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. How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? 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. 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. Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. 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. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. In Jerusalem, as in Damascus, Saul spoke out boldly proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ, the promised Messiah. 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. 9 What happened to Sapphira in the Bible? What happened to Straight Street since then? Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. About three hours later, Sapphira arrived. The laying on of Ananias hands was also an expression of unity, as was the later right hand of fellowship extended by some of the apostles to Saul (Galatians 2:9). The same grace which was shown to Saul in his salvation is shown to all whom God calls to Himself: 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. Present active participle of sunbubazo, old verb to make go together, to coalesce, to knit together. also Psalm 50:15; Joel 2:32; Jeremiah 29:12; 33:3-8). The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. * [9:20] Son of God: the title Son of God occurs in Acts only here, but cf. 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). 146 It is possible, however, to understand the expression, Brother, as referring to Saul only as a fellow Jew. 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). 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. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 3. Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. 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). Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! Why was Ananias afraid? Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. Q&A 1. That our Lords contemporaries believed the Messiah to be in some special sense the son of God is rendered probable by the wording of the high priests question to him at his trial: `Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? (Mark 14:61 par. A vision, in this context, was a supernatural sight from God. 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. (2) Sauls salvation was exclusively the work of a sovereign God. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). 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. 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 15:21). 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. 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). Also, This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. 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). Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). I. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6-7). The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. 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. But as I see the call of God referred to in the New Testament, it seems that the call of salvation assumes other callings, to which Paul and other New Testament writers made frequent reference: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1). Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. In Damascus, the Lord had spoken to a man named Ananias, and the Lord told Ananias to find Saul and to lay his hands on Saul and pray so that Sauls sight would be restored. It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 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). One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. Nevertheless, conversion has certain elements which are vital and which are to be present in any salvation experience. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! 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. 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. 43* r And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. All rights reserved. If Luke had any ax to grind on this issue, here would have been a great place to stress this matter, but he did not do so. >zZ0y^C{tg Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, When he was still very young, Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy. 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. Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l In the process, Saul was to greatly extend the outreach of the gospel to the Gentiles. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Suppose you were a Christian who had just arrived in Damascus, and you had been able to learn the whereabouts of a group of believers. 13:1 On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity (Zechariah 12:1013:1). There would likely be another group of people meeting on the evening before Saul arrived in Damascusthose who did not believe in Jesus as their Messiah, and who eagerly sought the eradication of the church in their city. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. WebAnswer: > 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. Here I am, Lord, he replied. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. Word was out that Saul would soon be arriving. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. 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.'" The blindness to which Saul was subject for three days provided him with much time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. 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. The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back 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. Ananias son of Nebedeus (or Nedebeus) was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 23:2) and Caesarea (Acts 24:1). * [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. The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. 92 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 94 /H [ 1243 743 ] /L 503600 /E 43371 /N 16 /T 501642 >> endobj xref 92 42 0000000016 00000 n 0000001188 00000 n 0000001986 00000 n 0000002200 00000 n 0000002434 00000 n 0000002614 00000 n 0000002636 00000 n 0000004226 00000 n 0000004248 00000 n 0000005775 00000 n 0000005798 00000 n 0000008986 00000 n 0000009009 00000 n 0000012094 00000 n 0000012305 00000 n 0000013156 00000 n 0000014011 00000 n 0000014230 00000 n 0000014604 00000 n 0000014827 00000 n 0000023280 00000 n 0000023869 00000 n 0000024230 00000 n 0000024446 00000 n 0000024731 00000 n 0000024987 00000 n 0000025380 00000 n 0000026152 00000 n 0000026257 00000 n 0000029454 00000 n 0000029477 00000 n 0000032108 00000 n 0000032131 00000 n 0000034910 00000 n 0000034933 00000 n 0000037945 00000 n 0000040047 00000 n 0000040070 00000 n 0000043063 00000 n 0000043141 00000 n 0000001243 00000 n 0000001964 00000 n trailer << /Size 134 /Info 91 0 R /Root 93 0 R /Prev 501632 /ID[<3cb89dccfaad5f26269ffad0f6f6443b><3cb89dccfaad5f26269ffad0f6f6443b>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 93 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 89 0 R >> endobj 132 0 obj << /S 672 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 133 0 R >> stream How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the 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. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move Think about what happened as a result of this man overcoming his fear and obeying God. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. 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. 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." 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). 5:3-4). He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. ,%d/3o3o6jda=|4S-LJ3ajLcNfZyV;CkCl>390q {KQ0lQ)0>~cy:CJkP|4M-\v 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? many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). Web3. Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. WebThe Conversion of Saul. 148 I would assume that Saul was one of those who covered his ears so as not to hear the praise of Stephen, as reported in Acts 7:57. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Saul was not content to punish some and to drive the rest from the holy city. He did not want to merely contain Christianity or to drive it from Jerusalem; he wanted to rid the earth of Christianity and its followers. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). He should not become uncircumcised. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. 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. Even if he were not one of these men, he would surely have hated to hear the gospel. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Did he still not realize who the Lord was? 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). The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. At least we can say that no one had enough faith to believe it, even as Peter stood at the door, knocking to get in (12:12-17). 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. What happened to Straight Street since then? A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. And having escaped from Damascus in a basket, most likely alone, he probably returned to Jerusalem alone, without a witness who could corroborate his claims. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. 28He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord. So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. He sent me so that you can The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. 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. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. 11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusp named Saul, for he is praying. 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. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Pauls conversion is one of the great stories of the early church, and it has rightfully inspired Christians from every generation. You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. This Paul knew and testified to. * [9:8] He could see nothing: a temporary blindness (Acts 9:18) symbolizing the religious blindness of Saul as persecutor (cf. Shape us into children who rejoice in knowing and proclaiming you to the world. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It may be that Sauls conversion was the instrument God used to convert these followers of Saul, so that they really were his disciples, in a two-fold sense. Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight. 1:4). F. F. Bruce, p. 190. And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. remark on the symmetry with which Luke sets forth the two stories: The simultaneous preparation of the hearts of Ananias and of Saul, and the simultaneous preparation of those of Peter and Cornelius,the questioning and hesitation of Peter and the questioning and hesitation of Ananias,the one doubting whether he might make friendship with the Gentiles, the other doubting whether he might approach the enemy of the Church,the unhesitating obedience of each when the Divine will was made known,the state of mind in which both the Pharisee and the centurion were found,each waiting to see what the Lord would say to them,this close analogy will not be forgotten by those who reverently read the two consecutive chapters. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:8-11). 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. in 1971. This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. 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. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. 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. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. When the man asked why he should do this, the pastor said, I dont believe anyone can continue hating someone when they have consistently prayed for that person to be blessed by God. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peters feet. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. They too rebelled against God and forsook His word and persecuted His prophets. It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. "how many things he must suffer for And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. God was sealing Saul to Himself. 2:1 He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 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. No change in life is greater than the change from unbelief to belief in Christ, from being lost and condemned to being saved and eternally secure, from being separated from God and others to being united with Him and with all believers. 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? 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?. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? I was inclined to think that most of us, experientially, are called to faith in Christ only to gradually learn Gods will for our life, progressively revealed to us as we walk in Him. When Saul reached Jerusalem, the Christians there also were afraid of him, because they thought he was going to have them all arrested. . Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. 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). That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. 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. 36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Continue Learning about Religious Studies. Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin.