The conversion of Saul is a very crucial event in this book, which spells out from a historical point of view (Romans, from a theological viewpoint) the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the plans and purposes of God. The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. 1 What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? The casting of this spell on this false prophet could therefore have been an act of kindness, as Gods blinding of Saul had been, intended to cease his opposition and perhaps even to bring about his conversion. 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. This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? No one, it would seem, was even thinking of what God was about to do. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. 28, p. 185. 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." Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. His career as a persecutor of Christians seems to have begun with Stephen, but it quickly spread to all of the Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 7:588:3). 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. 11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusp named Saul, for he is praying. by the sin of Adam. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped (Isaiah 35:5). 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. The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. 00:00. 20:32; 26:18) is a common term in Pauls writings and describes Christians as people who have been set apart for Gods service and must show an appropriate character. The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. 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. A vision, in this context, was a supernatural sight from God. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. (Acts 9:11)? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. 11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusp named Saul, for he is praying. To put it differently, the account of Sauls conversion in Acts 9 is but the first of three accounts, the other two coming from the lips of Paul himself. At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb 36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). The only question is who is the LORD? Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. The conversion of Saul is important in another way. 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). 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. It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. Saul recognized that he was a sinner, and that his righteousness was but dung before God. We know that the salvation of men rests ultimately with God and not with usand not even with the one whom we wish to see saved. CE!L;oza!sQjaTsg many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus. To establish the congregations identity with Ananias, the preacher might want to begin in the middle of the passage which actually looks back to Acts 8:1-3 (and 9:1). It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. 9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. Saul, the typical (albeit more zealous) Jew, opposed God in the person of Christ and His body, the church, even while he thought he was serving Him. 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. 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). 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! Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). in expanding, as well as justifying, their earthly wealth and power. It is evident in the way he was saved. with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? For all the saints. OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. 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. 39So Peter got up and went with them. How many times should a shock absorber bounce? It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 136. . Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him, He should not be circumcised. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! . 145 We may note incidentally the two new descriptions of the Christians used here. 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion 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. 1:2; 2 Tim. It is no wonder then that this one who was Sauls all in all would be the focus, the substance, of the gospel which he preached: But we preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. called for him to be slapped. Their attempt to deceive the apostles was an attempt to deceive God putting the Spirit of the Lord to the test (v. 9) and they paid the price! Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. 17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. 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). At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. Even if he were not one of these men, he would surely have hated to hear the gospel. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18). (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) (13) As Stephens death, instigated (or at least assisted) by Saul, resulted in an intense and widespread persecution of the churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere, so Sauls conversion seems to have been directly related to the return of peace (cf. 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 Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. In 47 B.C. When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. 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). The narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings Read more. When the man asked why he should do this, the pastor said, I dont believe anyone can continue hating someone when they have consistently prayed for that person to be blessed by God. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. Acts 26:18). About three hours later, Sapphira arrived. No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. the citation of Ps 2:7 in Pauls speech at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33). What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. Also, 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). 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. (4) More space is devoted to the process of getting Ananias to Saul than is devoted to getting Saul to Damascus and to the home of Judas. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . 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. Leave them; they are blind guides. How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? His conversion was the beginning of a life-long process of maturing and growth in the Lord. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It is also bad news for the self-righteous. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). I do not question that he did receive the Spirit, but merely observe that this receiving of the Spirit (accompanied by the laying on of hands) was not something Luke wanted to emphasize. Sauls vision prepared him for the arrival of Ananias, clearly indicating that he was the one God had appointed to reveal His will for him. 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. Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. 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 famous story of St. Pauls conversion from being an outrageous persecutor of the gospel of Christ to be an illustrious professor and preacher of it. The Lord 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. . Could Judas have been a Christian? 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Web3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). 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. Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Second, we are not given enough information in the biblical text to solve them dogmatically. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,* he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 1:16; cf. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. They do not understand the gospel well enough. The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn.

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