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. . I. 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. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 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? (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If the worst sinner (Saul) was not too sinful to save, then you are not too sinful for God to save. 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). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Ananias came to Saul with grace to liberate him from his wrong-headed beliefs and open his heart to Jesus. Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. 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). For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). Ananias Get up and go to the street called Straight, to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. WebThe Conversion of Saul. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. 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. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). Who told Saul to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street? If the unity of Christ and His body, the church, were a vital truth with respect to Sauls persecution of the church, it was also a vital truth for him as a Christian. AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? * [9:8] He could see nothing: a temporary blindness (Acts 9:18) symbolizing the religious blindness of Saul as persecutor (cf. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). also Isaiah 64:6). The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. Few Christians will encounter the risen, glorified Lord as Saul did here. 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christtheir Lord and ours 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 9). (10) Sauls encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 28, p. 185. (Philippians 1:4-9). . To Him be the glory forever. 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 (Philippians 3:1-9; cf. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 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. >zZ0y^C{tg This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. There is a great basis for comfort in the sovereignty of God. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. 5:3-4). And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. 1. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Amen. The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias His conversion was the beginning of a life-long process of maturing and growth in the Lord. If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36). Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. Elsewhere in Acts, such as with the apostles, Stephen and Philip, the message of the gospel was underscored by signs and wonders which accompanied the message. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. 138 Three times (8:3; 9:2; 22:4) this fact of persecuting women is mentioned as a special blot in Pauls cruelty (the third time by Paul himself) and one of the items in his being chief of sinners (1 Tim. 11The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. Israel too will look on Him whom they have pierced and mourn. He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of Gods grace given me through the working of his power. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Dont let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. In 47 B.C. 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). It is difficult to estimate the amount of resistance Ananias would have had to this divine instruction to receive Saul as a brother in the Lord. And having escaped from Damascus in a basket, most likely alone, he probably returned to Jerusalem alone, without a witness who could corroborate his claims. Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. SAUL Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. We will next seek to learn how this description of Sauls conversion fits into and contributes to the development of Lukes argument in Acts. 146 It is possible, however, to understand the expression, Brother, as referring to Saul only as a fellow Jew. Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. 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.. Road to Damascus This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? Blaiklock, for example (pp. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. 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 is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? 1:4). F. F. Bruce, p. 190. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. Could Judas have been a Christian? And the second group, who were waiting for Saul to come and help them deal with the followers of the Way, were about to discover that Saul had joined them, perhaps bringing other members of the opposition along with him. 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. 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.. If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. Saul and Ananias What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? He started to KNOW GRACE! Sermons about Ananias And Saul - SermonCentral.com Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. 1:15; Eph. 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 went to other cities where he sought to arrest Christians and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. 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. Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate. We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. 10i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. Rather than attempt to pacify Ananias or to alleviate his apprehension, God went on to tell him that Saul would not only be a brother, but he would be His instrument for bringing the gospel to Gentiles too. 152 I do not mean to criticize the four laws of Campus Crusade, which have been used of God to bring many to faith in Christ. 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. Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? 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. Just as Saul was called to a live of suffering, so Peter tells his readers that they too, like all saints, are called to suffer for His name: To this {suffering} you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. 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. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. He constantly defended the gospel against those who would diminish grace and seek to pollute it with works. Rising Strong Small Groups 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. 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 this chapter we have, I. 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) Saul sought them out to persecute, even kill them, as an unbeliever; but he sought them out to worship and fellowship with them as a Christian. 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). The life-changing implications of conversion are expressed in these words of Paul to Titus: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. Ananias and Saul in Damascus. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 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. Saul was knocked to the ground and confronted with the reality that hed been working against God rather than helping God. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Lesson: Saul Believes in Jesus - Ministry-To-Children 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. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. Ananias was that kind of a disciple. 12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight., 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (C)how much [a]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 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. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him (Daniel 2:22). vii.) what occupation he was (possibly a businessman). Israel was called of God and set apart to proclaim the way of salvation to the Gentiles. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Ananias and Saul: The Story Starts With a Disciple Why was Ananias afraid? Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, and said, You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. . Both are call stories. Jesus was alive and not still in the grave! What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. 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! But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? The light was the light of His glory. Saul, as it were, saw the light, but in addition, he was to become a light, a light to the Gentiles, as well as to his own people. There is no story in Acts more important than Saul/Pauls call, his encounter with the risen Christ. 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. Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. 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 This is why Jesus was so receptive of sinners and so hard on the self-righteous. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. 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). 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). Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. 1:11--2:10; Philippians 3:1-14; Colossians 1:24-29; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 6:13-16; 2 Timothy 1:8-12; Titus 2:11-15; 3:1-7. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It is not a transition, but a transformation. 2. 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w * [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. Obedience is often not easy, but it is very likely the most direct way forward and the clearest way to honor God. 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. 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. The only question is who is the LORD? Hypocrisy is the most dangerous spiritual virus to infect the church. 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. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. Ananias who was 28He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord. 39So Peter got up and went with them. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Ananias fulfills his task: 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 helpful to the Lord. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day (2 Timothy 1:8-12). A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. We are given a little insight from the account in Acts 12 when Peter was imprisoned and it appeared he would soon be executed, as James had already been, and as we would infer Herod purposed to do with Peter (Acts 12:1-4). A man who, along 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. The LORD identified Himself as the Jesus, whom he had been persecuting. Linking is encouraged, but content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed including, but not limited to such means as framing or other digital copying and/or distribution method, in whole or in part without the publisher's written consent. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. 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. Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. [ a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 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. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. It does not store any personal data. Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. 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." The two messages cannot be reconciled. How was Saul converted to Christianity? ANANIAS - Who Are The Three Ananias In The Bible? Matt. Yes, Lord, he answered. 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. If there is one thing of which Saul is now convinced (by what he has so far seen and heard on the road) it is that whoever he is talking to is LORD. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Also, As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven.
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why was ananias afraid of helping saul