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). What a shock these words must have been to Saul, who up to this point, seems to have prided himself for his faithfulness to Judaism! Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? Hear, you deaf! 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. The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. But the gospel is good news for sinners. It is hardly likely that at this stage Saul recognized Jesus as Lord, though he does so greet him in 22:10 `What shall I do, Lord? A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, pp. I do not question that he did receive the Spirit, but merely observe that this receiving of the Spirit (accompanied by the laying on of hands) was not something Luke wanted to emphasize. The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Sauls Baptism. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in Verses 1 and 2 vividly depict Sauls intent, his intense desire and determination to rid the world of Christianity by taking active, aggressive, severe action against those saints who had fled from Jerusalem. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). About three hours later, Sapphira arrived. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit because it was the Holy Spirit who dwelt in the apostles, giving them their power and authority. 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. Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. 26:63; Luke 22:67, 70). 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. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. I. Howard Marshall summarizes the problem in these words: Nevertheless, we obtain a different impression of things from Galatians 1:16-24, according to which (1) Paul did not confer with men after his conversion nor go to the apostles in Jerusalem, but (2) departed to Arabia and then returned to Damascus; then (3) three years later he went to Jerusalem for a visit lasting a fortnight during which he saw only Peter and James, and at this time he was unknown by sight to the churches of Judea; thereafter (4) he went to Syria and Cilicia. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Lesson: Saul Believes in Jesus - Ministry-To-Children We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. What Paul learned about himself, personally, on the road to Damascus he came to understand and to preach concerning all men. We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. 139 A. T. Robertson writes, It is open to question if kurie should not here be translated Sir as in 16:30 and in Matt. helpful to the Lord. Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. the light and blind passages above). OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? To Paul, his relationship, by faith, to Jesus Christ was also the beginning of his new relationship to the body of Christ, the church: Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. . Saul seems to have been the instigator of the persecution of the church, which began at the death of Stephen in Jerusalem and worked outward from there. (5) Sauls salvation was an act of divine grace. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. 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. 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). The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. 3On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.c 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. 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). It does not store any personal data. Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.q He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. Some of the Hellenistic Jews responded to the preaching of Saul as they had to Stephens preaching; they wanted to kill him (9:29). 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). 15:8; Gal. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 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). 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. 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. What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! 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. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. When one looks at all the references to this event, it was, in fact, a personal appearance of the risen, glorified Jesus to Saul (cf. The ultimate issue was Gods ability to saveeven the most committed unbeliever. SAUL B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. (Philippians 1:4-9). How old was Jesus when he was crucified? 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. The splendid deliberateness with which God forged His human tool is the great lesson of these years. In this occasion, no one seems to have prayed for Peters miraculous escape. Israel was called of God and set apart to proclaim the way of salvation to the Gentiles. Working Preacher from Luther Seminary 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). The message of the gospel, to be sure, is always the same, but the approach is not. Saul As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. The Lesson of Ananias | Tim Challies 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? Israel too will just as surely return to God; and when it happens, it will be all of God, all to His glory and praise: 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus? The call of salvation is a call to change. For all the saints. 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. 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). This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. Saul is welcomed into the church. WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? It is not clear whether this official was a representative of the king resident in Damascus to look after the interests of the Arabs there, or whether Damascus at this time was under the control of Nabataea. I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 168. 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. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. Web'And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. A( ) Ananias is obscure. We may not be able to identify the precise moment or the exact events which brought it about, but salvation does not happen in some kind of group way. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. 1:16; cf. 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). 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. We do not know the exact time when Saul was saved. 17So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit. 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, When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse . Ananias not only The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w 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. Thank God that is what happened. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). 10. of him. 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. Just as Saul was stopped short by his blindness, so was Bar-Jesus. Ananias is not the last believer who has seen fit to keep God up to date (The Storytellers Companion to the Bible: The Acts of the Apostles). Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. 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). 8 Although I am less than the least of all Gods people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Ananias Loves Paul Missions Lesson 2 Lesson at a Glance I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). i3&K>Kpg 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. Lesson: Conversion Saul and Ananias Prayer Also, How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The Conversion of Saul 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. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. (10) Sauls encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 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). 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. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? To persecute them was to persecute Him. He officiated as high priest from about AD 47 to 52. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. It says nothing about him receiving the Holy Spirit. It was almost as though Saul had looked intently into the beam of an intensely powerful carbon-act light, the kind used as search lights. Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. Paul Receive the Holy Spirit by the Laying How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (13) As Stephens death, instigated (or at least assisted) by Saul, resulted in an intense and widespread persecution of the churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere, so Sauls conversion seems to have been directly related to the return of peace (cf. 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. 130 In our text, we are told the Saul went to the high priest to ask for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus (9:1-2), but in Acts 22:5-6 Paul indicates that the Council (the Sanhedrin) was also involved in providing him with letters of authorization to arrest Christians in Damascus. 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.
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