Acts ix. 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). That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? 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). Indeed, God would reveal His sovereignty by using Saul to further the gospel, first by his opposition (which scattered the church and spread the gospel), and then by his conversion (which resulted in his powerful proclamation of Jesus as Messiah). 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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." He had heard of all the terrible things Saul had done to Christians in Jerusalem and how it was his intent to do the same in Damascus, Ananias town. After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory (Isaiah 60:19). 19and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.*. Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes? 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). 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. 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. I. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. 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. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. 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. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb By divine revelation, Peter called out Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit and to God. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. He goes for broke. 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. The first words of the Lord Jesus to Saul were intended to teach him the inseparable unity between Christ and His church. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 1:4, 26-28; 2:1-7).143. It was an act of faith and 26:63; Luke 22:67, 70). 2. 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. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. 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). His conversion was the beginning of a life-long process of maturing and growth in the Lord. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. vii.) What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? Thus, persecuting the church was persecuting Jesus Christ. 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. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. All rights reserved. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. Sauls conversion was also his call to ministry, and this conversion experience is strikingly similar to that of one of his predecessors, Ezekiel: 1:4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the northan immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. . The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. You, my brothers, were called to be free. a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 9oY+ What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. Ananias found 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. One is the truth from God Himself, 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. During his conversion 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l also Psalm 50:15; Joel 2:32; Jeremiah 29:12; 33:3-8). There are affinities between his conversion experience and Ezekiels inaugural vision, in which the prophet saw the likeness of the heavenly throne and above it a likeness as it were of a human form (Ezek. It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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, whom we have already met (Acts 5:34-40). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. Jesus did not address the entire group but said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? The others knew that something unusual was going on, but they did not grasp it (Acts 22:9). Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. (Acts 9:11)? Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. After this incident with Paul we hear no more They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. 146 It is possible, however, to understand the expression, Brother, as referring to Saul only as a fellow Jew. 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. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 136. 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. And look, you blind, that you may see. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. The call of salvation is a call to change. 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. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. (5) There is a good deal of emphasis on the results of Sauls conversion. Did Peter and Paul meet? Also, 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. 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. 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. Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. 1:2; 2 Tim. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. 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). * [9:8] He could see nothing: a temporary blindness (Acts 9:18) symbolizing the religious blindness of Saul as persecutor (cf. We will next seek to learn how this description of Sauls conversion fits into and contributes to the development of Lukes argument in Acts. Blaiklock, for example (pp. AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. At length, in Gods good time, the door opened, and the events of half a lifetime assumed final and complete significance. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Wm. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. 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. 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. 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. 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. WebThe Conversion of Saul. 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. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. A( ) Ananias is obscure. . He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. The apostles had nothing to do with Sauls conversion, and they were reluctant to believe it had happened or to welcome him into their fellowship. Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. Israel too will look on Him whom they have pierced and mourn. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. How old was Jesus when he was crucified? Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. This divine illumination is that miracle which God performs within a lost, blinded, dead soul, so as to bring about salvation: 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. Theologically, we know this as the doctrine of mans total depravity.151 Paul surely believed that it was essential for men to begin with the understanding of their own sin, for in his Epistle to the Romans, he took the first two and one-half chapters to prove that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers. There would likely be another group of people meeting on the evening before Saul arrived in Damascusthose who did not believe in Jesus as their Messiah, and who eagerly sought the eradication of the church in their city. And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time. And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. It was almost as though Saul had looked intently into the beam of an intensely powerful carbon-act light, the kind used as search lights. Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? (3) Sauls salvation was personal. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. 1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. Grace is not only the basis for ones salvation, but also for ones spiritual walk and service: As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:6-7). But his blindness was symbolic of his condition. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He should not be circumcised. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. 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. Saul is welcomed into the church. Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 12and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him, that he may regain his sight. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. The narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings Read more. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. 20and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 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. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:17-18; cf. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). He paid for his education by working for the priests. 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. The Lord Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. 5:3-4). Sauls conversion was to play a crucial role in the expansion of the gospel. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. He also warned those who would corrupt grace, to make it a pretext for sin (cf. 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). 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. This light would thus have been very bright indeed. The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Sauls Baptism. But then the preacher can continue that even though Ananias didnt know about Sauls epiphany, he did as the Lord told him anyway. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. He didnt know that the risen Christ had confronted Saul on the road to Damascus just as Christ is now confronting him This sets up a flashback to verses 1-9. That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. WebSauls Baptism. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16). Few Christians will encounter the risen, glorified Lord as Saul did here. One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. 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). In this approach, preachers are offering their congregation a chance to relate to Ananias dream that leads him to overcome his preconception of Saul (a correct but now outdated preconception), come to see Saul as someone God has called, and respond faithfully. WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. At least we can say that no one had enough faith to believe it, even as Peter stood at the door, knocking to get in (12:12-17). 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. With the conversion of Saul, persecution of the church did not stop, for now some of the Hellenistic Jews were opposing his preaching (and no doubt, the church at large as well). Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. 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). A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). 2, called him Ananias ben Nebedeus. The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. Am I not an apostle? When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. 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.