why was ananias afraid of helping saul

Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36). 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. In the end, God Himself will provide the illumination so that the sun and the stars will not be needed for this function: The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted (Isaiah 30:26). 87-89), plays out the two views of Sauls conversion, the first (and seldom held the view of Ramsay), that Saul was suddenly and radically converted; second, that there was a considerable process involved. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. Saul proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God (9:20), a designation understood to refer to Israels awaited Messiah.149. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. Acts does not tell us that he goes on to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, found churches in urban centers across the Roman Empire, stand true to the gospel while on trial for his faith over and again, and end up under house arrest in Rome awaiting a trial before Caesar. 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? In Pauls speech in Acts 22, he describes Ananias as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt in Damascus (Acts 22:12). WebThe Conversion of Saul. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. WebAnswer: > 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. Here I am, Lord, he replied. There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6-7). 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 1:26); but for Saul the one who bore a human form identified himself as a historical person: `I am Jesus. Few of Sauls distinctive insights into the significance of the gospel cannot be traced back to the Damascus-road event, or to the outworking of that event in his life and thought. . Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. vii.) There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. What Paul learned about himself, personally, on the road to Damascus he came to understand and to preach concerning all men. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? There are two primary options for preaching from this text. One moment, Saul is inflicting pain and suffering on others who trust in Jesus as the Messiah, the next, he is enduring suffering for the sake of Jesus, the Messiah. 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,* he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. The words and actions of Ananias are an evidence of his faith and obedience to the divine commission he was given, as outlined by Luke in the verses above. The first words of the Lord Jesus to Saul were intended to teach him the inseparable unity between Christ and His church. A letter delivered at that time by a Roman ambassador to Ptolemy VIII of Egypt concludes with the demand: If any pestilent men have fled to you from their own country {Judaea}, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their law (1 Macc. Israel too will just as surely return to God; and when it happens, it will be all of God, all to His glory and praise: 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. 2. in 1971. This old city is the most enduring in the history of the world (Knowling). * [9:43] The fact that Peter lodged with a tanner would have been significant to both the Gentile and Jewish Christians, for Judaism considered the tanning occupation unclean. If there is one thing of which Saul is now convinced (by what he has so far seen and heard on the road) it is that whoever he is talking to is LORD. How do you write a good story in Smash Bros screening? More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death (Philippians 3:7-10). When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 1. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God (John 3:19-21). By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! It's still there and you can still see the evidence of the colonnades (click 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4). Ananias who was came under Alexander the Great's rule. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. I can believe the saints who gathered to pray would have prayed for the protection of the church in Damascus and for the safety of individual saints, especially the leaders and the most visible Christians. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. In Sauls account of his conversion to His Jewish brethren, he added that when Ananias arrived, he instructed him to Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name (Acts 22:16). . Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). Ananias Get up and go to the street called Straight, to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. He started to KNOW GRACE! He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time. And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) On various occasions in his epistles, Paul made either direct or indirect references to his former life of opposition and his radical conversion.132 Pauls theology, his lifestyle, his ministry, and his methodology, all are rooted in his conversion. 1:11--2:10; Philippians 3:1-14; Colossians 1:24-29; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 6:13-16; 2 Timothy 1:8-12; Titus 2:11-15; 3:1-7. A man who, along Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! 3 He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. 23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. It is no wonder that a fair amount of the text is devoted to a description of Sauls attempt to associate with the local church, first at Damascus, and then in Jerusalem. The emphasis in the account is on Paul as a divinely chosen instrument (Acts 9:15). It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. How humorous it seems to hear Ananias informing the Lord that Saul was an enemy, one who had caused many Christians great suffering and adversity, as though He was unaware of this! Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? Then he 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lords freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christs slave. For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:17-18; cf. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal. 132 The impact of Sauls conversion on his message and his ministry is testified to by A. T. Robertson: Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Sauls conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. Ananias had not only heard of how Saul had been systematically destroying the church in Jerusalem, hunting down men and women and turning them over to the 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, Please come to us without delay. 39So Peter got up and went with them. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. Paul recognized that his ministry was that of bringing the light to those who were lost, including the Gentiles, kings, and his fellow-Israelites: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of Gods grace given me through the working of his power. When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and (Acts 9:11)? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. Hypocrisy is the most dangerous spiritual virus to infect the church. The "Straight Street" or Via Recta in Latin, was a straight We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. There is no more appropriate conclusion to our message than the words of the apostle Paul, which immediately follow those above, and which aptly express the response of the Christian to the wisdom, the grace, and the sovereignty of the God who has saved us, and who works all things together for His glory and for the good of His chosen ones: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! Lest anyone think they are too sinful to save, let me remind you that when Paul wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, he quickly added, among whom I am foremost of all.. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2 Cor. For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:7). What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? In spite of the clear and present danger, Ananias went and began to look for the Christian hunter Saul. WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. Thus, it is grace which sustains the saint, in addition to saving him: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited (Hebrews 13:9). Israel was also blind, and Pauls blindness was but a specific example of this blindness: The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed. Thank God that is what happened. He knew that going to see Saul would put his life in danger. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. It was evidently a term used by the early followers of Jesus to denote their movement as the way of life or the way of salvation. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181. 9:31). For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. We are given a little insight from the account in Acts 12 when Peter was imprisoned and it appeared he would soon be executed, as James had already been, and as we would infer Herod purposed to do with Peter (Acts 12:1-4). Saul was knocked to the ground and confronted with the reality that hed been working against God rather than helping God. Ananias is not the last believer who has seen fit to keep God up to date (The Storytellers Companion to the Bible: The Acts of the Apostles). 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 1:4, 26-28; 2:1-7).143. what occupation he was (possibly a businessman). They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. Hb```f``:Ab,=`.9Z3{x5v\);]c#qea #'&D|z:wyKN,0(t\tbRFhT2thS2(9.`mNbq)-pk^;>:+pq2Ck AUbK=N\2M/`KqGLZS1 $[S|Rd\.9i'9T\.EXdxlYcqb And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he Fourth, if we had all the facts, there would be no problem. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). CE!L;oza!sQjaTsg 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. When Paul spoke of his conversion here in Galatians 1, he did not speak of the light which shone without, but rather of the light which shone within. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. But the gospel is good news for sinners. Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. The only question is who is the LORD? Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives. He is there praying,j 1:2; 2 Tim. The results of Sauls preaching were predictable, very much like the response Saul would have had (or did have) to the preaching of the gospel before his conversion. Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. Pauls method was consistent with his message. 1:4). F. F. Bruce, p. 190. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. And when this time comes, God will use their obedience to serve Him: For if their rejection be the salvation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15). Introduction. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city Amen. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? 143 . You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The call of salvation is a call to change. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast (Galatians 2:8-9). 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. Also, 6 For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). Then, on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a vision of Jesus. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. But why would they be called his disciples? The light was the light of His glory. Saul, as it were, saw the light, but in addition, he was to become a light, a light to the Gentiles, as well as to his own people. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it . He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. (6) Little emphasis is placed on Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. Did he still not realize who the Lord was? Jesus dealt with Nicodemus (John 3) very differently from the Samaritan woman (John 4). Pauls experience was not visionary but was precipitated by the appearance of Jesus, as he insists in 1Cor 15:8. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. The two messages cannot be reconciled. also 16:17; 18:25-26). In the end, then, Ananias decision to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street (verse 11) to lay hands on Saul was a decision to risk his life to do the will of God. They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. What is the meaning of Sapphira in the Bible? He officiated as high priest from about AD 47 to 52. WebAnanias, had he disobeyed Christ, would not have helped Saul on that path in which he, as Paul the apostle, did so much, and suffered so much, for Christ. Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way,137 both men and women,138 he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. 12 It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hopethe glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. Saul was not aware, until after our Lords words, that the One who had interrupted his journey was Jesus, and that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, the LORD, but he was certain, at this point, that whoever this One was, He was the LORD. Could Judas have been a Christian? At least we can say that no one had enough faith to believe it, even as Peter stood at the door, knocking to get in (12:12-17). He goes for broke. The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter 4. But as Saul grew in strength and as his arguments were irrefutable, just as Stephens had been (Acts 6:10), his opponents realized that the only way to silence Saul was to kill him. WebAnanias, I am sure. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.. Suppose you were a Christian who had just arrived in Damascus, and you had been able to learn the whereabouts of a group of believers.

How Many Pyramids Have Been Discovered In Egypt So Far?, Coldest Masters Tournament, Rhetorical Devices Used In Pearl Harbor Address To The Nation, John Hancock Signature Font, Shooting In Berwyn Il Last Night, Articles W