He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped (Isaiah 35:5). We may not be able to identify the precise moment or the exact events which brought it about, but salvation does not happen in some kind of group way. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. 00:00. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W From 64 B.C. 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. Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Saul seems to have been the instigator of the persecution of the church, which began at the death of Stephen in Jerusalem and worked outward from there. 43* r And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. 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. This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. 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. This light would thus have been very bright indeed. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7; cf. Both are call stories. They do not understand the gospel well enough. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 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). In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of Gods grace given me through the working of his power. 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). There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. 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. This Paul knew and testified to. 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. 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). Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. Ananias would probably be afraid to go see Saul because Ananias was a Christian, and Saul was coming to the city to arrest the Christians. 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 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. 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. WebAnanias went. What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. One moment, Saul is inflicting pain and suffering on others who trust in Jesus as the Messiah, the next, he is enduring suffering for the sake of Jesus, the Messiah. Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. 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). 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christtheir Lord and ours 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 9). What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). 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. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. Word was out that Saul would soon be arriving. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. To Him be the glory forever. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. This account is accompanied by an asseveration of its truth which suggests that some people were contradicting it.133. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. He started to KNOW GRACE! The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the It is not just in the Book of Acts that the importance of Sauls conversion is evident. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). The longer I study Sauls conversion, the more convinced I am that his conversion is typical. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 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. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. Israel too will just as surely return to God; and when it happens, it will be all of God, all to His glory and praise: 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. 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. 2:7; 2 Tim. The Book of Galatians is but one example of this. Saul, why do you persecute me? This doctrine does not hold that men are as bad as they could be in each area of their life, but that sin has permeated every dimension of a persons life. 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. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. vii.) 1:2; 2 Tim. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. He got up and was baptized, The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. Elsewhere in Acts, such as with the apostles, Stephen and Philip, the message of the gospel was underscored by signs and wonders which accompanied the message. 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. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. Nevertheless, conversion has certain elements which are vital and which are to be present in any salvation experience. Did he still not realize who the Lord was? It does not store any personal data. Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. He is trying to inform God of whats going on. How humorous it seems to hear Ananias informing the Lord that Saul was an enemy, one who had caused many Christians great suffering and adversity, as though He was unaware of this! 20and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. A( ) Ananias is obscure. 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. When Saul stood up, he discovered he was completely blind, and the men who were with him had to lead him by his hand until they reached Damascus. 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 What else did Jesus explain to Ananias? With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. . 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. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. 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). Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. 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. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. The "Straight Street" or Via Recta in Latin, was a straight 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. 2. Thank God that is what happened. 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. AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. 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. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! He wrote letters to the first churches in order to help them understand the Scriptures and to tell them how to live as good Christians. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. 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). After this incident with Paul we hear no more Did they send for Saul? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). When one looks at all the references to this event, it was, in fact, a personal appearance of the risen, glorified Jesus to Saul (cf. How was Saul converted to Christianity? 9 What happened to Sapphira in the Bible? . 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. And look, you blind, that you may see. required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. Ananias small act of obedience led to a great harvest for the kingdom. WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. One moment, Saul was persecuting the church; shortly thereafter he was seeking to fellowship with the saints. 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. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? 1. 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. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. 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, 2. Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? This first account occurs when the word is first spread to the Gentiles. It is one of the few accounts of a conversion which is described with some detail (although this detail is much less than we would prefer). get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 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. 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. It was his preaching that resulted in the conversion of many Gentiles, and it was his writing (his epistles) to these saints which greatly strengthened them in their faith. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was 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. Shortly afterwards, the Lord spoke to a disciple named Ananias, asking him to go to Saul, place his hands on him, and restore his sight. 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. 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). 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. Sauls Baptism. 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 could not out-argue him. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 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. He sent me so that you can WebThe Conversion of Saul. Ancestry, Pharisaic training, Hellenistic education, were fused by it into the character which the Holy Spirit formed and fashioned over the fourteen years of training. 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). Throughout his life and ministry Paul marveled at the grace of God shown to him and to other sinners. The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. It was due to the intervention of Barnabas, a man who would prove to be a lifetime friend of Paul, that the apostles risked a meeting with him and then granted him the freedom to associate with the saints in Jerusalem. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. It is also bad news for the self-righteous. Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4). 5:3-4). by the sin of Adam. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. During his conversion The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. 15:10; Gal. It was Gods initiative all the way. Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. 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. 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. The words and actions of Ananias are an evidence of his faith and obedience to the divine commission he was given, as outlined by Luke in the verses above. 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. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What did Ananias do for Saul? 3 He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies.