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. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. And if Sauls blindness led to his own conversion, at least the blinding of Bar-Jesus contributed to the conversion of the proconsul (and perhaps too his own conversionwho knows?). I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for 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. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. 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). Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate. It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. Though I have fallen, I will rise. Israel too will look on Him whom they have pierced and mourn. WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. ,/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 How humorous it seems to hear Ananias informing the Lord that Saul was an enemy, one who had caused many Christians great suffering and adversity, as though He was unaware of this! 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). As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. 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. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. This is why Jesus was so receptive of sinners and so hard on the self-righteous. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord appeared in a vision to a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in need of help. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. 00:00. 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. As I look at the problem, I believe several conclusions must be drawn. (3) Sauls salvation was personal. Hear, you deaf! Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. 4. This light would thus have been very bright indeed. He started NOW to trust God. 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. (Philippians 1:4-9). Saul was the bad guy. 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus (A)named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias., 11So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul (B)of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. It is not clear Enough revelation for the moment. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. The words of Jesus, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? related by Luke with no variation in all three accounts, exerted a profound and lasting influence on the thought of Paul. a. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peters feet. And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. Transform us as you transformed Paul. 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? * WebSaul had come to Damascus with letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to find followers of Jesus and arrest them. He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. * She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Nevertheless, Ananias obeyed. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. 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. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:18). 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). sight. We know nothing of Ananias beyond this story in the shadows. When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. * [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. (Acts 9:11)? But the gospel is good news for sinners. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. 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. The first question which must be asked with regard to the interpretation of this text is this: What is the meaning of this text in the context of the whole book? Luke has included this account of Sauls conversion in order to contribute to the argument which he is seeking to develop. The "Straight Street" or Via Recta in Latin, was a straight He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d He spoke of it as the movement from darkness to light (Colossians 1:12-13; Ephesians 4:8-14) in which the new believer should now walk. Ananias and Saul. In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. 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 good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 18 According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. It is evident in the way he was saved. \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, (2) While there is considerable emphasis on the conversion of Saul, there is very little detail given as to the precise time or the details of Sauls conversion. Saul was not aware, until after our Lords words, that the One who had interrupted his journey was Jesus, and that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, the LORD, but he was certain, at this point, that whoever this One was, He was the LORD. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). He says: It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 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.. Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Revelation 21:23-24). Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. Frequent biblical texts speak of God in terms of light: You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalm 76:4). ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. 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. 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. * [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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The first thing we shall do is to make some observations on the passage as a whole to attempt to see the forest before we scrutinize the trees. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 21All who heard him were astounded and said, Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests? The same grace which was shown to Saul in his salvation is shown to all whom God calls to Himself: 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. * [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). 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 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. 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. His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). One is the truth from God Himself, (5) Sauls salvation was an act of divine grace. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 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). This man who had formerly cringed at the preaching of the gospel148 was now proclaiming the same message. 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?. Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle The first words of the Lord Jesus to Saul were intended to teach him the inseparable unity between Christ and His church. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. They found that their cause was literally shut down by Sauls arrival, and the wind was taken out of their sails by his conversion. His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. 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. Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, When all is said and done, the miracle which took place on the way to Damascus (and likely in Damascus as well) was that Saul saw Jesus as the Son of God, as the Messiah, and as his Savior and Lord: Am I not free? 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Q&A 1. For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. 9:31). What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 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. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. He became a priest himself in 1823. Ananias small act of obedience led to a great harvest for the kingdom. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that (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. Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. 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. . To Him be the glory forever. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Start FREE. Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light was the light of His glory. Saul, as it were, saw the light, but in addition, he was to become a light, a light to the Gentiles, as well as to his own people. 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. Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. That is because our Lord always confronts, convicts, and converts men and women individually, in the light of their own actions and beliefs. 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. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. 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. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. But as Saul grew in strength and as his arguments were irrefutable, just as Stephens had been (Acts 6:10), his opponents realized that the only way to silence Saul was to kill him. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. How many times should a shock absorber bounce? 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. Saul was received as a true believer, as a brother.146 The laying on of Ananiass hands, however, was a distinct act of identification with Saul. How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. Our text presents Saul as a man who was not only running from God, but one who was actively opposing Him. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. (7) Those who were saved by Sauls ministry were convinced by the power of the gospel message he preached and not by miraculous signs and wonders. Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. When Ananias Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. To put it differently, the account of Sauls conversion in Acts 9 is but the first of three accounts, the other two coming from the lips of Paul himself. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. To him be honor and might forever. What else did Jesus explain to Ananias? Handed down. It is no wonder that a fair amount of the text is devoted to a description of Sauls attempt to associate with the local church, first at Damascus, and then in Jerusalem. Leave them; they are blind guides. 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 . B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. 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. and the other is a deceptive, self-serving half-truth from people interested (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. 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). 129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. 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). And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 1:26); but for Saul the one who bore a human form identified himself as a historical person: `I am Jesus. Few of Sauls distinctive insights into the significance of the gospel cannot be traced back to the Damascus-road event, or to the outworking of that event in his life and thought. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! Who was Ananias that help Saul in the Bible to regain his sight. In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. * [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. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. The splendid deliberateness with which God forged His human tool is the great lesson of these years. Saul Visits Jerusalem. Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:7). With this backdrop in place, the preacher can now focus on two movements of Ananias part of this story: his vision and conversation with the Lord (verses 10-16) and his laying hands on Saul leading to Sauls baptism (verses 17-19). In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 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? Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. When the man asked why he should do this, the pastor said, I dont believe anyone can continue hating someone when they have consistently prayed for that person to be blessed by God. The voice from heaven did not call out, Have you ever heard of the four spiritual laws?152 Ananias was sent to Saul only. So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. So it would appear. There are two primary options for preaching from this text. They do not understand the gospel well enough. Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. A man once confessed to his pastor that even though he didnt think of himself as hating people, there was one person he really hated for the way the person had wronged him. And when this time comes, God will use their obedience to serve Him: For if their rejection be the salvation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15).