Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. WebWe do not know whether Ananias already had previous experience miracles of healing, but the Lord was instructing him to interview the notorious Pharisee Saul, who fiercely persecuted Christians, and to heal his blindness. Hear, you deaf! To him be honor and might forever. He paid for his education by working for the priests. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). And what a comfort to know that God always finishes what He starts: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Pauls conversion is one of the great stories of the early church, and it has rightfully inspired Christians from every generation. (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. 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. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. And Jesus took the persecution of Christians very personally. 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. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? The Church at Peace. 1:16f. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. Ananias and Saul in Damascus. The church sent him on his way to Tarsus by way of Caesarea. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. When the Christians learned that the Hellenists to whom Saul had preached were plotting to kill them, they helped him escape through Caesarea and on to Tarsus. Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). Have you had such an encounter? Why did Saint Paul change his The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? A man once confessed to his pastor that even though he didnt think of himself as hating people, there was one person he really hated for the way the person had wronged him. He also warned those who would corrupt grace, to make it a pretext for sin (cf. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? 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.'" helpful to the Lord. It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. 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. Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. He started NOW to trust God. His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. >zZ0y^C{tg Even if he were not one of these men, he would surely have hated to hear the gospel. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. 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. 1:15; Eph. There may well have been a long time between Sauls conversion and his arrival at Jerusalem. There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. How old was Jesus when he was crucified? 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. 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). 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. 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. Our text presents Saul as a man who was not only running from God, but one who was actively opposing Him. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! 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). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. 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. This would mean that the Gospel isnt as good as we thought it was and that God violates the law of double jeopardy where He punishes the same sin twice. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. In 47 B.C. All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" It's still there and you can still see the evidence of the colonnades (click Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. Luke 3:22), it expressed his unique relationship and fellowship with the Father. Ibid. 5He said, Who are you, sir? The reply came, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.e 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). He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. Thus, whenever he spoke of his conversion and his call to ministry, he always spoke of this incident as an act of divine grace, of Gods unmerited favor, of an act of mercy toward him: I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:15-16). Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). The ultimate issue was Gods ability to saveeven the most committed unbeliever. What is meant by the competitive environment? The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. 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. 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. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. To both Ananias (Acts 9:10) and Saul (Acts 9:12). And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. Trembling and astonished, he inquired, Nevertheless, Ananias obeyed. It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. 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. 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. I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). Throughout his life and ministry Paul marveled at the grace of God shown to him and to other sinners. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. 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). How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in 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. Those things in which Saul would have formerly trusted for his standing before God, he saw in an entirely different light after God found him and saved him: 4b 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. After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. 27Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. This three-fold repetition is a clear indication of the importance of this event, especially in the themes Luke is seeking to develop in the Book of Acts. 6:17; Phil. what occupation he was (possibly a businessman). 2, called him Ananias ben Nebedeus. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray (Revelation 18:23). 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. The words which Ananias spoke to Saul indicate he was also to lay hands on him so that he would receive the Holy Spirit (9:17). also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter Sauls conversion was to play a crucial role in the expansion of the gospel. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. . Furthermore, in Acts 26:10 Paul testifies that he received letters from the chief priests, not just the chief priest alone. They were based, as I understand it, on what the Lord had revealed to Ananias and not on any confession or actions of Saul, for these seem to follow these initial actions and words of Ananias. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. Who told Saul to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street? required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). 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. The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. 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. 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. 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. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). Present active participle of sunbubazo, old verb to make go together, to coalesce, to knit together. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. . This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. 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. 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. For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). 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. From the fact that three different accounts of Sauls conversion are recorded in Acts, we know this event had to play a crucial role in the expansion of the church. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). 10. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. It is not clear Julius Caesar confirmed those rights and privileges anew to the Jewish nation (although Judaea was no longer a sovereign state), and more particularly to the high-priesthood. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), pp. 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. 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?. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. (5) There is a good deal of emphasis on the results of Sauls conversion. Ananias hesitation to visit Saul showed that he had good relationship with Jerusalem, for he knew of the trouble that the persecutor had raised against the early converts, and of the goal of his mission to Damascus. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). As applied to our Lord, then, the title `Son of God marks him out as the true representative of the Israel of God and as Gods anointed king; but it is no merely official title. 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. 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. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. The light was the light of His glory. Saul, as it were, saw the light, but in addition, he was to become a light, a light to the Gentiles, as well as to his own people. 149 It is more significant than might be supposed at first glance that the only occurrence of the title `Son of God in Acts should be in this report of Sauls early preaching. Fourth, if we had all the facts, there would be no problem. There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. 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. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. See Appendix B for information on Sauls Theology in the Book of Romans. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. 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. And the second group, who were waiting for Saul to come and help them deal with the followers of the Way, were about to discover that Saul had joined them, perhaps bringing other members of the opposition along with him. While Paul may not have brought about the execution of all those whom he arrested, including women as well as men (verse 2), verse 1 strongly suggests that this was his desire and ambition. But beyond this, his conversion totally changed the remainder of his life. This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. 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. How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. sight. Ananias Get up and go to the street called Straight, to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. . 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). Though I have fallen, I will rise. WebThe last time they saw Saul, he was arresting and killing Christians. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. Pauls opposition resulted in the scattering of the Christians from Jerusalem, thus taking the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1; 11:19-21). But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? 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. * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. 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). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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! The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. It does not store any personal data. 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. This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal.

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