God changed him from being a man who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and a persecutor of the Christians into a bold missionary who preached the Gospel wherever he went. 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. What changed about Saul/Paul after Jesus appeared to him? What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? 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). Finally, we shall attempt to focus on the application of this passage to our own lives. All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast (Galatians 2:8-9). We know from other accounts (22:6; 26:13) that it was high noon when Saul was stopped in his tracks by a bright light from heaven. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. 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? 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. This conclusion could be based upon Pauls argument in Galatians 1 and 2, along with the expression, when many days had elapsed in Acts 9:23. Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him, We do not know the exact time when Saul was saved. They do not understand the gospel well enough. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). ,%d/3o3o6jda=|4S-LJ3ajLcNfZyV;CkCl>390q
{KQ0lQ)0>~cy:CJkP|4M-\v a. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. (4) More space is devoted to the process of getting Ananias to Saul than is devoted to getting Saul to Damascus and to the home of Judas. 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). The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. 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. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. WebExplain why Ananias was told that Saul was a 'Chosen Vessel' Give an account of the vision which Saul had while traveling on the road to the Damascus. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? 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? He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. 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. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. 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. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Saul is welcomed into the church. A letter delivered at that time by a Roman ambassador to Ptolemy VIII of Egypt concludes with the demand: If any pestilent men have fled to you from their own country {Judaea}, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their law (1 Macc. 00:00. 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for, And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting, he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before, I will show him how many things he must suffer for My. Q&A 1. He started to KNOW GRACE! One moment, Saul was opposing Jesus, as though He were the sinner; the next, Saul is on his face before this Jesus, calling Him Lord. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. 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). 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. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. 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. 9:31). He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes? They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 136. many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus. Q 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. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 13:1 On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity (Zechariah 12:1013:1). The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the 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. 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. The LORD identified Himself as the Jesus, whom he had been persecuting. what occupation he was (possibly a businessman). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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). He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 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). Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. Second, we are not given enough information in the biblical text to solve them dogmatically. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). He summed up life in this one word: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). . Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). In this approach, preachers will offer their congregations a chance to relate to Sauls epiphany as a way of meeting Christ in the midst of our lives and being transformed by that encounter. No change in life is greater than the change from unbelief to belief in Christ, from being lost and condemned to being saved and eternally secure, from being separated from God and others to being united with Him and with all believers. 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. 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 became a priest himself in 1823. Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. vii.) Acts does not tell us that he goes on to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, found churches in urban centers across the Roman Empire, stand true to the gospel while on trial for his faith over and again, and end up under house arrest in Rome awaiting a trial before Caesar. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. The church in Damascus has been talking about Saul and its members rightfully afraid of him he has, after all, been dragging Christians out of house after house, throwing them into prison, and desiring their deaths. 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. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. It says nothing about him receiving the Holy Spirit. He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. The life-changing implications of conversion are expressed in these words of Paul to Titus: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f 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). 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. 10. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. 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 story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. Why did Saint Paul change his 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). Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. 12and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him, that he may regain his sight. (Philippians 1:4-9). (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 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). Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. 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. 20and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 143 . Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. During his conversion 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. WebAnanias, I am sure. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. WebAnd Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Pauls Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Cor. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death (Philippians 3:7-10). With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. 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! In different contexts, preachers might want to draw specific analogies concerning those for whom the congregation should be praying even though it cuts against our grain to do so. 10i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. He was, indeed, Stephens replacement. 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. [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. 1. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. A devout Hellenistic Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, Saul was a member of the Pharisees and was taught by none other than Gamaliel, whom we have already met (Acts 5:34-40). They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. 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.
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