a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. 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. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. . 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). While at first he thought he might have to correct God, in the end he submitted himself and his very life to Gods call. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deuteronomy 28:28-29). Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. It does not store any personal data. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. 137 The Way is a designation for the new movement used several times in Acts 9:19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; cf. Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. 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. The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For Paul, the method of proclaiming the gospel must be consistent with the message itself, and so it was. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). The words of Jesus, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? related by Luke with no variation in all three accounts, exerted a profound and lasting influence on the thought of Paul. They too rebelled against God and forsook His word and persecuted His prophets. 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. During the subsequent Roman rule, the WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. The LORD identified Himself as the Jesus, whom he had been persecuting. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God (John 3:19-21). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 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. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). 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. part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. 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. What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! What did Ananias do for Saul? After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. . * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. For the time being, God is using the disobedience of Israel to accomplish His purposes, but there is surely a time coming when Israel will be restored to the Lord, by faith in Christ. Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. At first he found himself in the position of being regarded as an apostate by the Jews and suspect by the Christian community of Jerusalem. The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. He should not become uncircumcised. Romans 6). WebThe last time they saw Saul, he was arresting and killing Christians. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. In our text Ananias was instructed to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might receive his sight (9:12). On various occasions in his epistles, Paul made either direct or indirect references to his former life of opposition and his radical conversion.132 Pauls theology, his lifestyle, his ministry, and his methodology, all are rooted in his conversion. How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? How many times should a shock absorber bounce? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. 1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. 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. 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). At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. God was sealing Saul to Himself. Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. . And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. But his blindness was symbolic of his condition. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. also 16:17; 18:25-26). 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. They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. Did they think their task would be a simple one? 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. The Church at Peace. And they were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. 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). In this chapter we have, I. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? . Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. Ananias came to Saul with grace to liberate him from his wrong-headed beliefs and open his heart to Jesus. WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Some of the Hellenistic Jews responded to the preaching of Saul as they had to Stephens preaching; they wanted to kill him (9:29). 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. Ananias was that kind of a disciple. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. 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. We can learn more about his life in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and we can still read some of the letters he wrote that have been collected into the Bible, such as Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians. 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. 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. And laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). Your merchants were the worlds great men. 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). Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. 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. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul he was filled with the Holy Spirit, healed of his blindness, received water baptism, and began to eat and regain his strength. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? 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. One is the truth from God Himself, (3) Sauls salvation was personal. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). * [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. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. God struck Ananias and Sapphira dead for hypocrisy While their penalties seem extreme to us today, God judged them guilty of sins so serious that they threatened the very existence of the early church. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 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, in 1971. a. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. It was the most powerful piece of artillery in the Jewish camp that was suddenly turned round upon them. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 123. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast (Galatians 2:8-9). 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g There are two primary options for preaching from this text. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. They do not understand the gospel well enough. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 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. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. 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. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. Lest anyone think they are too sinful to save, let me remind you that when Paul wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, he quickly added, among whom I am foremost of all.. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all (D)who call on Your name., 15But the Lord said to him, Go, for (E)he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before (F)Gentiles, (G)kings, and the (H)children[b] of Israel. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Thus, it is grace which sustains the saint, in addition to saving him: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited (Hebrews 13:9). 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. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. We know from Romans 7, for example, that Paul had struggles in his spiritual walk. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" He started NOW to trust God. 4. 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. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.q 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Paul recognized that his ministry was that of bringing the light to those who were lost, including the Gentiles, kings, and his fellow-Israelites: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). Saul went to other cities where he sought to arrest Christians and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). This blindness was only removed by faith in Christ, a miracle brought about by divine action: In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see (Isaiah 29:18). These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. 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. Let us suppose further that the church had gathered on this particular evening for a time of prayer, prompted by the news that Saul was soon to arrive, with all the necessary legal machinery (that is, the authorization of the chief priests and the Sanhedrin130) to arrest and extradite131 the saints who were in the city. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? 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.'" (1 Corinthians 9:1). 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lords freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christs slave. I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" 5He said, Who are you, sir? The reply came, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.e 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 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. vii.) 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb 143 . That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. 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). Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Saul was the bad guy. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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? Grace is also the source and the standard for our service: Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:6). What happened to Straight Street since then? Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? In His coming as the light, those who come to the light become lights to the world themselves: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2). Blaiklock, for example (pp. His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. 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). Hb```f``:Ab,=`.9Z3{x5v\);]c#qea #'&D|z:wyKN,0(t\tbRFhT2thS2(9.`mNbq)-pk^;>:+pq2Ck AUbK=N\2M/`KqGLZS1 $[S|Rd\.9i'9T\.EXdxlYcqb He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.. Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 26 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was.
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