Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. If Ananias and Sapphira were born again believers and God judged them for their sin, it means that even though Jesus was judged for sin, God still judged them for their sin. (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. Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard (Isaiah 58:8). 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. Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;* so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.h The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray (Revelation 18:23). 34Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. WebSaul had come to Damascus with letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to find followers of Jesus and arrest them. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Saul was also blinded, which identified him with the blindness of the nation Israel of which the Old Testament prophets wrote (see above). For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). 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. 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. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). WebAnanias, had he disobeyed Christ, would not have helped Saul on that path in which he, as Paul the apostle, did so much, and suffered so much, for Christ. 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord. 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. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 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. (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. 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. Elsewhere in Acts, such as with the apostles, Stephen and Philip, the message of the gospel was underscored by signs and wonders which accompanied the message. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. We know from Romans 7, for example, that Paul had struggles in his spiritual walk. When we look at Pauls great love and compassion for the saints, we have to remind ourselves of the hate he once had toward them. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. 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). What happened to Straight Street since then? Nevertheless, Ananias obeyed. Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. Under the influence of this experience he gradually developed his understanding of justification by faith (see the letters to the Galatians and Romans) and of the identification of the Christian community with Jesus Christ (see 1Cor 12:27). For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. That is because our Lord always confronts, convicts, and converts men and women individually, in the light of their own actions and beliefs. Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? 144 Was Ananias the one who told him what he must do? 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). WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,* he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. 150 It is interesting to ponder the identity of these disciples of Saul. 2:7; 2 Tim. Saul is welcomed into the church. This can hardly be possible. Julius Caesar confirmed those rights and privileges anew to the Jewish nation (although Judaea was no longer a sovereign state), and more particularly to the high-priesthood. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), pp. 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. 15:21). 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. The question must be asked as to whether or not Sauls conversion has a more general application and relevance. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. 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). Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. They could not out-argue him. WebWhy was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? * [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). Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. Some of the Hellenistic Jews responded to the preaching of Saul as they had to Stephens preaching; they wanted to kill him (9:29). called for him to be slapped. . Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. 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). It does not store any personal data. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move This silence is instructive, in my opinion. 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. 12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight., 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (C)how much [a]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 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. * [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). 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. 9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. He was, indeed, Stephens replacement. 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). Ananias came to Saul with grace to liberate him from his wrong-headed beliefs and open his heart to Jesus. If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. 15But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,m Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, The call of salvation is a call to change. 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). In Damascus, the Lord had spoken to a man named Ananias, and the Lord told Ananias to find Saul and to lay his hands on Saul and pray so that Sauls sight would be restored. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). 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! 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. by the sin of Adam. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. 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. 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 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. When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). In Galatians 1, Saul wrote that God had called him while he was still in his mothers womb (Galatians 1:15). God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. 2 What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Blaiklock, for example (pp. This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? also 16:17; 18:25-26). 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. That our Lords contemporaries believed the Messiah to be in some special sense the son of God is rendered probable by the wording of the high priests question to him at his trial: `Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? (Mark 14:61 par. Have you had such an encounter? The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. And if this was important for Saul to do, it was equally important for the church to accept him into their fellowship, as an expression of their unity in Christ.