Ananias 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. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. 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. When he was still very young, Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy. Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. Thus, he did not use the method of many others, which was man-centered, not Christ-centered: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. He paid for his education by working for the priests. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. There are two primary options for preaching from this text. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). 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). 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. 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 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. The call of salvation is a call to change. Did they think their task would be a simple one? Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Sauls Baptism. 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. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. Verse 18 tells us that, "straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and he arose and was baptized." It was only with the exit of Saul from the Holy Land, back to his native land (Tarsus), that peace once again returned. Introduction. 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. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. 10 i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. 11 The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. 21All who heard him were astounded and said, Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests? 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. (1 Corinthians 9:1). 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. It's still there and you can still see the evidence of the colonnades (click In the end, God Himself will provide the illumination so that the sun and the stars will not be needed for this function: The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted (Isaiah 30:26). The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). `}Hq)l2hZ0r89asO70Da`qg Do not gloat over me, my enemy! 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. Web3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. 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). Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? Fourth, if we had all the facts, there would be no problem. 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). What is meant by the competitive environment? the Romans . The Book of Galatians is but one example of this. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). 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. God changed him from being a man who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and a persecutor of the Christians into a bold missionary who preached the Gospel wherever he went. 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. In this approach, preachers will offer their congregations a chance to relate to Sauls epiphany as a way of meeting Christ in the midst of our lives and being transformed by that encounter. 1:26); but for Saul the one who bore a human form identified himself as a historical person: `I am Jesus. Few of Sauls distinctive insights into the significance of the gospel cannot be traced back to the Damascus-road event, or to the outworking of that event in his life and thought. Saul was also blinded, which identified him with the blindness of the nation Israel of which the Old Testament prophets wrote (see above). 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). 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. It is not clear It is not just in the Book of Acts that the importance of Sauls conversion is evident. The longer I study Sauls conversion, the more convinced I am that his conversion is typical. 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. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. They too rebelled against God and forsook His word and persecuted His prophets. It is also bad news for the self-righteous. 26:63; Luke 22:67, 70). Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. 4. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. For Paul, the method of proclaiming the gospel must be consistent with the message itself, and so it was. He sent me so that you can How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in It does not store any personal data. 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. The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. Saul OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 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). Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? Acts 9:10-19 NKJV - Ananias Baptizes Saul - Bible Gateway 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. 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? He says: It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. the light and blind passages above). And yet, even in opposing God, he furthered Gods purposes; he was instrumental in the evangelization of the Gentiles (Acts 8:1, 4; 11:19-21). And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. The ananias anointing | Church Page | murrayledger.com The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. 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. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. Web'And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. This can hardly be possible. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Ananias Acts Sauls Conversion. The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. Throughout his life and ministry Paul marveled at the grace of God shown to him and to other sinners. Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). 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 obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. 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. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. a. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4). Saul But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". WebWhy was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? He amazed everyone because they knew he was speaking the same words as the people he had been persecuting. (10) Sauls encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. the citation of Ps 2:7 in Pauls speech at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33). There is no more appropriate conclusion to our message than the words of the apostle Paul, which immediately follow those above, and which aptly express the response of the Christian to the wisdom, the grace, and the sovereignty of the God who has saved us, and who works all things together for His glory and for the good of His chosen ones: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? 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. 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But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). . This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. 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. And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. And if Sauls blindness led to his own conversion, at least the blinding of Bar-Jesus contributed to the conversion of the proconsul (and perhaps too his own conversionwho knows?). His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peters feet. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. There are no exceptions in this all of Romans 3:23, as Paul indicated in these Old Testament words, cited just before: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE (Romans 3:10b-12). Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. The passage which we are studying can be divided into these major segments: We will begin this lesson by making some general observations concerning this account of Sauls conversion,134 after which we will examine the sequence of events leading up to Sauls conversion, the events surrounding his conversion, and the consequences of his conversion as depicted by Luke. He got up and was baptized, 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:7). He was, indeed, Stephens replacement. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray (Revelation 18:23). Continue Learning about Religious Studies. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. 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). 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. Ananias (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. Obedience is often not easy, but it is very likely the most direct way forward and the clearest way to honor God. 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. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 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). The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. 17) and the restoration of the man after the shattering experience he had known, and for the early ministry in Tarsus, Syria, Cilicia, and Antioch, which prepared mind and method for the major assault on the pagan world. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. 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. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. 5 Why did Ananias and Sapphira lie to God? Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. To Paul, his relationship, by faith, to Jesus Christ was also the beginning of his new relationship to the body of Christ, the church: Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). Preachers working through the narrative lectionary with their congregations, then, will do well to explore this passage in detail in order to establish the character of Paul well for the second half of Acts (Acts 13-28; see how this role is foreshadowed in 9:15), which shifts the focus from the ministry of the Twelve in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to his role in taking the gospel throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and even to Rome (see Acts 1:8). WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. But as Saul grew in strength and as his arguments were irrefutable, just as Stephens had been (Acts 6:10), his opponents realized that the only way to silence Saul was to kill him. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. The result of that reluctant leap of faith is that Sauls eyes are opened and he is baptized, becoming part of (and eventually a leader in) the very church he sought to wipe out. 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. He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. Who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. 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! He sent me so that you can Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. 3 He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. Web3. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. And when this time comes, God will use their obedience to serve Him: For if their rejection be the salvation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15). Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias. His Word Today on it belonged to the Roman province of Syria, but had a measure of municipal autonomy in the loose federation of cities called the Decapolis. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181.
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