41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). It is not clear But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. (1 Corinthians 9:1). Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. Leave them; they are blind guides. 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. He should not become uncircumcised. He got up and was baptized, They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. 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. 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). 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. 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. Those who know themselves sinners, and who call upon Jesus for salvation, are saved: For WHOSOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13, citing Joel 2:32). Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 28He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Did he still not realize who the Lord was? When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lords freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christs slave. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. 153 Sauls conversion did not bring instant maturity or spirituality, but was the point where growth commenced. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 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). No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. I can believe the saints who gathered to pray would have prayed for the protection of the church in Damascus and for the safety of individual saints, especially the leaders and the most visible Christians. For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). This can hardly be possible. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. I was inclined to think that most of us, experientially, are called to faith in Christ only to gradually learn Gods will for our life, progressively revealed to us as we walk in Him. Those who call upon your name echoes 2:21 (Joel 2:32) and recurs in 22:16 in a command to Paul himself to be baptized . with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d Acts 26:18). Matt. Who does the voice of Vanessa on Phineas and Ferb? 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). It was a city in the days of Abraham, and at the time of the Israelite monarchy it was the capital of the most important Aramaean kingdom. In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. In Galatians 1, Saul wrote that God had called him while he was still in his mothers womb (Galatians 1:15). They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. When he found him, 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 your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'" Shortly afterwards, the Lord spoke to a disciple named Ananias, asking him to go to Saul, place his hands on him, and restore his sight. 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. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. In Peters words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord(v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. The call of salvation is a call to change. 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. After he put his hands on Saul, the Bible only records that Saul received his sight. 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. The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. >zZ0y^C{tg And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. of him. . Furthermore, in Acts 26:10 Paul testifies that he received letters from the chief priests, not just the chief priest alone. Sauls conversion was a miracle, short and simple, but not so much the result of the external miracle of the bright light and the voice of the Lord as the internal transformation and illumination which God wrought: 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man (Galatians 1:15-16). 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. It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul he was filled with the Holy Spirit, healed of his blindness, received water baptism, and began to eat and regain his strength. 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. 1:4). F. F. Bruce, p. 190. Shortly afterwards, the Lord spoke to a disciple named Ananias, asking him to go to Saul, place his hands on him, and restore his sight. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. 15:10; Gal. 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. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). Perhaps Ananias called a meeting of the church to discuss how they would deal with Sauls arrival. It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church We honor him on May 14. That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Luke is emphatic in his representation of mans salvation as having been ordained and orchestrated by God, as a manifestation of His sovereign grace: And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. 39So Peter got up and went with them. There is no more appropriate conclusion to our message than the words of the apostle Paul, which immediately follow those above, and which aptly express the response of the Christian to the wisdom, the grace, and the sovereignty of the God who has saved us, and who works all things together for His glory and for the good of His chosen ones: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. God was sealing Saul to Himself. 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. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). 2, called him Ananias ben Nebedeus. Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it . He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. the Romans . Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. When Ananias Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7; cf. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? WebAnanias went. Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. To him be honor and might forever. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. Dont let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). 148 I would assume that Saul was one of those who covered his ears so as not to hear the praise of Stephen, as reported in Acts 7:57. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 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 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. Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. 139 A. T. Robertson writes, It is open to question if kurie should not here be translated Sir as in 16:30 and in Matt. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Ananias was that kind of a disciple. 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). east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. It was the most powerful piece of artillery in the Jewish camp that was suddenly turned round upon them. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 123. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. Nevertheless, Ananias obeyed. In other words, Is Sauls conversion typical and illustrative of the conversion of every saint, or is it unique, the exceptional case, which has little correspondence to most converts?. There are two primary options for preaching from this text. 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. 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. 1 What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. Yes, Lord, he answered. 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). 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. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. To persecute them was to persecute Him. My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord. So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. 1:2; 2 Tim. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? 34Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Yes, Lord, he answered. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The salvation of Saul was to result in the gospel being preached to distant people and lands, and in the extension of the church to many key cities. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. 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. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? 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. The narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings Read more. 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). [ a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads. What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God (John 3:19-21). 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, Please come to us without delay. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Throughout his life and ministry Paul marveled at the grace of God shown to him and to other sinners. Why did Saint Paul change his get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! 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). It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul. Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). 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. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. 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. But as I see the call of God referred to in the New Testament, it seems that the call of salvation assumes other callings, to which Paul and other New Testament writers made frequent reference: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1). Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. The only question is who is the LORD? What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. 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. 43* r And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. Israels watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep (Isaiah 43:8-10). 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. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. He wrote letters to the first churches in order to help them understand the Scriptures and to tell them how to live as good Christians. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. 1. here - view only).
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