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

He sent me so that you can i3&K>Kpg 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. Shape us into children who rejoice in knowing and proclaiming you to the world. 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. Lesson: Conversion Saul and Ananias Prayer It is not a transition, but a transformation. For less than $5/mo. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul,why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 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. Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. The first evidence of Sauls conversion was his immediate identification with the church in Damascus. Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Acts 9:10-19 Acts 22:12-16 - Webflow east-west thoroughfare through Damascus built by the Greeks after the city Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. All of these should be expected and can be rather easily explained. We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 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? The Lesson of Ananias | Tim Challies For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus (A)named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias., 11So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul (B)of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. Ananias and Saul: The Story Starts With a Disciple The LORD identified Himself as the Jesus, whom he had been persecuting. It was the most powerful piece of artillery in the Jewish camp that was suddenly turned round upon them. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 123. The approach the Lord took was one of dealing with Saul in the light of his sin, of his salvation, and of his ministry. Acts 9 Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible 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. What do you suppose the saints would have prayed at this special prayer meeting? sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. ), Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. (2) Sauls salvation was exclusively the work of a sovereign God. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. 00:00. 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 Blaiklock, for example (pp. Luke 3:22), it expressed his unique relationship and fellowship with the Father. Ibid. Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? * [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. 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. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. 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. 15:21). Ananias restores Saul's sight - Catholic Courier It is no wonder then that this one who was Sauls all in all would be the focus, the substance, of the gospel which he preached: But we preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. 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. Preachers working through the narrative lectionary with their congregations, then, will do well to explore this passage in detail in order to establish the character of Paul well for the second half of Acts (Acts 13-28; see how this role is foreshadowed in 9:15), which shifts the focus from the ministry of the Twelve in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to his role in taking the gospel throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and even to Rome (see Acts 1:8). 22But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul. The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias Finally, we shall attempt to focus on the application of this passage to our own lives. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. 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. Hb```f``:Ab,=`.9Z3{x5v\);]c#qea #'&D|z:wyKN,0(t\tbRFhT2thS2(9.`mNbq)-pk^;>:+pq2Ck AUbK=N\2M/`KqGLZS1 $[S|Rd\.9i'9T\.EXdxlYcqb 3On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.c The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 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. No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of Gods grace given me through the working of his power. 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). 1:16; cf. 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. Jesus was alive and not still in the grave! 23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. [9:1] 8:3; 9:13; 22:4; 1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:1314. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. Lesson: Saul Believes in Jesus - Ministry-To-Children And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). Ananias was used as Gods instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. 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. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? A man who, along This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Saul was the bad guy. 2 Corinthians 4:14; cf. and the other is a deceptive, self-serving half-truth from people interested here - view only). This Paul knew and testified to. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. also 16:17; 18:25-26). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Amen. When one looks at all the references to this event, it was, in fact, a personal appearance of the risen, glorified Jesus to Saul (cf. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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 No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. 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. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). He spoke of salvation as the change from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-3). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7). The Church at Peace. WebSaul had come to Damascus with letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to find followers of Jesus and arrest them. WebWe do not know whether Ananias already had previous experience miracles of healing, but the Lord was instructing him to interview the notorious Pharisee Saul, who fiercely persecuted Christians, and to heal his blindness. . The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. (10) Sauls encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. The words and actions of Ananias are an evidence of his faith and obedience to the divine commission he was given, as outlined by Luke in the verses above. He was to come to the earth as the great light, the light to the Gentiles, and so He did. Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. 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. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. 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. We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). Ananias and Saul: Faith over Fear - livingwithfaith.org 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. 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb The only question is who is the LORD? This man who had formerly cringed at the preaching of the gospel148 was now proclaiming the same message. The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. The conclusion of many of the commentators is that Sauls conversion was a much longer process than I see reflected in this account, or in any other. Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. Then, on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a vision of Jesus. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? 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). Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. Though I have fallen, I will rise. ,%d/3o3o6jda=|4S-LJ3ajLcNfZyV;CkCl>390q {KQ0lQ)0>~cy:CJkP|4M-\v The words, Brother Saul must not have come easily to Ananias. a. There he was transfigured before them. He should not be circumcised. . I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 171. Our text presents Saul as a man who was not only running from God, but one who was actively opposing Him. They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. SAUL 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. Bible Hub . * And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. Saul Preaches in Damascus. . It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. The argument of the Book of Acts is essentially this: The expansion of the gospel through the church as it is empowered by the Holy Spirit. He was a man of great respect and influence, and thus he realized that his actions would have broad ramifications. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. Ananias fulfills his task: 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 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. 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 . He became a priest himself in 1823. Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. 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). Have you had such an encounter? 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.l And what a comfort to know that God always finishes what He starts: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). If Ananias and Sapphira were born again believers and God judged them for their sin, it means that even though Jesus was judged for sin, God still judged them for their sin. WebWhy was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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. 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. 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). This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. in 1971. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). /w\/)sr?o|cBw3>E> 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. ANANIAS - Who Are The Three Ananias In The Bible? WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). 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). 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). We honor him on May 14. At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. In this occasion, no one seems to have prayed for Peters miraculous escape. The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16). Saul was received as a true believer, as a brother.146 The laying on of Ananiass hands, however, was a distinct act of identification with Saul. When Ananias With the conversion of Saul, persecution of the church did not stop, for now some of the Hellenistic Jews were opposing his preaching (and no doubt, the church at large as well). (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 11The Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named 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. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). Those things in which Saul would have formerly trusted for his standing before God, he saw in an entirely different light after God found him and saved him: 4b 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 happened when Ananias anointed Saul? 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. Ananias son of Nebedeus (or Nedebeus) was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 23:2) and Caesarea (Acts 24:1). If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. Perhaps Ananias called a meeting of the church to discuss how they would deal with Sauls arrival. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? 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). Unstoppable At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. Sermon Seeds: The Way Forward - United Church of Christ Web3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. 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. ANANIAS