Did Jesus or God speak to Ananias of Damascus?

[tonychanyt]

Acts 9:

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord.

5 “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

Jesus was the Lord.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

Jesus, the Lord, spoke to Ananias.

“Here I am, Lord,” he answered.
11 “Get up!” the Lord told him.

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

15 “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

All the references here point to Jesus as the Lord.

Did Jesus or God come in a vision to Ananias?

From the texts as well as the context, according to the point of view of Ananias, it was Jesus who spoke to Ananias in a vision.

Later, Paul recounted this story to the crowd at the Jerusalem temple in Acts 22:

12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment, I was able to see him. 14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

Paul met Ananias. Paul said that Ananias said that "the God of our ancestors has chosen you". There was no contradiction. As far as Paul was concerned, Jesus was God. Paul didn't say that Jesus did not come to Ananias in a vision.

 

[RDKirk]

Or was it the Holy Spirit? We're kind of talking about "mechanism" here, perhaps treading close to Modalism in some sense, but not really (modalism precludes simultaneity of distinct Persons and specifies sequentiality of a single Person).

IMO and my reading, whenever the Lord has appeared in a manner perceptible to human physical senses, it has always been a theophany, and that Person has always been the Son.

But whenever the Lord has been perceived spiritually, it has always been through the Person of the Holy Spirit.

I'm not sure that the Father has ever been directly perceptible as a distinct Person in our material existence.

And I hasten to add that I don't think these distinctions make a difference in the tasks from the Lord that each of us is given each day.

 

[eleos1954]

Acts 9:



Jesus was the Lord.


Jesus, the Lord, spoke to Ananias.





All the references here point to Jesus as the Lord.

Did Jesus or God come in a vision to Ananias?

From the texts as well as the context, according to the point of view of Ananias, it was Jesus who spoke to Ananias in a vision.

Later, Paul recounted this story to the crowd at the Jerusalem temple in Acts 22:


Paul met Ananias. Paul said that Ananias said that "the God of our ancestors has chosen you". There was no contradiction. As far as Paul was concerned, Jesus was God. Paul didn't say that Jesus did not come to Ananias in a vision.

Did Jesus or God come in a vision to Ananias?

If the thought here is Jesus or God the Father (one or the other) .... the entire bible is interaction with Jesus (who is God - having the same character as the Father) .... no one has ever seen God the Father ... except Jesus.

John 1:18
King James Bible
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

 

[ihadavision]

Acts 9:



Jesus was the Lord.


Jesus, the Lord, spoke to Ananias.





All the references here point to Jesus as the Lord.

Did Jesus or God come in a vision to Ananias?

From the texts as well as the context, according to the point of view of Ananias, it was Jesus who spoke to Ananias in a vision.

Later, Paul recounted this story to the crowd at the Jerusalem temple in Acts 22:


Paul met Ananias. Paul said that Ananias said that "the God of our ancestors has chosen you". There was no contradiction. As far as Paul was concerned, Jesus was God. Paul didn't say that Jesus did not come to Ananias in a vision.

What do you mean? There is no separation.
1 John 5:7
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

[tonychanyt]

What do you mean? There is no separation.

Everywhere in the Bible, when you see the string "Jesus", you can change it to the string "God".

True?

 

[RDKirk]

What do you mean? There is no separation.
1 John 5:7
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Unity is not identity.

 

[ihadavision]

Everywhere in the Bible, when you see the string "Jesus", you can change it to the string "God".

True?

Yes of course Mr.Chanyt.

 

[ihadavision]

Unity is not identity.

I don't know what you mean RDKirk. The bible says there is only ONE name under heaven by which men should be saved, and that is Jesus Christ, The Father has His own name, the Son has His own name, and The Holy Spirit has His own name...but they are the same GOD.

 

[RDKirk]

I don't know what you mean RDKirk. The bible says there is only ONE name under heaven by which men should be saved, and that is Jesus Christ, The Father has His own name, the Son has His own name, and The Holy Spirit has His own name...but they are the same GOD.

Do you think "...has His own name" is meaningless? What do you think that means? Do you accept that God is in three Persons, and if so, what do you think is meant by "Persons?"

 

[ihadavision]

Do you think "...has His own name" is meaningless? What do you think that means? Do you accept that God is in three Persons, and if so, what do you think is meant by "Persons?"

I would never say His name is meaningless, they are the specific bodies of GOD, they are all one. The Father is the Godhead, the judge, but He gave the power to Judge to Jesus Christ, so all who believe in Him have everlasting life, GOD is Jesus Christ The Father as well, because Jesus Christ is GOD incarnated, The Son is The Father, and The Father and Son is The Holy Spirit, there is no separation (according to the Holy Bible)

 

[RDKirk]

I would never say His name is meaningless, they are the specific bodies of GOD, they are all one. The Father is the Godhead, the judge, but He gave the power to Judge to Jesus Christ, so all who believe in Him have everlasting life, GOD is Jesus Christ The Father as well, because Jesus Christ is GOD incarnated, The Son is The Father, and The Father and Son is The Holy Spirit, there is no separation (according to the Holy Bible)

What you seem to be saying is that "no separation" means no difference of Person.

 

[ihadavision]

Yes there is no difference I believe. I should clarify. By no difference, I mean that GOD is still the same person, Father, Son, or Holy Ghost, and the only "difference" I wouldn't call it a difference, but a definition of His almighty power that cannot be explained by human words, so I call the indwelling of GOD since I am a temple of the LORD The Holy Spirit, The SON is GOD incarnated into flesh to pay the price for Sin. Jesus Christ said "I and The Father are One".

 

[tonychanyt]

Yes of course Mr.Chanyt.

How about
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

 

[ihadavision]

How about
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

What about it? The devil failed because God cannot be tempted to commit any sin. Are you suggesting a separation because He was led by the Spirit? Going to disagree with that.

 

[tonychanyt]

What about it?

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Replace the string "Jesus" by the string "God". You are okay with that?

 

[ihadavision]

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Replace the string "Jesus" by the string "God". You are okay with that?

Of course! Jesus is GOD.

 

[tonychanyt]

Of course! Jesus is GOD.

Please stay focused on my question if you are able. This is the last time I ask you.

Everywhere in the Bible, when you see the string "Jesus", you can change it to the string "God".

True?

 

[ihadavision]

Please stay focused on my question if you are able. This is the last time I ask you.

Everywhere in the Bible, when you see the string "Jesus", you can change it to the string "God".

True?

No, the words of the bible cannot be changed. In revelations, it says, whoever changes the words of the bible, will have their name taken out of the book of life.

 

[RDKirk]

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Replace the string "Jesus" by the string "God". You are okay with that?

I think that @ihadavision answered your question in the response to my question at post #12.