[The posts which follow make extensive use of The Acts of the Apostles, by Madame Cecilia, (Religious of St Andrew's Convent, Streatham), with an Imprimi potest dated 16 October 1907 (Westminster); Burns, Oates & Washbourne Ltd. (London). With grateful prayers for the author and her team:
REQUIEM æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.ETERNAL rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.]
Acts IX : 10-22
 |
| "By Christ's command, Paul is baptized by Ananias." Palatine Chapel, Palermo. 12th century. |
[11] And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Strait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.
[12] (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.)
[13] But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem.
[14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.
[15] And the Lord said to him: Go thy way; for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
[17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest; that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
[18] And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up, he was baptized.
[19] And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.
[20] And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
[21] And all that heard him, were astonished, and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name: and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests?
[22] But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.
[10] Erat autem quidam discipulus Damasci, nomine Ananias : et dixit ad illum in visu Dominus : Anania. At ille ait : Ecce ego, Domine. [11] Et Dominus ad eum : Surge, et vade in vicum qui vocatur Rectus : et quaere in domo Judae Saulum nomine Tarsensem : ecce enim orat. [12] ( Et vidit virum Ananiam nomine, introeuntem, et imponentem sibi manus ut visum recipiat.) [13] Respondit autem Ananias : Domine, audivi a multis de viro hoc, quanta mala fecerit sanctis tuis in Jerusalem : [14] et hic habet potestatem a principibus sacerdotum alligandi omnes qui invocant nomen tuum. [15] Dixit autem ad eum Dominus : Vade, quoniam vas electionis est mihi iste, ut portet nomen meum coram gentibus, et regibus, et filiis Israel.[16] Ego enim ostendam illi quanta oporteat eum pro nomine meo pati. [17] Et abiit Ananias, et introivit in domum : et imponens ei manus, dixit : Saule frater, Dominus misit me Jesus, qui apparuit tibi in via qua veniebas, ut videas, et implearis Spiritu Sancto. [18] Et confestim ceciderunt ab oculis ejus, tamquam squamae, et visum recepit : et surgens baptizatus est. [19] Et cum accepisset cibum, confortatus est. Fuit autem cum discipulis qui erant Damasci, per dies aliquot. [20] Et continuo in synagogis praedicabat Jesum, quoniam hic est Filius Dei. [21] Stupebant autem omnes qui audiebant, et dicebant : Nonne hic est qui expugnabat in Jerusalem eos qui invocabant nomen istud : et huc ad hoc venit ut vinctos illos duceret ad principes sacerdotum? [22] Saulus autem multo magis convalescebat, et confundebat Judaeos, qui habitabant Damasci, affirmans quoniam hic est Christus.
Notes
10. Ananias. This disciple evidently did not know Saul, though he had heard of him. St Paul subsequently bears testimony to Ananias. He was a man according to the law having testimony of all the Jews who dwelt there (infra, xxii. 12).
in a vision. “ The simultaneous preparation of the hearts of Ananias and Saul, and the simultaneous preparation of those of Peter and Cornelius — the questioning and hesitation of Peter, and the questioning and hesitation of Ananias — the one doubting whether he might make friendship with the Gentiles, the other doubting whether he might approach the enemy of the Church ; the unhesitating obedience of each when the Divine will was made clearly known ; the state of mind in which both the Pharisee and the Centurion were found, each waiting to see what the Lord would say unto them — this close analogy will not be forgotten by those who reverently read the two consecutive chapters, in which the baptism of Saul and the baptism of Cornelius are narrated in the Acts of the Apostles ’’ (Conybeare and Howson, Life and Epistles of St Paul, p. 77.
The traditional site of the house of Ananias lies a little to the north of the street “ called Strait ’’ near the eastern gate. A little chapel marks the spot.
I am here. Lit. “ behold me ( Ἰδου ἐγω) This is a Hebrew idiom, but is also found in other languages. Cf. Fr. “ me voici.’’
11. street that is called Straight. The Greek word ῥυμην indicates a narrow street, not an open square or broad road.
The city of Damascus is oval in shape. Its greatest diameter is marked by the Straight Street, which is an English mile in length. At its east end is Bab Shurky, “ the East Gate, ’’ a fine Roman portal, having a central and two side arches. The central and southem arches have been walled up for more than eight centuries, and the northern now forms the only entrance to the city. ... In the Roman age, and down to the time of the Mahommedan conquest (a.d. 634), a noble street ran in a straight line from the gate westward through the city. It was divided by Corinthian colonnades into three avenues opposite to the three portals. A modern street runs in the line of the old one, but it is narrow and irregular. Though many of the columns remain, they are mostly hidden by the houses and shops. . . This is 'the street called Straight,’ along which Paul was led by the baud, and in which was the house of Judas, where he lodged ” (Porter, Giant Cities, etc.,p. 349).
Judas. This is the only passage in which he is mentioned. He may have been a friend of one of Saul's companions, or, what is more probable, the master of an hospice for Jewish travellers visiting Damascus, since Saul required shelter for his companions as well as for himself.
 |
| Reproduced from biblemapper.com |
He prayeth. These words reassured Ananias. As a strict Pharisee, Saul observed the fixed hours of prayer, but now he addressed his prayers to Jesus of Nazareth,
“ He prayeth, the attitude most proper for the reception of the moral, intellectual, and spiritual light which was now illuminating him ; and though his eyes were dark, yet he had a vision from above, and saw more clearly than before.”
12. might receive his sight. Lit. “might recover his sight ” (ἀναβλεψη).
13. Lord, I have heard. In the reply of Ananias, we note his astonishment and misgiving, and extreme simplicity. He speaks with his Lord as with a most intimate friend.
by many. From these words we gather that the persecution instigated by Saul had already lasted a considerable time.
how much evil. See Annotations on ch. viii. 3.
thy saints. This is the first time we meet with this word as a synonym for “ disciples.” In the early Church, as we see from the greetings in St Paul’s epistles, the expression was applied to all the faithful ; a later usage restricts it to those distinguished by their eminent holiness. At least the word here reminds us that we are all called to be saints (1 Cor. i. 2), since our Leader is the Holy One of God.
14. he hath authority. The Church in Jerusalem had doubtless heard of Saul’s fresh efforts, and had warned the Damascene Christians, or the news may have spread through Saul’s companions.
that invoke thy name. This is another example of the development of a new terminology. The expression is probably taken from the prophecy of Joel quoted by St Peter (supra, ii. 21). It occurs again in verse 21 of this chapter, and is employed by St Paul (see 1 Cor. i. 2 ; 2 Tim. ii. 22).
15. vessel of election. A Hebraism. As the Hebrew language is poor in adjectives, the genitive of a noun often replaces an adjective or a participle. The word (σκεος ) here rendered “vessel” may also be translated “instrument,” which renders the sense more exactly. Saul was to be an instrument in the hand of God for the conversion of the Gentiles.
to carry. There is perhaps an allusion to the metaphor of a “ vessel ” which is carried. This command was given more explicitly in the vision which St Paul had in the Temple (see infra, xxii. 21).
gentiles. St Paul’s special mission was to convert the Gentiles, hence they stand first on the list, though as yet this trutli was nut clearly grasped by many of the disciples.
kings. St Paul was arraigned before Agrippa II. at Cesarea, and the Emperor Nero at Rome. He also pleaded before several Roman governors — Sergius, Paulus, Gallio, Felix, and Festus.
16. my name's sake. Tertullian, speaking of the martyrs and confessors of his day, writes, “We are tortured when we confess our guilt, we are set free if we deny it, for the battle centres in one Name.”
17. laying his hands. Ananias, though not expressly told to lay his hands on Saul, understood that his actions and words must correspond with Saul’s vision as related by God.
Brother Saul. Ananias no longer fears ; he addresses the former persecutor affectionately as a brother in Christ.
he that appeared, etc. Great stress is laid on the reality of the apparition of Jesus to Saul. Thus we find it confirmed in verse 27, and also in ch. xxii. 14, xxvi. 19 ; 1 Cor. ix. 1, xv. 8.
18. as it were scales. The Greek word (λεπιδες ) is used for any thin substance that peels or flakes off. It is a medical term. The existence of these “scales” shews that Saul was really blind. They may have been incrustations, such as surround the eyelids when a person is suffering from acute inflammation. It is thought that St Paul's eyes were always weak afterwards, since he generally employed a secretary, and once he refers to the large characters in which he wrote. Cf. See what a letter (lit. “with what large letters”) I have written to you with my own hand (Gal, vi. 11).
he was baptized. Saul had no need of instruction, for Jesus Himself had taught him all that was necessary for baptism, and far more.
St Paul frequently mentions his having received his knowledge from our Lord, e.g.~ For I give you to understand, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For neither did I receive it of man, nor did I learn it ; but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. i. 1112). For I delivered unto you first of all, that which 1 also received (1 Cor. xv. 3), How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to me (Eph. iii. 3).
19. with the disciples. He was received as a brother by those whom he came to persecute.
20. immediately he preached Jesus, etc. The synagogues of Asia were the first Christian churches. Saul lost no time in revealing the change miraculously wrought in him, and in confessing Jesus to be the Son of God.
21. Is not this he ? etc. Their amazement was caused by the complete transformation which God’s grace had wrought in Saul, the zealous Pharisee and persecutor of the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth.
who persecuted. Lit. “ who devastated ” (πορθησας ). The word is used of soldiers laying waste a country.
came hither. Better, “ had come hither ” (ὧδε . . . . ἐληλυθει) but had now abandoned his design. The R.V. reads “ made havoc.”
22. Saul increased much more, etc. Saul’s previous training as a zealous Pharisee and a pupil of Gamaliel fitted him admirably for the work to which he was called, and his vast knowledge of the Scriptures enabled him to refute the Jews and to prove an assertion logically (συμβιβαζων), as the Greek verb here rendered “ affirming ” implies. It signifies literally to put things side by side for the purpose of comparing them, and thus to draw a conclusion.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
No comments:
Post a Comment