helpful to the Lord. In other words a beginning point for narrating Acts 9:1-19 could be with Ananias knowledge of Saul as a persecutor, which he expresses in verse 13. This silence is instructive, in my opinion. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). Some of the Hellenistic Jews responded to the preaching of Saul as they had to Stephens preaching; they wanted to kill him (9:29). 8 Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 26 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. For the time being, God is using the disobedience of Israel to accomplish His purposes, but there is surely a time coming when Israel will be restored to the Lord, by faith in Christ. The 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. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. What can you say about Christianity when its most outspoken and zealous opponent suddenly claims to have seen the risen Christ, and to have trusted in Him as the Messiah? * [9:3143] In the context of the period of peace enjoyed by the community through the cessation of Pauls activities against it, Luke introduces two traditions concerning the miraculous power exercised by Peter as he was making a tour of places where the Christian message had already been preached. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Why do you think the street was named "Straight" Damascus was an important town, about 150 miles (242 km) from Jerusalem, with a considerable Jewish population. Q&A 1. . Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4). 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. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. 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). Amen (Romans 11:33-36). Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. Dont let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. 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). At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? . How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in Throughout his life and ministry Paul marveled at the grace of God shown to him and to other sinners. Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. 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). After this incident with Paul we hear no more Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? One of the most dramatic revelations of Sauls Damascus road experience was that he was not serving God, but he was persecuting Him. 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. All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. 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. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 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. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). Though I have fallen, I will rise. There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 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. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. I. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. 180-181. 36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). They were based, as I understand it, on what the Lord had revealed to Ananias and not on any confession or actions of Saul, for these seem to follow these initial actions and words of Ananias. This Paul knew and testified to. 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. He sent me so that you can 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. 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. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deuteronomy 28:28-29). Pauls opposition resulted in the scattering of the Christians from Jerusalem, thus taking the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1; 11:19-21). 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). 26:63; Luke 22:67, 70). Our text presents Saul as a man who was not only running from God, but one who was actively opposing Him. Paul recognized that his ministry was that of bringing the light to those who were lost, including the Gentiles, kings, and his fellow-Israelites: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. 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. (3) Sauls conversion experience was quick and dramatic in one sense, but it also involved a process, a process of at least three days.135. * [9:8] He could see nothing: a temporary blindness (Acts 9:18) symbolizing the religious blindness of Saul as persecutor (cf. 1:16f. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. Ananias small act of obedience led to a great harvest for the kingdom. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. If Luke had any ax to grind on this issue, here would have been a great place to stress this matter, but he did not do so. 2:7; 2 Tim. The answer is: Jesus. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 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. Saul went to other cities where he sought to arrest Christians and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For now, he was told to proceed on to Damascus, where he would be given his next instructions.144 His blindness certainly gave Saul the opportunity to dwell on these events. 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. (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. 6 For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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. For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. He spoke of salvation as dying to the old manner of living and as rising from the dead in order to live an entirely new life (Romans 6). 9oY+ Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. He should not be circumcised. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. Sauls Baptism. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. (Acts 9:11)? That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. 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. 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! His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). 2 Corinthians 4:14; cf. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 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). No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the One who spoke to him was Jesus of Nazareth, the long-looked-for Messiah, the Consolation and Redeemer of Israel. Could it be that God had also appointed someone to meet Saul as he entered the city, with specific instructions as to where he was to stay? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 3 And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who art Thou, Lord?139 And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. 7 And the men who traveled with him140 stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.141 8 And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.142 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . What happened to Straight Street since then? God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles. This can hardly be possible. Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. (5) There is a good deal of emphasis on the results of Sauls conversion. Thus, he did not use the method of many others, which was man-centered, not Christ-centered: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. 12 It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hopethe glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Matt. 2. also 16:17; 18:25-26). It was evidently a term used by the early followers of Jesus to denote their movement as the way of life or the way of salvation. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. Yes, Lord, he answered. 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. The laying on of Ananias hands was also an expression of unity, as was the later right hand of fellowship extended by some of the apostles to Saul (Galatians 2:9). (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. 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). 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. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. He became a priest himself in 1823. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. And Jesus took the persecution of Christians very personally. 3. 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). 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and And now, he is preaching the same message. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). They are also very significant in what they conveyed to Saul. 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. For all the saints. When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. 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. Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. 26o When he arrived in Jerusalem* he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? And laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. 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." So it would appear. 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. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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 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. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. At length, in Gods good time, the door opened, and the events of half a lifetime assumed final and complete significance. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Wm. 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?. It does not store any personal data. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:17-18; cf. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. 4. His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). 15:10; Gal. WebWhy was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). A( ) Ananias is obscure. Acts 26:18). * [9:36] Tabitha (Dorcas), respectively the Aramaic and Greek words for gazelle, exemplifies the right attitude toward material possessions expressed by Jesus in the Lucan Gospel (Lk 6:30; 11:41; 12:33; 18:22; 19:8). Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. 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).
+43 650 4114540