Lesson 3693

 (Lesson 3693)(02-14-22) Acts 22:11-16 + Acts 9:8-18

     “And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

    Acts 9:8-18, “And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And 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, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”

     In the Acts 9 account of the events that occurred after Saul’s conversion, the author relates the precise purpose for God having sent Ananias to Saul, “And 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, hath sent me, that thou mightest RECEIVE THY SIGHT, AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.”

    As we see in the following quote from Acts 21, the purpose of the Ananias visit is never mentioned. Further, Saul did indeed receive his sight as related in BOTH accounts; However, the fact that Saul received the Holy Ghost, the very essence of the visit, is never mentioned, “Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

    Acts 9 also relates that after Saul received his sight, AND was “filled with the Holy Ghost”, he was “baptized”. In contrast, the Acts 21 account says, “immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was “baptized.” This account makes NO mention of Saul having received the Holy Ghost. 

    The Acts 21 account put more emphasis on “baptism” than it does the fact that Saul had received the Holy Ghost. It is my contention that Saul’s ‘baptism’ WAS the receiving of the Holy Ghost. That being the same baptism of the Holy Ghost to which John the Baptist referred in Matthew 3:11 wherein he said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”

    I hope I haven’t muddled this issue so badly it's impossible to understand. If there are any questions, I will surely try to provide answers.~