This morning, we had a joint service with The Teaching Service and The Gathering. Graham preached on Acts 9.

Acts 9 [ 37:16 ] Play in Popup | Download

Acts 9:1-22

Prayers of Saul & Ananias

Today we see the man who prayed,

the God who heard,

and the man through whom the answer came.

In all this it is God who is central.

1) The man who prayed
“He is praying,” verse 11.

Paul, a Jew, a Pharisee, would have been familiar with saying prayers. I think he would have said prayers all his life. But would he have ever talked to God, I wonder?

Now his praying will be different. Now he has access to God is a way never before possible. Now he is talking to God. Now he is having a conversation.

Once he was separated from God.
Ephesians 2:11-19
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcision (that done in the body by the hands of men)- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,

Romans 3:9-20
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
As it is written: There is no-one righteous, not even one; there is no-one who understands, no-one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no-one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practise deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Now has found access to God.

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

2) God who heard
(a) “He is praying,” verse 11. In the AV it is, “for, behold, he prayeth.”

Gk idou means to draw attention to = lo, see. Perhaps in the NIV they could have better put it as “look, he prays” or “see, he prays.”

These words “look, he prays” is a clearer evidence of the man’s conversion than some of the more superficial things sometimes considered such as, “look, he sings Christian songs,”
or, “look, he raises his hands,”
or, “look, he reads the Bible,”
or, “look, he preaches.” (adapted from C. H. Spurgeon, September 20th, 1885)

Is God capable of surprise or wonder? There seems here to be the sense of God wondering, of being amazed. As though God is saying “Can this be Saul of Tarsus praying to Jesus for mercy?” It is God saying to his servant Ananias, “look, he prays.”

(b) Judging from this reference, God seems to value prayer a great deal. As I accept that, believe that, it amazes me that I do not pray more myself!

Paul has been given a vision (verse 12). In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.

What a privilege this revelation was to Paul, and more was to follow, including some revelation that would have been uncomfortable to receive (verses 15-16).

Having listened to many believers over the years I get the impression that the first revelations (though they are often not recognised as such) are often concerned with morals, with behaviour. This is important as some things we say or do can hinder the development of our new relationship with God and the conversation we can then have with him.

3) The person through whom the answer came
Perhaps that was the very revelation that God needed to give to Ananias, to reassure him that Saul of Tarsus was now a converted man by saying to him, “look, he prays.”

What can we know about Ananias?

His name means “Yah has been gracious”. Was there a prophetic declaration in his name when he identified himself to Saul?

We know very little about him. We can note this man for:

  • His obedience. He went!
  • He was someone who talked with God, he was receptive. See verse 10.
  • As he prayed for Saul in a very simple way, it showed that his confidence was in God and not in some sort of performance or desperation.

Compare this last point with the practice of the prophets of Baal seen on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:26-29

So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. O Baal, answer us! they shouted. But there was no response; no-one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. Shout louder! he said. Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or travelling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened. So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no-one answered, no-one paid attention.

Paul was given a vision (verse 12). So why was Ananias needed at all? Because God gives his people the privilege of being part of his work, of partnering with him,

We to have our instructions:

  • Obedience. We are to go as God sends
  • We are to be people who talk with God, who are receptive. See verse 10.
  • As Ananias prayed for Saul in a very simple way, it showed that we should have confidence was in God and not in some sort of performance or desperation.

Now we should get on with it.