They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. They too rebelled against God and forsook His word and persecuted His prophets. to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his Web3. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. . This blindness was only removed by faith in Christ, a miracle brought about by divine action: In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see (Isaiah 29:18). What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? Later, when Paul looked back on his past devotion and deeds, all done in the name of Judaism, he came to view his apparent righteous deeds for what they really weredung: 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! 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. What happened to Straight Street since then? 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. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). 137 The Way is a designation for the new movement used several times in Acts 9:19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; cf. 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. We are simply told that the message itself was proclaimed powerfully and that people were amazed at the message and its miraculous impact on Sauls own conduct. Acts 9:19-23 Saul in Damascus. 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). 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). 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). It is not clear (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. 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. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. The Book of Galatians is but one example of this. 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). 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. During the subsequent Roman rule, the He sent me so that you can 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. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. 1. the Romans . Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . He sent me so that you can How much better to petition God to save those whom we are concerned about, a God who desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. (Acts 9:11)? 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. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. 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). The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). And they were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Ananias who was 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). Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. 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). Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. 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. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave The "Straight Street" or Via Recta in Latin, was a straight But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). 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. 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. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. Saul recognized that he was a sinner, and that his righteousness was but dung before God. We honor him on May 14. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} And what a comfort to know that God always finishes what He starts: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. 149 It is more significant than might be supposed at first glance that the only occurrence of the title `Son of God in Acts should be in this report of Sauls early preaching. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. He started to KNOW GRACE! 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. * [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. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). Sauls vision prepared him for the arrival of Ananias, clearly indicating that he was the one God had appointed to reveal His will for him. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? 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. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. 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. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end (Isaiah 60:20). According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Everyone is born in sin, and every part of their being is affected by sin (intellect, emotions, and will). Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Yes, Lord, he answered. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. Saul, the typical (albeit more zealous) Jew, opposed God in the person of Christ and His body, the church, even while he thought he was serving Him. 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. 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). Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. It may be that Sauls conversion was the instrument God used to convert these followers of Saul, so that they really were his disciples, in a two-fold sense. This man who had formerly cringed at the preaching of the gospel148 was now proclaiming the same message. 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. 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! vii.) The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. 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. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. %PDF-1.2 % These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). 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. 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. 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. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Do not gloat over me, my enemy! * [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). The question must be asked as to whether or not Sauls conversion has a more general application and relevance. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" 16For (I)I will show him how many things he must suffer for My (J)names sake.. 19and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.*. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). WebWe do not know whether Ananias already had previous experience miracles of healing, but the Lord was instructing him to interview the notorious Pharisee Saul, who fiercely persecuted Christians, and to heal his blindness. 142 His companions therefore took him by the hand and led him through the gate of Damascus to the place where, presumably, arrangements had been made for him to stay. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 185. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. 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). Here the Jews were strong in numbers (10,000 butchered by Nero later) and here some disciples had found refuge from Sauls persecution in Judea and still worshipped in the synagogues. Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? Saul Visits Jerusalem. 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). Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. WebThe last time they saw Saul, he was arresting and killing Christians. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. This Paul knew and testified to. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. 132 The impact of Sauls conversion on his message and his ministry is testified to by A. T. Robertson: Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Sauls conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. He became a priest himself in 1823. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. 144 Was Ananias the one who told him what he must do? At first he found himself in the position of being regarded as an apostate by the Jews and suspect by the Christian community of Jerusalem. Your merchants were the worlds great men. What did Ananias do for Saul? 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. Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. 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. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. He was to come to the earth as the great light, the light to the Gentiles, and so He did. We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. 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. The first words spoken to Saul were, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 3On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.c This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. Q Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. Yes, Lord, he answered. No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. Furthermore, in Acts 26:10 Paul testifies that he received letters from the chief priests, not just the chief priest alone. 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. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7). They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. Did Peter and Paul meet? Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? For Paul, the method of proclaiming the gospel must be consistent with the message itself, and so it was. Saul could only be persecuting Jesus through the members of His body, the church. 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. 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. We know that the salvation of men rests ultimately with God and not with usand not even with the one whom we wish to see saved. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. 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. 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. This old city is the most enduring in the history of the world (Knowling). (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul,why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now that the Lord had identified Himself as Jesus, Saul recognized that he was the sinner. Used by permission. Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). It was an act of faith and For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord. 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. The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Amen. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. 1:1; 1 Cor. 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). 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. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him 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). Also, 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). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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. It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. 146 It is possible, however, to understand the expression, Brother, as referring to Saul only as a fellow Jew. 00:00. Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. There will be no more night. 23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? Enough revelation for the moment. That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. 1:4). F. F. Bruce, p. 190. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). This silence is instructive, in my opinion. 2. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. But these laws, which seek to summarize the gospel in a concise way, should always be applied individually. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. They are also very significant in what they conveyed to Saul. 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. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). Thus, it is grace which sustains the saint, in addition to saving him: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited (Hebrews 13:9). The splendid deliberateness with which God forged His human tool is the great lesson of these years. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. Israel was called of God and set apart to proclaim the way of salvation to the Gentiles. He got up and was baptized, He also warned those who would corrupt grace, to make it a pretext for sin (cf. There are no exceptions in this all of Romans 3:23, as Paul indicated in these Old Testament words, cited just before: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE (Romans 3:10b-12).
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