When Ananias The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. 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. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. Ananias . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. No doubt God had used Ananias to serve as Sauls first Barnabas. Just as Barnabas would vouch for Saul with the apostles in Jerusalem, so Ananias, a highly respected Jewish Christian, would vouch for Saul here. 149 It is more significant than might be supposed at first glance that the only occurrence of the title `Son of God in Acts should be in this report of Sauls early preaching. Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? Damascus, a city some 150 miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, was one such city. * [9:20] Son of God: the title Son of God occurs in Acts only here, but cf. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deuteronomy 28:28-29). Saul went to other cities where he sought to arrest Christians and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. 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? 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. What did Ananias do for Saul? Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Impatient men forget that God is not bound by time. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). . But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. Ananias found Saul and said to him, Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit. As soon as Ananias spoke, Saul could see again. We know that the salvation of men rests ultimately with God and not with usand not even with the one whom we wish to see saved. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. Paul Receive the Holy Spirit by the Laying He had heard of all the terrible things Saul had done to Christians in Jerusalem and how it was his intent to do the same in Damascus, Ananias town. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? It says nothing about him receiving the Holy Spirit. When he found him, 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 your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'" 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! 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). Sauls Baptism. 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. And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. Saul was not aware, until after our Lords words, that the One who had interrupted his journey was Jesus, and that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, the LORD, but he was certain, at this point, that whoever this One was, He was the LORD. >zZ0y^C{tg The New International Version Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. 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. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. The ultimate issue was Gods ability to saveeven the most committed unbeliever. 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus (A)named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias., 11So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul (B)of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 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). This can hardly be possible. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. Web3. The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, 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. east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. . 9 What happened to Sapphira in the Bible? One cannot help but wonder if it did not send chills up and down Pauls spine when he cast the spell of blindness on the Jewish false prophet, Bar-Jesus: And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. Here the Jews were strong in numbers (10,000 butchered by Nero later) and here some disciples had found refuge from Sauls persecution in Judea and still worshipped in the synagogues. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. The call of salvation is a call to change. 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. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. "how many things he must suffer for How true are two of the proverbs, which read: The mind of a man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. During the subsequent Roman rule, the 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. Sauls conversion was to play a crucial role in the expansion of the gospel. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). * [9:36] Tabitha (Dorcas), respectively the Aramaic and Greek words for gazelle, exemplifies the right attitude toward material possessions expressed by Jesus in the Lucan Gospel (Lk 6:30; 11:41; 12:33; 18:22; 19:8). Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. The answer is: Jesus. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. Did they think their task would be a simple one? 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 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 authorities, but also knew that he was on the march to Damascus, ready to destroy that church as well. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. Fourth, if we had all the facts, there would be no problem. 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. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. To Him be the glory forever. 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. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. They found that their cause was literally shut down by Sauls arrival, and the wind was taken out of their sails by his conversion. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w Israel was called of God and set apart to proclaim the way of salvation to the Gentiles. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. 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. Proving (sunbibazon). For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). Acts 9 Saul, why do you persecute me? Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. 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. 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). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. 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?). For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. There are affinities between his conversion experience and Ezekiels inaugural vision, in which the prophet saw the likeness of the heavenly throne and above it a likeness as it were of a human form (Ezek. WebA study of the language describing what resulted from Ananias going to Saul should help in determining the part played by Ananias in Saul's being "filled with the Holy Spirit." 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 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. Ananias The Book of Galatians is but one example of this. 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. The first is to ask the congregation to identify with Saul himself. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Your merchants were the worlds great men. 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? 9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. Why was Ananias afraid? . 15:21). 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. 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). 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. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). 1:16f. No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. Luke is emphatic in his representation of mans salvation as having been ordained and orchestrated by God, as a manifestation of His sovereign grace: And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. The Apostle Paul: Ananias and Sauls Obedience But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, and said, You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. The words which Ananias spoke to Saul indicate he was also to lay hands on him so that he would receive the Holy Spirit (9:17). Hear, you deaf! If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 13But Ananias replied, Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones* in Jerusalem.k There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It is difficult to estimate the amount of resistance Ananias would have had to this divine instruction to receive Saul as a brother in the Lord. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. He got up and was baptized, While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord appeared in a vision to a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in need of help. I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. 137 The Way is a designation for the new movement used several times in Acts 9:19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; cf. 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. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? the Romans . He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). Ananias came to Saul with grace to liberate him from his wrong-headed beliefs and open his heart to Jesus. To him be honor and might forever. They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. WebSaul had come to Damascus with letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to find followers of Jesus and arrest them. He goes for broke. 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 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. The two messages cannot be reconciled. Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. 1:15). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. Ananias and Saul - Holy Land of God The blindness to which Saul was subject for three days provided him with much time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. In the end, then, Ananias decision to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street (verse 11) to lay hands on Saul was a decision to risk his life to do the will of God. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. 4. The first words of the Lord Jesus to Saul were intended to teach him the inseparable unity between Christ and His church. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. 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). Why did Ananias go to Paul? ProfoundQa There may well have been a long time between Sauls conversion and his arrival at Jerusalem. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). (5) Sauls salvation was an act of divine grace. Acts 9:19-23 Saul in Damascus. How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? He started to KNOW GRACE! 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! Saul was told at the time of his conversion that God had chosen him to bear witness to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the Jews (9:15). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. 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. At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. He became a priest himself in 1823. Saul Visits Jerusalem. in 1971. 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). Lesson: Saul Believes in Jesus - Ministry-To-Children Q&A 1. 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. The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! There is a great basis for comfort in the sovereignty of God. (13) As Stephens death, instigated (or at least assisted) by Saul, resulted in an intense and widespread persecution of the churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere, so Sauls conversion seems to have been directly related to the return of peace (cf. As he himself understood the heavenly voice which said to him at his baptism, You are my Son (Mark 1:11 par. What can you say about Christianity when its most outspoken and zealous opponent suddenly claims to have seen the risen Christ, and to have trusted in Him as the Messiah? It was an act of faith and Acts 9:10-19 Acts 22:12-16 - Webflow Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. I see a man who is confident, aggressive, and zealous, rather than a man troubled by inner doubts. The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias. His Word Today When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. CE!L;oza!sQjaTsg 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. Jesus was alive and not still in the grave! 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. WebWe do not know whether Ananias already had previous experience miracles of healing, but the Lord was instructing him to interview the notorious Pharisee Saul, who fiercely persecuted Christians, and to heal his blindness. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). 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). Have you had such an encounter? How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. When Paul spoke of his conversion here in Galatians 1, he did not speak of the light which shone without, but rather of the light which shone within. called for him to be slapped. Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. In the end, God Himself will provide the illumination so that the sun and the stars will not be needed for this function: The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted (Isaiah 30:26). 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. 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. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid.