Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus.129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. There is no story in Acts more important than Saul/Pauls call, his encounter with the risen Christ. Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight. 39So Peter got up and went with them. When the Christians learned that the Hellenists to whom Saul had preached were plotting to kill them, they helped him escape through Caesarea and on to Tarsus. 6 For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). vii.) How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? Verse 18 tells us that, "straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and he arose and was baptized." 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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). All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. God was sealing Saul to Himself. He was to come to the earth as the great light, the light to the Gentiles, and so He did. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for 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. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9). They are also very significant in what they conveyed to Saul. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. 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. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. Perhaps Ananias called a meeting of the church to discuss how they would deal with Sauls arrival. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. Impatient men forget that God is not bound by time. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, Please come to us without delay. But hidden in its shadows is another inspiring story, and one to which most people in the pew may more easily relate. (7) Those who were saved by Sauls ministry were convinced by the power of the gospel message he preached and not by miraculous signs and wonders. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul,why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When Saul looked at the disciples of The Way (Jesus disciples) all he saw was a heretical sect that was a threat to the nation of Israel and Gods Law. With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. WebSaul had come to Damascus with letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to find followers of Jesus and arrest them. This Paul knew and testified to. Ananias baptizes Saul, and Saul's eyes are opened. 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. It may be that Sauls conversion was the instrument God used to convert these followers of Saul, so that they really were his disciples, in a two-fold sense. Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 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. 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 WebAnanias went. 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. What did Ananias do for Saul? One is the truth from God Himself, 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. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. 4. It was an act of faith and Romans 6). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Think about what happened as a result of this man overcoming his fear and obeying God. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. 1:19; Rom. (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. . What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Luke 3:22), it expressed his unique relationship and fellowship with the Father. Ibid. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. also 16:17; 18:25-26). The argument of the Book of Acts is essentially this: The expansion of the gospel through the church as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Furthermore, in Acts 26:10 Paul testifies that he received letters from the chief priests, not just the chief priest alone. 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! * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. sight. 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. Ananias Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. That is because our Lord always confronts, convicts, and converts men and women individually, in the light of their own actions and beliefs. At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. The ananias anointing | Church Page | murrayledger.com 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. Grace is also the source and the standard for our service: Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:6). 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 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. 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. 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. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. For Paul, the method of proclaiming the gospel must be consistent with the message itself, and so it was. 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). Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). God changed him from being a man who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and a persecutor of the Christians into a bold missionary who preached the Gospel wherever he went. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. By divine revelation, Peter called out Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit and to God. WebAnanias, I am sure. Yes, Lord, he answered. For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:17-18; 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. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. . They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36). 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. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). Frequent biblical texts speak of God in terms of light: You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalm 76:4). Ananias had not only heard of how Saul had been systematically destroying the church in Jerusalem, hunting down men and women and turning them over to the After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. This conclusion could be based upon Pauls argument in Galatians 1 and 2, along with the expression, when many days had elapsed in Acts 9:23. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). In this chapter we have, I. 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. There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. 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). Verses 1 and 2 vividly depict Sauls intent, his intense desire and determination to rid the world of Christianity by taking active, aggressive, severe action against those saints who had fled from Jerusalem. He got up and was baptized, When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. 28, p. 185. 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. 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). These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. 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. Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. 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. Saul He constantly defended the gospel against those who would diminish grace and seek to pollute it with works. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. 130 In our text, we are told the Saul went to the high priest to ask for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus (9:1-2), but in Acts 22:5-6 Paul indicates that the Council (the Sanhedrin) was also involved in providing him with letters of authorization to arrest Christians in Damascus. 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Those who call upon your name echoes 2:21 (Joel 2:32) and recurs in 22:16 in a command to Paul himself to be baptized . Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. 17) and the restoration of the man after the shattering experience he had known, and for the early ministry in Tarsus, Syria, Cilicia, and Antioch, which prepared mind and method for the major assault on the pagan world. He sent me so that you can 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. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. Let us be careful to discern what changes the gospel requires and what changes it does not. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? ANANIAS - Who Are The Three Ananias In The Bible? Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. 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). 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.. How old was Jesus when he was crucified? 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. Could it be that God had also appointed someone to meet Saul as he entered the city, with specific instructions as to where he was to stay? Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. With this backdrop in place, the preacher can now focus on two movements of Ananias part of this story: his vision and conversation with the Lord (verses 10-16) and his laying hands on Saul leading to Sauls baptism (verses 17-19). The life-changing implications of conversion are expressed in these words of Paul to Titus: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, Do not gloat over me, my enemy! 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. * She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. 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. Saul and Ananias We honor him on May 14. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. Your merchants were the worlds great men. ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, The only question is who is the LORD? ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. He should not be circumcised. came under Alexander the Great's rule. Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. The LORD identified Himself as the Jesus, whom he had been persecuting. ANANIAS WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. The words, Brother Saul must not have come easily to Ananias. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. 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). gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. Pauls method was consistent with his message. Their attempt to deceive the apostles was an attempt to deceive God putting the Spirit of the Lord to the test (v. 9) and they paid the price! Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way,137 both men and women,138 he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. 143 . Ananias was that kind of a disciple. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. 139 A. T. Robertson writes, It is open to question if kurie should not here be translated Sir as in 16:30 and in Matt. 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. Hb```f``:Ab,=`.9Z3{x5v\);]c#qea #'&D|z:wyKN,0(t\tbRFhT2thS2(9.`mNbq)-pk^;>:+pq2Ck AUbK=N\2M/`KqGLZS1 $[S|Rd\.9i'9T\.EXdxlYcqb The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). Also, Ananias Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. >zZ0y^C{tg . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. 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). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. Saul was received as a true believer, as a brother.146 The laying on of Ananiass hands, however, was a distinct act of identification with Saul. This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal. Later, when Paul looked back on his past devotion and deeds, all done in the name of Judaism, he came to view his apparent righteous deeds for what they really weredung: 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. And they were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. 9:31). 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. Did they send for Saul? In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). What happened to Saul when Ananias laid hand on him? 2 What do we know about Ananias in Acts 9? 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. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? A man who, along It was as the Son of God that Christ was revealed to him on the Damascus road (Gal. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! Acts ix. We know from other accounts (22:6; 26:13) that it was high noon when Saul was stopped in his tracks by a bright light from heaven. Acts 9 2. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. To the church, Saul turned out to be a friend, a fellow-believer, in fact, a flaming evangelist, who proclaimed Christ more clearly and powerfully than anyone had previously done in Damascus. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. No one, it would seem, was even thinking of what God was about to do. 116-117. The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. Jesus was alive and not still in the grave! How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? 2, called him Ananias ben Nebedeus. According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. 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. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Julius Caesar confirmed those rights and privileges anew to the Jewish nation (although Judaea was no longer a sovereign state), and more particularly to the high-priesthood. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), pp. Ananias