why was ananias afraid of helping saulwhy was ananias afraid of helping saul

The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. 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. The Lord Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision. 1:1; 1 Cor. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. . 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. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. 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). 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. It does not store any personal data. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move (Philippians 1:4-9). The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. Peter Restores Tabitha to Life. Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. They could hear the voice but they did not see anyone who was speaking. 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). Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. 20:32; 26:18) is a common term in Pauls writings and describes Christians as people who have been set apart for Gods service and must show an appropriate character. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him (Daniel 2:22). 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. Ananias and Saul. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! 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). Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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.. 10 i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. 11 The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of They do not understand the gospel well enough. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. And they were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Thank God that is what happened. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. One moment, Saul was persecuting the church; shortly thereafter he was seeking to fellowship with the saints. From the fact that three different accounts of Sauls conversion are recorded in Acts, we know this event had to play a crucial role in the expansion of the church. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. 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. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). It was due to the intervention of Barnabas, a man who would prove to be a lifetime friend of Paul, that the apostles risked a meeting with him and then granted him the freedom to associate with the saints in Jerusalem. The first question which must be asked with regard to the interpretation of this text is this: What is the meaning of this text in the context of the whole book? Luke has included this account of Sauls conversion in order to contribute to the argument which he is seeking to develop. To Him be the glory forever. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? In fact, more is written of what Saul said and did because he was saved than is written of what he said and did resulting in his salvation. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We will next seek to learn how this description of Sauls conversion fits into and contributes to the development of Lukes argument in Acts. (Acts 9:11)? Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. 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. 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. Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). 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. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. This Paul knew and testified to. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. the Romans . The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. 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. How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? 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). Could it be that God had also appointed someone to meet Saul as he entered the city, with specific instructions as to where he was to stay? He is there praying,j According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. 1:4). F. F. Bruce, p. 190. Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. Maybe he died, but it also may be because most of the rest of Acts is fo- cused on more distant places. The words which Ananias spoke to Saul indicate he was also to lay hands on him so that he would receive the Holy Spirit (9:17). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. He should not be circumcised. Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 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. Acts 9:19-23 Saul in Damascus. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. We shall then seek to identify the characteristics of Sauls conversion which are typical of every conversion. No, God showed him "how many things he must suffer for The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. 17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. Web3. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. At first he found himself in the position of being regarded as an apostate by the Jews and suspect by the Christian community of Jerusalem. His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). 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. 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. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 27Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 1:16; cf. Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. 28, p. 185. . 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. This man who had formerly cringed at the preaching of the gospel148 was now proclaiming the same message. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. 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. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). It's still there and you can still see the evidence of the colonnades (click 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. It is not just in the Book of Acts that the importance of Sauls conversion is evident. Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. Hear, you deaf! Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle He was to come to the earth as the great light, the light to the Gentiles, and so He did. 1:15). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. To put it differently, the account of Sauls conversion in Acts 9 is but the first of three accounts, the other two coming from the lips of Paul himself. To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed. There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. WebTeach the children the account of Sauls conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ as found in Acts 9:120. It was Gods initiative all the way. 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. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move We know that the salvation of men rests ultimately with God and not with usand not even with the one whom we wish to see saved. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him, The longer I study Sauls conversion, the more convinced I am that his conversion is typical. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 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). It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened. We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. 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. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. He sent me so that you can These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. Theologically, we know this as the doctrine of mans total depravity.151 Paul surely believed that it was essential for men to begin with the understanding of their own sin, for in his Epistle to the Romans, he took the first two and one-half chapters to prove that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16). 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. Those who call upon your name echoes 2:21 (Joel 2:32) and recurs in 22:16 in a command to Paul himself to be baptized . helpful to the Lord. * [9:36] Tabitha (Dorcas), respectively the Aramaic and Greek words for gazelle, exemplifies the right attitude toward material possessions expressed by Jesus in the Lucan Gospel (Lk 6:30; 11:41; 12:33; 18:22; 19:8). There he was transfigured before them. Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? He had heard of all the terrible things Saul had done to Christians in Jerusalem and how it was his intent to do the same in Damascus, Ananias town. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Romans 6). also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 2:7; 2 Tim. There will be no more night. WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. He spoke of it as the movement from darkness to light (Colossians 1:12-13; Ephesians 4:8-14) in which the new believer should now walk. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. Why this swift act of judgment? Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). 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. Your merchants were the worlds great men. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. All rights reserved. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 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. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here am I, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.145 15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My names sake.. Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 3On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.c It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 15:8; Gal. He wrote letters to the first churches in order to help them understand the Scriptures and to tell them how to live as good Christians. The expansion is three-fold: (1) The expansion from Christ, to His apostles, to His church, (2) The geographical expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). Jesus did not address the entire group but said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? The others knew that something unusual was going on, but they did not grasp it (Acts 22:9). also 16:17; 18:25-26). More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. With this backdrop in place, the preacher can now focus on two movements of Ananias part of this story: his vision and conversation with the Lord (verses 10-16) and his laying hands on Saul leading to Sauls baptism (verses 17-19). He amazed everyone because they knew he was speaking the same words as the people he had been persecuting. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. Julius Caesar confirmed those rights and privileges anew to the Jewish nation (although Judaea was no longer a sovereign state), and more particularly to the high-priesthood. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), pp. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. 9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. During the subsequent Roman rule, the 152 I do not mean to criticize the four laws of Campus Crusade, which have been used of God to bring many to faith in Christ. All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. The obedience and faith that Ananias demonstrated in going to Saul and helping to restore his sight were incredible, to say the least. Amen. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. (2) While there is considerable emphasis on the conversion of Saul, there is very little detail given as to the precise time or the details of Sauls conversion. 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. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? 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. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). We are simply told that the message itself was proclaimed powerfully and that people were amazed at the message and its miraculous impact on Sauls own conduct. 2 What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5). 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. They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? In 2 Corinthians 11:32 Paul speaks of an ethnarch of Aretas, the king of the Nabataean Arabs, who guarded the city to prevent him escaping from it. WebThe Good Ananias: A Lesson for Believers. To him be honor and might forever. Also, 13But Ananias replied, Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones* in Jerusalem.k Nevertheless, Ananias obeyed. Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). 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.

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why was ananias afraid of helping saul

why was ananias afraid of helping saul