why was ananias afraid of helping saul

The Story of Ananias: Faith over Fear | Tactical Christianity 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. . In different contexts, preachers might want to draw specific analogies concerning those for whom the congregation should be praying even though it cuts against our grain to do so. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. The voice from heaven did not call out, Have you ever heard of the four spiritual laws?152 Ananias was sent to Saul only. After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. The first words spoken to Saul were, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4). WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. The longer I study Sauls conversion, the more convinced I am that his conversion is typical. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. 2 What do we know about Ananias in Acts 9? 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). Ananias baptizes Saul, and Saul's eyes are opened. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul he was filled with the Holy Spirit, healed of his blindness, received water baptism, and began to eat and regain his strength. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. >zZ0y^C{tg . Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. * [9:13] Your holy ones: literally, your saints.. The salvation of Saul was to result in the gospel being preached to distant people and lands, and in the extension of the church to many key cities. He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. The passage which we are studying can be divided into these major segments: We will begin this lesson by making some general observations concerning this account of Sauls conversion,134 after which we will examine the sequence of events leading up to Sauls conversion, the events surrounding his conversion, and the consequences of his conversion as depicted by Luke. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? The first words of the Lord Jesus to Saul were intended to teach him the inseparable unity between Christ and His church. It was, of course, Ananias who instructed Saul to be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Proving (sunbibazon). 1:19; Rom. They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. here - view only). Grace is also the source and the standard for our service: Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:6). But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 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 life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. 16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. This first account occurs when the word is first spread to the Gentiles. Acts With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). 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). The call of salvation is a call to change. . It was only with the exit of Saul from the Holy Land, back to his native land (Tarsus), that peace once again returned. The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? When we look at Pauls great love and compassion for the saints, we have to remind ourselves of the hate he once had toward them. Saul, in my opinion, is portrayed by Luke as the first-fruits of these promises. Unstoppable 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. A man once confessed to his pastor that even though he didnt think of himself as hating people, there was one person he really hated for the way the person had wronged him. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. It was his preaching that resulted in the conversion of many Gentiles, and it was his writing (his epistles) to these saints which greatly strengthened them in their faith. In Damascus, the Lord had spoken to a man named Ananias, and the Lord told Ananias to find Saul and to lay his hands on Saul and pray so that Sauls sight would be restored. We may not be able to identify the precise moment or the exact events which brought it about, but salvation does not happen in some kind of group way. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. Pauls language in Acts 26:11 seems to mean that Damascus is merely one of other `foreign cities to which he carried the persecution. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. 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. He sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell from Sauls eyes. 1:1; 1 Cor. Saul sought them out to persecute, even kill them, as an unbeliever; but he sought them out to worship and fellowship with them as a Christian. (3) Sauls salvation was personal. the Romans . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". helpful to the Lord. Ananias was that kind of a disciple. 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. Saul The answer is: Jesus. ,/1Xa} V= endstream endobj 133 0 obj 634 endobj 94 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 88 0 R /Resources 95 0 R /Contents [ 98 0 R 100 0 R 102 0 R 104 0 R 122 0 R 124 0 R 126 0 R 129 0 R ] /MediaBox [ 0 0 792 612 ] /CropBox [ 0 0 792 612 ] /Rotate 0 >> endobj 95 0 obj << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB ] /Font << /F1 109 0 R /F3 106 0 R /F4 107 0 R /F6 118 0 R /F7 116 0 R >> /XObject << /Im1 127 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 131 0 R /GS2 130 0 R >> /ColorSpace << /Cs5 96 0 R >> >> endobj 96 0 obj [ /CalRGB << /WhitePoint [ 0.9505 1 1.089 ] /Gamma [ 2.22221 2.22221 2.22221 ] /Matrix [ 0.4124 0.2126 0.0193 0.3576 0.71519 0.1192 0.1805 0.0722 0.9505 ] >> ] endobj 97 0 obj 1512 endobj 98 0 obj << /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 97 0 R >> stream These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We can learn more about his life in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and we can still read some of the letters he wrote that have been collected into the Bible, such as Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians. 8 Although I am less than the least of all Gods people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. Only a radical conversion can produce this attitude in the life of a man like Saul: For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:8). I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. 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. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. The blinding of Bar-Jesus thus seems to be the second major turning point in the ministry of Paul. called for him to be slapped. All rights reserved. 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. WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. It is the invitation for sinful Israelites to be saved, by repenting and calling on the name of the Lord for salvation: Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. . The Book of Galatians is but one example of this. The New International Version They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. 137 The Way is a designation for the new movement used several times in Acts 9:19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; cf. My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord. (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. Sauls Baptism. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. 9:31). 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). It may be that Sauls conversion was the instrument God used to convert these followers of Saul, so that they really were his disciples, in a two-fold sense. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. Sauls vision prepared him for the arrival of Ananias, clearly indicating that he was the one God had appointed to reveal His will for him. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. There are affinities between his conversion experience and Ezekiels inaugural vision, in which the prophet saw the likeness of the heavenly throne and above it a likeness as it were of a human form (Ezek. . It is not clear whether this official was a representative of the king resident in Damascus to look after the interests of the Arabs there, or whether Damascus at this time was under the control of Nabataea. I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 168. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that 8 Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. 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. What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! 18 According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due. This blindness was only removed by faith in Christ, a miracle brought about by divine action: In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see (Isaiah 29:18). WebSaul had come to Damascus with letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to find followers of Jesus and arrest them. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 113. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. Transform us as you transformed Paul. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed. The ultimate issue was Gods ability to saveeven the most committed unbeliever. This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. SAUL Ananias and Saul in Damascus. And now, he is preaching the same message. NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. After this incident with Paul we hear no more New King James Version (NKJV). Rising Strong Small Groups And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. The two messages cannot be reconciled. The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. * She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Start FREE. Ananias and Saul. 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. The Apostle Paul: Ananias and Sauls Obedience What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g WebSauls Baptism. 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christtheir Lord and ours 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 9). A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. (2) Sauls salvation was exclusively the work of a sovereign God. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Furthermore, in Acts 26:10 Paul testifies that he received letters from the chief priests, not just the chief priest alone. * [9:119] This is the first of three accounts of Pauls conversion (with Acts 22:316 and Acts 26:218) with some differences of detail owing to Lukes use of different sources. A devout Hellenistic Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, Saul was a member of the Pharisees and was taught by none other than Gamaliel, 136. 143 . Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? No change in life is greater than the change from unbelief to belief in Christ, from being lost and condemned to being saved and eternally secure, from being separated from God and others to being united with Him and with all believers. . This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. As he himself understood the heavenly voice which said to him at his baptism, You are my Son (Mark 1:11 par. 146 It is possible, however, to understand the expression, Brother, as referring to Saul only as a fellow Jew. When God spoke to Ananias commanding him to go to the house where Saul was staying, he was to receive him as a brother; and he was told that he was called to suffer as Gods chosen vessel to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, kings, and to his fellow-Israelites. i3&K>Kpg Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped (Isaiah 35:5). Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city What if They'd Said No The casting of this spell on this false prophet could therefore have been an act of kindness, as Gods blinding of Saul had been, intended to cease his opposition and perhaps even to bring about his conversion. ananisofdamascus - Bible Facts 40Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Ananias 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. The same grace which was shown to Saul in his salvation is shown to all whom God calls to Himself: 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Frequent biblical texts speak of God in terms of light: You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalm 76:4). The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus? 15:8; Gal. In other words a beginning point for narrating Acts 9:1-19 could be with Ananias knowledge of Saul as a persecutor, which he expresses in verse 13. He amazed everyone because they knew he was speaking the same words as the people he had been persecuting. Web17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. During the subsequent Roman rule, the They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. 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. He also warned those who would corrupt grace, to make it a pretext for sin (cf. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f How much better to petition God to save those whom we are concerned about, a God who desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4).

Utah Car Registration Fees 2021, Unity Endless Runner Game Source Code, Jeremy Sharp Obituary, How Old Was Conway Twitty When He Died, Articles W