Bible Study series: Acts 9:10-16. We have to obey God even when we don’t understand it.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn. Let’s learn together and apply these truths to our lives.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 9:10-16
10 Now, there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he replied, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street, and at Judah’s house look for a man named Saul from Tarsus. For, watch! He is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias entering and placing hands on him, so he may see again.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I heard about this man from many people and all the injuries he has been doing against your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind everyone who calls on your name.” 15 But the Lord told him, “Go! Because this man is my chosen vessel to carry my name to the nations, kings, and descendants of Israel. 16 For I shall show him everything he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:10-16)
Comments:
10-11:
Ananias was a resident of Damascus, not a fugitive from Jerusalem. He had heard from many people that Saul was on the attack; he did not see it firsthand.
“disciples”: see v. 1 for more comments
Jesus’s words to Saul and Ananias reveal that he was looking at both of them at the same time. Saul was in Judas’s house on Straight Street, while Ananias was in his home (presumably). God sees all things at once and simultaneously. He sees where you are and where your concern is. Let’s say you are praying for a relative to come to God. He sees you praying, and he sees where your relative is—right now and at the same time! He even sees your relative in a house whose owner is named (in Saul’s case it was Judas). God is the great and omniscient orchestrator. He is working right now behind the scenes, though you can’t see it. Trust that he is. We serve an awesome God.
“praying”: As noted elsewhere, prayer flows out of confidence before God that he will answer because we no longer have an uncondemned heart (1 John 3:19-24; Rom. 8:1); and we know him so intimately that we find out from him what is his will is and then we pray according to it (1 John 5:14-15); we pray with our Spirit-inspired languages and our native languages (1 Cor. 14:15-16). But that’s what all believers should do; however, too often theory outruns practice. Pray! For a theology on how to respond when God does not answer our prayers, as when James was executed by Herod, see Acts 12 and the Observations for Discipleship section.
Prayer can be (1) for oneself, like overcoming sins and vices in your heart and mind or receiving wisdom from above (James 3:17) and not being double-minded about receiving it (Jas. 1:5-8), but (2) it is also for the needs of the community. It was coming under attack, so prayers were offered. Praying for boldness to reach out and spread the word is wonderful. We should do it more often. (3) Further, prayer brings down the manifest presence of God. God is omnipresent (everywhere) of course, but his presence can make itself felt and experienced. God showed up and shook the place where they were gathered.
Prayer can be visualized like a pebble in a pond, and the ripples go outward. (1) It starts with oneself and one’s needs; (2) then it goes outward to one’s own family and (3) to the Christian community (your home church). (4) It goes out to evangelism and the needs of the world around the community, (5) and finally to parts around the globe. But this prayer here in Acts varies the order, which you may do, if you like. Prayer is ultimately and most deeply a conversation with God.
What Is Biblical Intercession?
“vision”: It is mostly translated as “vision,” or it could be a supernatural sight (Matt. 17:19; Acts 10:3, 17, 19; 18:9). You’ll know it when you see it, with no room for misinterpretation. And Renewalists believe that visions still happen today. They get them all the time. It’s biblical. But our visions must be submitted to the written Word because our vision may not be right, but self-serving. In contrast, Scripture has stood the test of time. Your dream or vision has not.
Dreams and Visions: How to Interpret Them
Bruce says Straight Street is still there in Damascus, and so is Judas’s house. It’s a sure thing that it is a tourist attraction, whenever peace settles in the war-torn area (comment on vv. 10-12).
Peterson: “By means of a double vision, with very specific directions, the Lord then brings Saul and Ananias together. This reassures both parties of God’s will in the situation. A double vision in Acts 10 similarly indicates God’s intention that Peter and Cornelius should meet” (comment on vv. 10-12). Also see Keener, p. 280, for a table of Saul’s and Ananias’s double story.
Moses (Exod. 3:1-4:17) and Isaiah (Is. 6:1-13) and Ezekiel (1:1-3:15) were also called by a theophany—or a manifestation of God. (HT: Keener, p. 279).
12-14:
Saul struck so much fear in the disciples that Ananias argued with the Lord! Jesus did not argue back. He just said, “Go!” Don’t expect to get into a long dialogue with Jesus when he gives you an order. Just do it.
“saints”: This comes from the Greek word hagios (pronounced ha-gee-ohs, with a hard “g” and in “get”) and it literally means “holy ones” or “set apart ones.” God has consecrated and set apart all of his people. Anyone who has experienced salvation and being born again has been made holy to God, set apart for him and away from the world’s pollution, and consecrated to him. Therefore, all believers in Jesus are saints. There is no special class; however, disciples who are at the tip of the spear and suffer persecution need to receive all sorts of honor and respect from those of us on the back lines, sitting comfortably.
Word Study on Holiness and Sanctification
Bible Basics on Sanctification and Holiness
Sanctification: Can Christians Achieve Sinless Perfection Now?
Sanctification: Can Christians Achieve Sinless Perfection Now?
“name”: see v. 15 for a closer look at this noun.
15:
Saul had a calling to the “nations” (Gentiles or non-Jews), and even to kings and Jews. He had a double calling, but he was mainly sent to the Gentiles (Gal. 1:16 and 2:8; Rom. 11:13) and even kings: Agrippa II (Acts 25:23); Nero (27:24). But he also regularly went into synagogues and preached to Jews (Acts 13:43; 14:1-5; 17:4-12; 18:4-5; etc.). The NT uses “vessel” in a special sense in 2 Cor. 4:7: We carry a treasure in earthen vessels. See also 2 Tim. 2:20-21; Rom. 1:1, 5; 9:20-24; 2 Cor. 11:23-30; Gal. 1:15-16; Eph. 3:7-13).
“name”: this noun stands in for the person—a living, real person. You carry your father’s name. If he is dysfunctional, his name is a disadvantage. If he is functional and impacting society for the better, then his name is an advantage. In Jesus’s case, he has the highest status in the universe, under the Father (Col. 1:15-20). He is exalted above every principality and power (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8). His character is perfection itself. His authority and power are absolute, under the Father. In his name you are seated in the heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1). Now down here on earth you walk and live as an ambassador in his name, in his stead, for he is no longer living on earth, so you have to represent him down here. We are his ambassadors who stand in for his name (2 Cor. 5:20). The good news is that he did not leave you without power and authority. He gave you his. Now you represent him in his name—his person, power and authority. Therefore under his authority we have his full authority to preach the gospel and set people free from bondages and satanic spirits and heal them of diseases.
16:
Saul had a calling to suffer persecution (not disease or bad eyes or depression), which he described in 2 Cor. 11:23-27.
23 I have worked much harder, in prison more often, more severe floggings, facing death often. 24 Five times I have received forty lashes minus one by Jews, 25 three beatings with rods, once hit with stones, three times shipwrecked; a day and a night I have spent in the deep; 26 traveling on foot often; in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from fellow-Jews, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in cities, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, in danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and nakedness …. (2 Cor. 11:23-27, my translation)
He regarded persecution as a sign of an apostle (2 Cor. 12:12). Any persecution suffered for Christ is a sign of God’s favor and the promise of an earnest reward (Matt. 5:11; Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 2:12).
“name”: see v. 15 for a closer look at this noun.
Ananias knew of Saul’s calling before Saul did!
GrowApp for Acts 9:10-16
1. Ananias had a difficult assignment—to pray for an enemy of his faith. Have you ever prayed for your enemy or persecutor?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
For the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 