For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. 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. Saul was knocked to the ground and confronted with the reality that hed been working against God rather than helping God. Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. . However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. He is there praying,j When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. 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). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. 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. In the process, Saul was to greatly extend the outreach of the gospel to the Gentiles. Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 9oY+ 131 . Your merchants were the worlds great men. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. . 10. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. . Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. ,/1Xa} V= endstream endobj 133 0 obj 634 endobj 94 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 88 0 R /Resources 95 0 R /Contents [ 98 0 R 100 0 R 102 0 R 104 0 R 122 0 R 124 0 R 126 0 R 129 0 R ] /MediaBox [ 0 0 792 612 ] /CropBox [ 0 0 792 612 ] /Rotate 0 >> endobj 95 0 obj << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB ] /Font << /F1 109 0 R /F3 106 0 R /F4 107 0 R /F6 118 0 R /F7 116 0 R >> /XObject << /Im1 127 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 131 0 R /GS2 130 0 R >> /ColorSpace << /Cs5 96 0 R >> >> endobj 96 0 obj [ /CalRGB << /WhitePoint [ 0.9505 1 1.089 ] /Gamma [ 2.22221 2.22221 2.22221 ] /Matrix [ 0.4124 0.2126 0.0193 0.3576 0.71519 0.1192 0.1805 0.0722 0.9505 ] >> ] endobj 97 0 obj 1512 endobj 98 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 97 0 R >> stream 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. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, 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). No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 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. There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There will be no more night. 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g He started to KNOW GRACE! 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). CE!L;oza!sQjaTsg 136. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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). But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles. 4. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? 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." We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. Saul was the bad guy. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:12-16). WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. * [9:2] The Way: a name used by the early Christian community for itself (Acts 18:26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). * [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. I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. . 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. 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! required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his 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. Saul could only be persecuting Jesus through the members of His body, the church. A letter delivered at that time by a Roman ambassador to Ptolemy VIII of Egypt concludes with the demand: If any pestilent men have fled to you from their own country {Judaea}, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their law (1 Macc. * [9:43] The fact that Peter lodged with a tanner would have been significant to both the Gentile and Jewish Christians, for Judaism considered the tanning occupation unclean. The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. 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). 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. WebAnswer: > 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. Here I am, Lord, he replied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 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 Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? A( ) Ananias is obscure. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. 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). 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. After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. We know from other accounts (22:6; 26:13) that it was high noon when Saul was stopped in his tracks by a bright light from heaven. Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. 26:63; Luke 22:67, 70). 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> WebThe Conversion of Saul. Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. 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. After he put his hands on Saul, the Bible only records that Saul received his sight. (Philippians 1:4-9). Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. 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. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11). It does not store any personal data. 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. Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Web3. To persecute them was to persecute Him. (12) The same Saul who played a role in Stephens execution was to become, in large measure, his replacement. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. The question must be asked as to whether or not Sauls conversion has a more general application and relevance. This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Pauls Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Cor. 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. ,%d/3o3o6jda=|4S-LJ3ajLcNfZyV;CkCl>390q {KQ0lQ)0>~cy:CJkP|4M-\v 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. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. 1:19; Rom. In 47 B.C. 6:17; Phil. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, helpful to the Lord. WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. 2. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. He started NOW to trust God. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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). And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. 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. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. How was Saul converted to Christianity? 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. And when the Galatians began to depart from the true gospel, Paul rebuked them for turning from Him: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel (Galatians 6). First, there are problems which appear to be serious. Saul, why do you persecute me? The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. 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. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. The Lord 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. 143 . * [9:8] He could see nothing: a temporary blindness (Acts 9:18) symbolizing the religious blindness of Saul as persecutor (cf. 28He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Only a radical conversion can produce this attitude in the life of a man like Saul: For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:8). For all the saints. 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. He should not become uncircumcised. How old was Jesus when he was crucified? Julius Caesar confirmed those rights and privileges anew to the Jewish nation (although Judaea was no longer a sovereign state), and more particularly to the high-priesthood. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), pp. 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. 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). And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 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. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). 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). 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. 1:16; cf. There he was transfigured before them. WebSauls Baptism. Did he still not realize who the Lord was? This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. Suppose you were a Christian who had just arrived in Damascus, and you had been able to learn the whereabouts of a group of believers. This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. a. This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. 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. Let us be careful to discern what changes the gospel requires and what changes it does not. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. The two messages cannot be reconciled. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). 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. the Romans . The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave The remaining verses of this account describe the results of Sauls conversion, all of which serve as dramatic proof of his radical transformation as a result of his encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. 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. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. 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. 4. 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. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. The blindness to which Saul was subject for three days provided him with much time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. Saul was told at the time of his conversion that God had chosen him to bear witness to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the Jews (9:15). Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? 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. This can hardly be possible. 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. It is hardly likely that at this stage Saul recognized Jesus as Lord, though he does so greet him in 22:10 `What shall I do, Lord? A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, pp. But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Those who think themselves worthy of Gods blessings (as many Jews did in that day) are those who are in trouble. The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. What do you suppose the saints would have prayed at this special prayer meeting? 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. 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). If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Acts 26:18). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. It was his preaching that resulted in the conversion of many Gentiles, and it was his writing (his epistles) to these saints which greatly strengthened them in their faith. What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? The answer is: Jesus. 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. 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. And thus, in Gods time, Saul was dramatically converted, seeing the Christ whom he had been persecuting, risen from the dead and in His heavenly glory. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). 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). If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 39So Peter got up and went with them. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" Do not gloat over me, my enemy! If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. Ananias found 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. It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. also 16:17; 18:25-26). What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. What happened to Straight Street since then? 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. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 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. In fact, more is written of what Saul said and did because he was saved than is written of what he said and did resulting in his salvation. No doubt God had used Ananias to serve as Sauls first Barnabas. Just as Barnabas would vouch for Saul with the apostles in Jerusalem, so Ananias, a highly respected Jewish Christian, would vouch for Saul here. It was bright enough to bring about a period of blindness. They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. 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). No change in life is greater than the change from unbelief to belief in Christ, from being lost and condemned to being saved and eternally secure, from being separated from God and others to being united with Him and with all believers. Acts ix. 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). 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! 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. When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord.
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