why was ananias afraid of helping saul

Saul was told at the time of his conversion that God had chosen him to bear witness to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the Jews (9:15). Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. It is not a transition, but a transformation. east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city In His coming as the light, those who come to the light become lights to the world themselves: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2). Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. (Acts 9:11)? 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). 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Indeed, God would reveal His sovereignty by using Saul to further the gospel, first by his opposition (which scattered the church and spread the gospel), and then by his conversion (which resulted in his powerful proclamation of Jesus as Messiah). In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. Leave them; they are blind guides. It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. . But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. 1:4). F. F. Bruce, p. 190. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. One is the truth from God Himself, 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. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. The New International Version What happened to Saul when Ananias laid hand on him? (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. (10) Sauls encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. 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. Am I not an apostle? There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. Thus, persecuting the church was persecuting Jesus Christ. I believe that as Luke portrays Saul in Acts, it is as a prototype, a picture of Israel. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. also Isaiah 64:6). Perhaps Ananias called a meeting of the church to discuss how they would deal with Sauls arrival. 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. What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? 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, whom we have already met (Acts 5:34-40). 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Blaiklock, for example (pp. 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. The message of the gospel, to be sure, is always the same, but the approach is not. 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. The New International Version WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. Why did God send Ananias to Saul Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. The only question is who is 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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). 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). Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:12-14). 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. Acts 9:17 - Ananias Baptizes Saul - Bible Hub Those who think themselves worthy of Gods blessings (as many Jews did in that day) are those who are in trouble. 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. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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 authorities, but also knew that he was on the march to Damascus, ready to destroy that church as well. Web3. The voice from heaven did not call out, Have you ever heard of the four spiritual laws?152 Ananias was sent to Saul only. 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. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). When the plot became known to Saul, he made a successful, albeit undignified, escape from the city of Damascus. Ananias found Saul and said to him, Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit. As soon as Ananias spoke, Saul could see again. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Ananias and Saul - Holy Land of God After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. 9:31). 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. When Saul reached Jerusalem, the Christians there also were afraid of him, because they thought he was going to have them all arrested. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? Rising Strong Small Groups They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. 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 While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord appeared in a vision to a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in need of help. Web3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Damascus, a city some 150 miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, was one such city. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus.129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. here - view only). 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". It is difficult to estimate the amount of resistance Ananias would have had to this divine instruction to receive Saul as a brother in the Lord. There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. Saul was not content to punish some and to drive the rest from the holy city. He did not want to merely contain Christianity or to drive it from Jerusalem; he wanted to rid the earth of Christianity and its followers. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 1:16f. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). 1:29, 30, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. 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). To Paul, his relationship, by faith, to Jesus Christ was also the beginning of his new relationship to the body of Christ, the church: Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. ANANIAS Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 1. Saul took this most seriously, not eating or drinking until after his confession of faith by means of his baptism. 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, The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. It was almost as though Saul had looked intently into the beam of an intensely powerful carbon-act light, the kind used as search lights. Elsewhere in Acts, such as with the apostles, Stephen and Philip, the message of the gospel was underscored by signs and wonders which accompanied the message. It was Gods initiative all the way. Under the influence of this experience he gradually developed his understanding of justification by faith (see the letters to the Galatians and Romans) and of the identification of the Christian community with Jesus Christ (see 1Cor 12:27). . 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. 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. There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. During his conversion Handed down. 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. Acts 9, 22, 26; Romans 15:15-21; cf. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. i3&K>Kpg This divine illumination is that miracle which God performs within a lost, blinded, dead soul, so as to bring about salvation: 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. When he found him, he "laid his hands on Saul and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'" Think about what happened as a result of this man overcoming his fear and obeying God. 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. While Paul may not have brought about the execution of all those whom he arrested, including women as well as men (verse 2), verse 1 strongly suggests that this was his desire and ambition. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. To the church, Saul turned out to be a friend, a fellow-believer, in fact, a flaming evangelist, who proclaimed Christ more clearly and powerfully than anyone had previously done in Damascus. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ananias Loves Paul Missions Lesson 2 Lesson at a Glance 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to (1 Corinthians 7:15, 17-22, 24).154. 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. also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. 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. Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. And if this was important for Saul to do, it was equally important for the church to accept him into their fellowship, as an expression of their unity in Christ. 131 . Note the following impressions gained from a reflection on the passage as a whole. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end (Isaiah 60:20). For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). It is also bad news for the self-righteous. 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. Ananias The answer is: Jesus. 30And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.p. They wanted to keep Gods blessings to themselves. 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). . He didnt know that the risen Christ had confronted Saul on the road to Damascus just as Christ is now confronting him This sets up a flashback to verses 1-9. Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. in 1971. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. 10i There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. He answered, Here I am, Lord. Ananias I am not at all sure how this can be determined from the text. And when the Galatians began to depart from the true gospel, Paul rebuked them for turning from Him: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel (Galatians 6). Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. Acts 9:10-19 NKJV - Ananias Baptizes Saul - Bible Gateway What happened to Straight Street since then? Saul Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. also 16:17; 18:25-26). They do not understand the gospel well enough. 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). Web'And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. But why would they be called his disciples? 21:29 (30); John 5:7; 12:21; 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. For less than $5/mo. Amen. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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..

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