How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, 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. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. . Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians 3:1-9; cf. . with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. He spoke of salvation as dying to the old manner of living and as rising from the dead in order to live an entirely new life (Romans 6). 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. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. 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. 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. No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. 6:17; Phil. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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). 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. There will be no more night. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. I. No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 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. 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. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Theologically, we know this as the doctrine of mans total depravity.151 Paul surely believed that it was essential for men to begin with the understanding of their own sin, for in his Epistle to the Romans, he took the first two and one-half chapters to prove that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The Lord 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. It is no wonder then that this one who was Sauls all in all would be the focus, the substance, of the gospel which he preached: But we preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). 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. Michael Garicoits (1797-1863) was born into a poor, but hardworking and humble family. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). The two messages cannot be reconciled. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. To persecute them was to persecute Him. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day (2 Timothy 1:8-12). Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? 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. Used by permission. The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. 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.'" 22But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. One of the most dramatic revelations of Sauls Damascus road experience was that he was not serving God, but he was persecuting Him. A man who, along He officiated as high priest from about AD 47 to 52. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. 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). What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. 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. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. (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. 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! He sent me so that you can 152 I do not mean to criticize the four laws of Campus Crusade, which have been used of God to bring many to faith in Christ. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It is hardly likely that at this stage Saul recognized Jesus as Lord, though he does so greet him in 22:10 `What shall I do, Lord? A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, pp. A letter delivered at that time by a Roman ambassador to Ptolemy VIII of Egypt concludes with the demand: If any pestilent men have fled to you from their own country {Judaea}, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their law (1 Macc. The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). Saul was the bad guy. (6) Sauls salvation was a conversion, a radical change. What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Ananias who was 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). The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. Ananias fulfills his task: He laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.q Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Paul recognized that his ministry was that of bringing the light to those who were lost, including the Gentiles, kings, and his fellow-Israelites: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). also 16:17; 18:25-26). Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. came under Alexander the Great's rule. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. (5) Sauls salvation was an act of divine grace. . During the subsequent Roman rule, the Yes, Lord, he answered. His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. 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. 87-89), plays out the two views of Sauls conversion, the first (and seldom held the view of Ramsay), that Saul was suddenly and radically converted; second, that there was a considerable process involved. But his blindness was symbolic of his condition. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? I. Howard Marshall summarizes the problem in these words: Nevertheless, we obtain a different impression of things from Galatians 1:16-24, according to which (1) Paul did not confer with men after his conversion nor go to the apostles in Jerusalem, but (2) departed to Arabia and then returned to Damascus; then (3) three years later he went to Jerusalem for a visit lasting a fortnight during which he saw only Peter and James, and at this time he was unknown by sight to the churches of Judea; thereafter (4) he went to Syria and Cilicia. When he was still very young, Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy. 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). by the sin of Adam. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. The call of salvation is a call to change. 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). Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). 15:10; Gal. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Just as Saul was called to a live of suffering, so Peter tells his readers that they too, like all saints, are called to suffer for His name: To this {suffering} you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). Q 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, 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. When all is said and done, the miracle which took place on the way to Damascus (and likely in Damascus as well) was that Saul saw Jesus as the Son of God, as the Messiah, and as his Savior and Lord: Am I not free? It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 21 Were you a slave when you were called? It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. We are given a little insight from the account in Acts 12 when Peter was imprisoned and it appeared he would soon be executed, as James had already been, and as we would infer Herod purposed to do with Peter (Acts 12:1-4). (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. 2 Corinthians 4:14; cf. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). Then a voice said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?, Saul asked the voice, Who are you, sir?, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. Rather than attempt to pacify Ananias or to alleviate his apprehension, God went on to tell him that Saul would not only be a brother, but he would be His instrument for bringing the gospel to Gentiles too. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. 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. It says nothing about him receiving the Holy Spirit. What a shock these words must have been to Saul, who up to this point, seems to have prided himself for his faithfulness to Judaism! These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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). There are no exceptions in this all of Romans 3:23, as Paul indicated in these Old Testament words, cited just before: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE (Romans 3:10b-12). His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). 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. It was as the Son of God that Christ was revealed to him on the Damascus road (Gal. Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death (Philippians 3:7-10). They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 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 second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. 34Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. He started NOW to trust God. 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. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. 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. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul. Though I have fallen, I will rise. Word was out that Saul would soon be arriving. In Jerusalem, as in Damascus, Saul spoke out boldly proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ, the promised Messiah. Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? 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. 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). ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). 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! It's still there and you can still see the evidence of the colonnades (click 17So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, 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. You, my brothers, were called to be free. The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. in 1971. He was to come to the earth as the great light, the light to the Gentiles, and so He did. WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. 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. The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. 9oY+ 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.. That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? Encourage and rebuke with all authority. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? 15But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,m Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. In 2 Corinthians 11:32 Paul speaks of an ethnarch of Aretas, the king of the Nabataean Arabs, who guarded the city to prevent him escaping from it. If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. 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. Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. 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). 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to (1 Corinthians 7:15, 17-22, 24).154. That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. The "Straight Street" or Via Recta in Latin, was a straight As I look at the problem, I believe several conclusions must be drawn. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. Why this swift act of judgment? Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. When we look at Pauls great love and compassion for the saints, we have to remind ourselves of the hate he once had toward them. This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). In other words a beginning point for narrating Acts 9:1-19 could be with Ananias knowledge of Saul as a persecutor, which he expresses in verse 13. 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. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. 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). In this occasion, no one seems to have prayed for Peters miraculous escape. 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. Obedience is often not easy, but it is very likely the most direct way forward and the clearest way to honor God. * [9:13] Your holy ones: literally, your saints.. What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? See Appendix B for information on Sauls Theology in the Book of Romans. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. And when this time comes, God will use their obedience to serve Him: For if their rejection be the salvation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15). I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. My names sake". the light and blind passages above). He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. CE!L;oza!sQjaTsg The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). The first words of the Lord Jesus to Saul were intended to teach him the inseparable unity between Christ and His church. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11). And thus, in Gods time, Saul was dramatically converted, seeing the Christ whom he had been persecuting, risen from the dead and in His heavenly glory. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. Jesus did not address the entire group but said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? The others knew that something unusual was going on, but they did not grasp it (Acts 22:9). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Second, we are not given enough information in the biblical text to solve them dogmatically. 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, He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. in expanding, as well as justifying, their earthly wealth and power. The conversion of Saul is important in another way. 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He should not be circumcised. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? 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). God struck Ananias and Sapphira dead for hypocrisy While their penalties seem extreme to us today, God judged them guilty of sins so serious that they threatened the very existence of the early church. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 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. 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. To establish the congregations identity with Ananias, the preacher might want to begin in the middle of the passage which actually looks back to Acts 8:1-3 (and 9:1). 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.
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