At length, in Gods good time, the door opened, and the events of half a lifetime assumed final and complete significance. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Wm. 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that And when the Galatians began to depart from the true gospel, Paul rebuked them for turning from Him: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel (Galatians 6). What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). Impatient men forget that God is not bound by time. Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 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, What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? 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). In other words, Is Sauls conversion typical and illustrative of the conversion of every saint, or is it unique, the exceptional case, which has little correspondence to most converts?. 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 true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. Those who know themselves sinners, and who call upon Jesus for salvation, are saved: For WHOSOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13, citing Joel 2:32). 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Matt. 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. Acts ix. 1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. 12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight., 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (C)how much [a]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. 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 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. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. Hear, you deaf! 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. In Sauls account of his conversion to His Jewish brethren, he added that when Ananias arrived, he instructed him to Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name (Acts 22:16). And now, he is preaching the same message. There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. 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 Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. But as Saul grew in strength and as his arguments were irrefutable, just as Stephens had been (Acts 6:10), his opponents realized that the only way to silence Saul was to kill him. * [9:3143] In the context of the period of peace enjoyed by the community through the cessation of Pauls activities against it, Luke introduces two traditions concerning the miraculous power exercised by Peter as he was making a tour of places where the Christian message had already been preached. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. 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). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. * [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). Trembling and astonished, he inquired, The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. Sauls conversion was also his call to ministry, and this conversion experience is strikingly similar to that of one of his predecessors, Ezekiel: 1:4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the northan immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. also Psalm 50:15; Joel 2:32; Jeremiah 29:12; 33:3-8). Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! 1:2; 2 Tim. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. In 47 B.C. Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). It was an act of faith and Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and The result of that reluctant leap of faith is that Sauls eyes are opened and he is baptized, becoming part of (and eventually a leader in) the very church he sought to wipe out. 00:00. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in (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. 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. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. 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. 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). Romans 6). * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. * [9:119] This is the first of three accounts of Pauls conversion (with Acts 22:316 and Acts 26:218) with some differences of detail owing to Lukes use of different sources. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. In fact, more is written of what Saul said and did because he was saved than is written of what he said and did resulting in his salvation. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? In different contexts, preachers might want to draw specific analogies concerning those for whom the congregation should be praying even though it cuts against our grain to do so. required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He also warned those who would corrupt grace, to make it a pretext for sin (cf. Thus, he did not use the method of many others, which was man-centered, not Christ-centered: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. This can hardly be possible. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 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. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. 1:16; cf. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. 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. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. * [9:43] The fact that Peter lodged with a tanner would have been significant to both the Gentile and Jewish Christians, for Judaism considered the tanning occupation unclean. No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. 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. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3). (4) More space is devoted to the process of getting Ananias to Saul than is devoted to getting Saul to Damascus and to the home of Judas. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Sauls Baptism. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? If Ananias and Sapphira were born again believers and God judged them for their sin, it means that even though Jesus was judged for sin, God still judged them for their sin. Pauls method was consistent with his message. Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. One moment, Saul was opposing Jesus, as though He were the sinner; the next, Saul is on his face before this Jesus, calling Him Lord. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. 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. Those whose lives Saul would gladly have taken in his unsaved days now sought to save his life by sending him away. 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. 1:15). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. While at first he thought he might have to correct God, in the end he submitted himself and his very life to Gods call. 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, 18 According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due. Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 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). Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. what occupation he was (possibly a businessman). The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In Peters words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord(v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. 142 His companions therefore took him by the hand and led him through the gate of Damascus to the place where, presumably, arrangements had been made for him to stay. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 185. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. 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. A( ) Ananias is obscure. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Enough revelation for the moment. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. sight. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. 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. Those who think themselves worthy of Gods blessings (as many Jews did in that day) are those who are in trouble. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. It is the invitation for sinful Israelites to be saved, by repenting and calling on the name of the Lord for salvation: Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Few Christians will encounter the risen, glorified Lord as Saul did here. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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 Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 8 Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of This light would thus have been very bright indeed. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. WebSaul had come to Damascus with letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to find followers of Jesus and arrest them. His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. 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. Leave them; they are blind guides. 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). 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Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. 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). Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). Handed down. He should not be circumcised. 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. The conclusion of many of the commentators is that Sauls conversion was a much longer process than I see reflected in this account, or in any other. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The conversion of Saul is important in another way. His career as a persecutor of Christians seems to have begun with Stephen, but it quickly spread to all of the Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 7:588:3). (3) Sauls salvation was personal. His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight. OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). 1:16f. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. The narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings Read more. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 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. part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. 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). What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? The two messages cannot be reconciled. Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. Sauls conversion was to play a crucial role in the expansion of the gospel. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. in expanding, as well as justifying, their earthly wealth and power. 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 a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. 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. Did they send for Saul? WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? WebAnanias, had he disobeyed Christ, would not have helped Saul on that path in which he, as Paul the apostle, did so much, and suffered so much, for Christ. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). 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 In this chapter we have, I. 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. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 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. Israels watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep (Isaiah 43:8-10). Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and, going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. 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). Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? The ultimate issue was Gods ability to saveeven the most committed unbeliever. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. 15:10; Gal. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. 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. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. 2 What do we know about Ananias in Acts 9? 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. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. 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. Our text presents Saul as a man who was not only running from God, but one who was actively opposing Him. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened.

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