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. 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. This conclusion could be based upon Pauls argument in Galatians 1 and 2, along with the expression, when many days had elapsed in Acts 9:23. 1. Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate. The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. 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. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 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. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. What Paul learned about himself, personally, on the road to Damascus he came to understand and to preach concerning all men. Shape us into children who rejoice in knowing and proclaiming you to the world. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. When Paul spoke of his conversion here in Galatians 1, he did not speak of the light which shone without, but rather of the light which shone within. Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. From 64 B.C. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. To both Ananias (Acts 9:10) and Saul (Acts 9:12). But why would they be called his disciples? 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). Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. 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. 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). For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). Some of the Hellenistic Jews responded to the preaching of Saul as they had to Stephens preaching; they wanted to kill him (9:29). It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? He sent me so that you can 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. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. Unstoppable There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 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. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3). The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move 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). 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. Saul was also blinded, which identified him with the blindness of the nation Israel of which the Old Testament prophets wrote (see above). get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! 4. Luke 3:22), it expressed his unique relationship and fellowship with the Father. Ibid. No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. 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. 9oY+ The Conversion of Saul 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). How much better to petition God to save those whom we are concerned about, a God who desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? 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. 34Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. 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. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. 4. and the other is a deceptive, self-serving half-truth from people interested (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. 17(K)And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and (L)laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord [c]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and (M)be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. Why was Ananias afraid? 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. For Paul, the method of proclaiming the gospel must be consistent with the message itself, and so it was. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? - Answers The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. In Pauls speech in Acts 22, he describes Ananias as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt in Damascus (Acts 22:12). 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. After this incident with Paul we hear no more Could it be that God had also appointed someone to meet Saul as he entered the city, with specific instructions as to where he was to stay? (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. Yes, Lord, he answered. From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of Gods choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 87-89), plays out the two views of Sauls conversion, the first (and seldom held the view of Ramsay), that Saul was suddenly and radically converted; second, that there was a considerable process involved. 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? This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). . Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. 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. 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 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). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 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. My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord. here - view only). 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 Peters words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord(v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. But hidden in its shadows is another inspiring story, and one to which most people in the pew may more easily relate. 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. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. 39So Peter got up and went with them. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. 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. 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. 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. Also, called for him to be slapped. 1 What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Fourth, if we had all the facts, there would be no problem. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.. He amazed everyone because they knew he was speaking the same words as the people he had been persecuting. 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). 15:10; Gal. To Him be the glory forever. 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. 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. NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! ANANIAS What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. 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. The results of Sauls preaching were predictable, very much like the response Saul would have had (or did have) to the preaching of the gospel before his conversion. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here am I, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.145 15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My names sake.. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (5) Sauls salvation was an act of divine grace. Ananias baptizes Saul, and Saul's eyes are opened. Web3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. The answer is: Jesus. 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. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. 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. The first words spoken to Saul were, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. When all is said and done, the miracle which took place on the way to Damascus (and likely in Damascus as well) was that Saul saw Jesus as the Son of God, as the Messiah, and as his Savior and Lord: Am I not free? 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! Why this swift act of judgment? Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). Salvation may occur in a large group, such as those saved at the preaching of Peter at Pentecost, but each individual was saved because of a personal encounter with Christ. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. And if this was important for Saul to do, it was equally important for the church to accept him into their fellowship, as an expression of their unity in Christ. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 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. Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. 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. 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. 1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. (3) Sauls salvation was personal. Your merchants were the worlds great men. Acts ix. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. Saul Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. To him be honor and might forever. 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. They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. 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." 131 . 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. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. Those who know themselves sinners, and who call upon Jesus for salvation, are saved: For WHOSOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13, citing Joel 2:32). Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul,why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 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). It does not store any personal data. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. 43* r And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16). And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. 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. Pauls language in Acts 26:11 seems to mean that Damascus is merely one of other `foreign cities to which he carried the persecution. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? 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). Ananias 134 Blaiklock comes to this conclusion concerning the time of Sauls conversion: Probably the earliest acceptable date for the conversion on the Damascus road is AD 33. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. 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. 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. Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. (1 Corinthians 9:1). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. He is there praying,j A( ) Ananias is obscure. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 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). I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. The church in Damascus has been talking about Saul and its members rightfully afraid of him he has, after all, been dragging Christians out of house after house, throwing them into prison, and desiring their deaths. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. As I look at the problem, I believe several conclusions must be drawn. . Acts does not tell us that he goes on to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, found churches in urban centers across the Roman Empire, stand true to the gospel while on trial for his faith over and again, and end up under house arrest in Rome awaiting a trial before Caesar.

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