In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. Unstoppable 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. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. 15:21). Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. 8 Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped (Isaiah 35:5). 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. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). This man who had formerly cringed at the preaching of the gospel148 was now proclaiming the same message. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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). 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). Shape us into children who rejoice in knowing and proclaiming you to the world. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. 21 And all those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests? 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding147 the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 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. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. In Pauls speech in Acts 22, he describes Ananias as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt in Damascus (Acts 22:12). 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). How much better to petition God to save those whom we are concerned about, a God who desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). also 16:17; 18:25-26). 5:3-4). We know that the salvation of men rests ultimately with God and not with usand not even with the one whom we wish to see saved. 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). 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 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. Sapphira). In Jerusalem, as in Damascus, Saul spoke out boldly proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ, the promised Messiah. It was the most powerful piece of artillery in the Jewish camp that was suddenly turned round upon them. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 123. 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). Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Why did Ananias go to Paul? ProfoundQa 154 What is both interesting and important about this text is that the call of salvation does not necessarily require a change of career. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). Those things in which Saul would have formerly trusted for his standing before God, he saw in an entirely different light after God found him and saved him: 4b 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. He paid for his education by working for the priests. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. 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. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.. 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 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. 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). Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? 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. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. 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. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! 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). They found that their cause was literally shut down by Sauls arrival, and the wind was taken out of their sails by his conversion. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. Also, 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. We honor him on May 14. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). Web3. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. 131 . Saul, in my opinion, is portrayed by Luke as the first-fruits of these promises. Acts ix. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. Pauls language in Acts 26:11 seems to mean that Damascus is merely one of other `foreign cities to which he carried the persecution. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. 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. 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. You, my brothers, were called to be free. 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. This Paul knew and testified to. Pauls experience was not visionary but was precipitated by the appearance of Jesus, as he insists in 1Cor 15:8. When God spoke to Ananias commanding him to go to the house where Saul was staying, he was to receive him as a brother; and he was told that he was called to suffer as Gods chosen vessel to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, kings, and to his fellow-Israelites. He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). Ananias Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? From the fact that three different accounts of Sauls conversion are recorded in Acts, we know this event had to play a crucial role in the expansion of the church. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. was Ananias . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple (vs. 26). When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus.