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

Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian 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. He has sovereignly chosen to use people to lead people to salvation, Spirit baptism, deliverance, and healing. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Why was Ananias afraid? A man who, along Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. There are two primary options for preaching from this text. Shortly afterwards, the Lord spoke to a disciple named Ananias, asking him to go to Saul, place his hands on him, and restore his sight. 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. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. One cannot help but wonder if it did not send chills up and down Pauls spine when he cast the spell of blindness on the Jewish false prophet, Bar-Jesus: And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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? (Acts 9:17) and that Saul was to "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:17). The laying on of Ananias hands was also an expression of unity, as was the later right hand of fellowship extended by some of the apostles to Saul (Galatians 2:9). I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. 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). 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. Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). Ananias who was Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. 1:1; 1 Cor. The church in Damascus has been talking about Saul and its members rightfully afraid of him he has, after all, been dragging Christians out of house after house, throwing them into prison, and desiring their deaths. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. So it would appear. Those who know themselves sinners, and who call upon Jesus for salvation, are saved: For WHOSOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13, citing Joel 2:32). And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). When all is said and done, the miracle which took place on the way to Damascus (and likely in Damascus as well) was that Saul saw Jesus as the Son of God, as the Messiah, and as his Savior and Lord: Am I not free? [ a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads. One moment, Saul was persecuting the church; shortly thereafter he was seeking to fellowship with the saints. Thus, he did not use the method of many others, which was man-centered, not Christ-centered: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all (D)who call on Your name., 15But the Lord said to him, Go, for (E)he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before (F)Gentiles, (G)kings, and the (H)children[b] of Israel. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. Why did Saint Paul change his Am I not an apostle? Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. here - view only). The remaining verses of this account describe the results of Sauls conversion, all of which serve as dramatic proof of his radical transformation as a result of his encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? 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). The answer is: Jesus. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l 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 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. `}Hq)l2hZ0r89asO70Da`qg Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. Thus, persecuting the church was persecuting Jesus Christ. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. 6 What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 28He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord. Ananias would probably be afraid to go see Saul because Ananias was a Christian, and Saul was coming to the city to arrest the Christians. many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus? Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. The result of that reluctant leap of faith is that Sauls eyes are opened and he is baptized, becoming part of (and eventually a leader in) the very church he sought to wipe out. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. 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. What Paul learned about himself, personally, on the road to Damascus he came to understand and to preach concerning all men. There is a great basis for comfort in the sovereignty of God. Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. * She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the One who spoke to him was Jesus of Nazareth, the long-looked-for Messiah, the Consolation and Redeemer of Israel. 92 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 94 /H [ 1243 743 ] /L 503600 /E 43371 /N 16 /T 501642 >> endobj xref 92 42 0000000016 00000 n 0000001188 00000 n 0000001986 00000 n 0000002200 00000 n 0000002434 00000 n 0000002614 00000 n 0000002636 00000 n 0000004226 00000 n 0000004248 00000 n 0000005775 00000 n 0000005798 00000 n 0000008986 00000 n 0000009009 00000 n 0000012094 00000 n 0000012305 00000 n 0000013156 00000 n 0000014011 00000 n 0000014230 00000 n 0000014604 00000 n 0000014827 00000 n 0000023280 00000 n 0000023869 00000 n 0000024230 00000 n 0000024446 00000 n 0000024731 00000 n 0000024987 00000 n 0000025380 00000 n 0000026152 00000 n 0000026257 00000 n 0000029454 00000 n 0000029477 00000 n 0000032108 00000 n 0000032131 00000 n 0000034910 00000 n 0000034933 00000 n 0000037945 00000 n 0000040047 00000 n 0000040070 00000 n 0000043063 00000 n 0000043141 00000 n 0000001243 00000 n 0000001964 00000 n trailer << /Size 134 /Info 91 0 R /Root 93 0 R /Prev 501632 /ID[<3cb89dccfaad5f26269ffad0f6f6443b><3cb89dccfaad5f26269ffad0f6f6443b>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 93 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 89 0 R >> endobj 132 0 obj << /S 672 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 133 0 R >> stream He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:18). All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. Damascus, a city some 150 miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, was one such city. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? Verse 18 tells us that, "straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and he arose and was baptized." WebThe Conversion of Saul. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. 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). The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. It was time for Saul to ponder what he had seen and heard. 6:17; Phil. 3On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.c in 1971. The call of salvation is a call to change. 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). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Let us suppose further that the church had gathered on this particular evening for a time of prayer, prompted by the news that Saul was soon to arrive, with all the necessary legal machinery (that is, the authorization of the chief priests and the Sanhedrin130) to arrest and extradite131 the saints who were in the city. 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. 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. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). ,%d/3o3o6jda=|4S-LJ3ajLcNfZyV;CkCl>390q {KQ0lQ)0>~cy:CJkP|4M-\v Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. Blaiklock, for example (pp. 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). Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). 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. He sent me so that you can 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). 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. The conversion of Saul is important in another way. Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. Did Peter and Paul meet? 2 What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? The question must be asked as to whether or not Sauls conversion has a more general application and relevance. 9 What happened to Sapphira in the Bible? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:24-27). sight. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. He trusted that Christ had a future purpose for Saul (verse 15) even though Sauls past as he knew it seemed to point toward a different future. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. They were based, as I understand it, on what the Lord had revealed to Ananias and not on any confession or actions of Saul, for these seem to follow these initial actions and words of Ananias. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. Who does the voice of Vanessa on Phineas and Ferb? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. And now, he is preaching the same message. They too rebelled against God and forsook His word and persecuted His prophets. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. 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. This can hardly be possible. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, He is there praying,j The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). 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. Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? 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. Saul, why do you persecute me? ,/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 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. a. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. 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). The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move Sauls conversion was a miracle, short and simple, but not so much the result of the external miracle of the bright light and the voice of the Lord as the internal transformation and illumination which God wrought: 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man (Galatians 1:15-16). He started NOW to trust God. 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). 17(K)And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and (L)laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord [c]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and (M)be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. In spite of the clear and present danger, Ananias went and began to look for the Christian hunter Saul. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). 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. 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. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). 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 2:7; 2 Tim. When he was still very young, Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? I see a man who is confident, aggressive, and zealous, rather than a man troubled by inner doubts. What do you suppose the saints would have prayed at this special prayer meeting? In this approach, preachers are offering their congregation a chance to relate to Ananias dream that leads him to overcome his preconception of Saul (a correct but now outdated preconception), come to see Saul as someone God has called, and respond faithfully. At length, in Gods good time, the door opened, and the events of half a lifetime assumed final and complete significance. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Wm. . Saul could only be persecuting Jesus through the members of His body, the church. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. And thus, in Gods time, Saul was dramatically converted, seeing the Christ whom he had been persecuting, risen from the dead and in His heavenly glory. To both Ananias (Acts 9:10) and Saul (Acts 9:12). And yet, even in opposing God, he furthered Gods purposes; he was instrumental in the evangelization of the Gentiles (Acts 8:1, 4; 11:19-21). Ananias (/nnas/ AN--NY-s; Ancient Greek: from Hebrew , Hananiah, favoured of the LORD) was a disciple of Jesus at Damascus mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, which describes how he was sent by Jesus to restore the sight of Saul of Tarsus (who later was called Paul the Apostle) and . 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;* so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.h When Saul stood up, he discovered he was completely blind, and the men who were with him had to lead him by his hand until they reached Damascus. What can you say about Christianity when its most outspoken and zealous opponent suddenly claims to have seen the risen Christ, and to have trusted in Him as the Messiah? 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. * [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. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. 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. Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. 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). How many times should a shock absorber bounce? 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. 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. 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. i3&K>Kpg Here Saul took the various items in the life of Jesus of Nazareth and found in them the proof that he was in reality the Messiah (ho Christos). 3. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. 134 Blaiklock comes to this conclusion concerning the time of Sauls conversion: Probably the earliest acceptable date for the conversion on the Damascus road is AD 33. 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 Sapphira). When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. For all the saints. 180-181. Now they grope through the streets like men who are blind.
Ranch Style Homes For Sale Waterloo Iowa, Miriam Defensor Santiago Speech, Insight Global + Benefits, Articles W