep God up to date (The Storytellers Companion to the Bible: The Acts of the Apostles). Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! 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. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peters feet. 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. Ananias who was get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! To persecute them was to persecute Him. Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. 00:00. 148 I would assume that Saul was one of those who covered his ears so as not to hear the praise of Stephen, as reported in Acts 7:57. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the One who spoke to him was Jesus of Nazareth, the long-looked-for Messiah, the Consolation and Redeemer of Israel. WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. Transform us as you transformed Paul. 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 call of salvation is a call to change. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. 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. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! 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). 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. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? For Paul, the method of proclaiming the gospel must be consistent with the message itself, and so it was. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. The passage which we are studying can be divided into these major segments: We will begin this lesson by making some general observations concerning this account of Sauls conversion,134 after which we will examine the sequence of events leading up to Sauls conversion, the events surrounding his conversion, and the consequences of his conversion as depicted by Luke. 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. All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3). 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. Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. Matt. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 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). 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb Handed down. Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. I. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). This first account occurs when the word is first spread to the Gentiles. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? This old city is the most enduring in the history of the world (Knowling). 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. . 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. helpful to the Lord. Under the influence of this experience he gradually developed his understanding of justification by faith (see the letters to the Galatians and Romans) and of the identification of the Christian community with Jesus Christ (see 1Cor 12:27). Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight. Furthermore, in Acts 26:10 Paul testifies that he received letters from the chief priests, not just the chief priest alone. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 17(K)And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and (L)laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord [c]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and (M)be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). 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). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 21All who heard him were astounded and said, Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests? But the gospel is good news for sinners. Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. ,/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 Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. 11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusp named Saul, for he is praying. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. 2:7; 2 Tim. It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. Grace is not only the basis for ones salvation, but also for ones spiritual walk and service: As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:6-7). While at first he thought he might have to correct God, in the end he submitted himself and his very life to Gods call. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 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. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. 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). I see a man who is confident, aggressive, and zealous, rather than a man troubled by inner doubts. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? He got up and was baptized, Ananias was that kind of a disciple. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. 116-117. Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. And Jesus took the persecution of Christians very personally. (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. 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). also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). 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). 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. . a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. Saul Visits Jerusalem. Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4). WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. But why would they be called his disciples? It is no wonder that a fair amount of the text is devoted to a description of Sauls attempt to associate with the local church, first at Damascus, and then in Jerusalem. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. The conversion of Saul is important in another way. 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. 9oY+ . 1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. here - view only). And having escaped from Damascus in a basket, most likely alone, he probably returned to Jerusalem alone, without a witness who could corroborate his claims. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. Israel was also blind, and Pauls blindness was but a specific example of this blindness: The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. (Acts 9:11)? Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers. It is not clear whether this official was a representative of the king resident in Damascus to look after the interests of the Arabs there, or whether Damascus at this time was under the control of Nabataea. I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 168. As he himself understood the heavenly voice which said to him at his baptism, You are my Son (Mark 1:11 par. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! What did Ananias do for Saul? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Sauls vision prepared him for the arrival of Ananias, clearly indicating that he was the one God had appointed to reveal His will for him. Present active participle of sunbubazo, old verb to make go together, to coalesce, to knit together. Michael Garicoits (1797-1863) was born into a poor, but hardworking and humble family. The splendid deliberateness with which God forged His human tool is the great lesson of these years. . 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. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. It does not store any personal data. Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. . The words, Brother Saul must not have come easily to Ananias. Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? As I look at the problem, I believe several conclusions must be drawn. 2 Cor. 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. Though I have fallen, I will rise. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. 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. Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. 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. Could Judas have been a Christian? Let us suppose further that the church had gathered on this particular evening for a time of prayer, prompted by the news that Saul was soon to arrive, with all the necessary legal machinery (that is, the authorization of the chief priests and the Sanhedrin130) to arrest and extradite131 the saints who were in the city. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. came under Alexander the Great's rule. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. 144 Was Ananias the one who told him what he must do? The salvation of Saul was to result in the gospel being preached to distant people and lands, and in the extension of the church to many key cities. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? This silence is instructive, in my opinion. Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. The blindness to which Saul was subject for three days provided him with much time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. 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). (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? The question must be asked as to whether or not Sauls conversion has a more general application and relevance. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory (Isaiah 60:19). 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). The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. 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. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard (Isaiah 58:8). 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. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. 146 It is possible, however, to understand the expression, Brother, as referring to Saul only as a fellow Jew.