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

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. 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). One moment, Saul was opposing Jesus, as though He were the sinner; the next, Saul is on his face before this Jesus, calling Him Lord. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deuteronomy 28:28-29). 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. (10) Sauls encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. 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). 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). This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). Web3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. He should not become uncircumcised. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. Pauls experience was not visionary but was precipitated by the appearance of Jesus, as he insists in 1Cor 15:8. In other words, Is Sauls conversion typical and illustrative of the conversion of every saint, or is it unique, the exceptional case, which has little correspondence to most converts?. 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. I. Howard Marshall summarizes the problem in these words: Nevertheless, we obtain a different impression of things from Galatians 1:16-24, according to which (1) Paul did not confer with men after his conversion nor go to the apostles in Jerusalem, but (2) departed to Arabia and then returned to Damascus; then (3) three years later he went to Jerusalem for a visit lasting a fortnight during which he saw only Peter and James, and at this time he was unknown by sight to the churches of Judea; thereafter (4) he went to Syria and Cilicia. There is surely a connection between Saul and persecution, and Saul and peace. 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 . Paul was overwhelmed by a flash of heavenly light. Have you had such an encounter? (3) Sauls salvation was personal. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. 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. There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 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. 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. Michael Garicoits (1797-1863) was born into a poor, but hardworking and humble family. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? 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. What do you suppose the saints would have prayed at this special prayer meeting? Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians. Here the Jews were strong in numbers (10,000 butchered by Nero later) and here some disciples had found refuge from Sauls persecution in Judea and still worshipped in the synagogues. Ananias not only Perhaps nowhere else is the radical change (of conversion) in Pauls life153 more readily evident than in his attitude toward the saints. There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. Obedience is often not easy, but it is very likely the most direct way forward and the clearest way to honor God. And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. 1:29, 30, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 145 We may note incidentally the two new descriptions of the Christians used here. We honor him on May 14. In 47 B.C. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? God changed him from being a man who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God and a persecutor of the Christians into a bold missionary who preached the Gospel wherever he went. 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. 21All who heard him were astounded and said, Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests? 2 What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. This Paul knew and testified to. While at first he thought he might have to correct God, in the end he submitted himself and his very life to Gods call. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. [ a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads. Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? What else did Jesus explain to Ananias? From 64 B.C. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. He realized that it was nothing which he had donenor ever would dobut only by what Jesus Christ had done that saved him. Did Peter and Paul meet? Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? 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. helpful to the Lord. /w\/)sr?o|cBw3>E> 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. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. 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. Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. This conclusion could be based upon Pauls argument in Galatians 1 and 2, along with the expression, when many days had elapsed in Acts 9:23. After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. The only question is who is the LORD? (5) There is a good deal of emphasis on the results of Sauls conversion. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. The "Straight Street" or Via Recta in Latin, was a straight What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? Thank God that is what happened. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? 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 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). They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. In this approach, preachers will offer their congregations a chance to relate to Sauls epiphany as a way of meeting Christ in the midst of our lives and being transformed by that encounter. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. The words of Jesus, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? related by Luke with no variation in all three accounts, exerted a profound and lasting influence on the thought of Paul. 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." WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. 180-181. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and, going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. Luke is emphatic in his representation of mans salvation as having been ordained and orchestrated by God, as a manifestation of His sovereign grace: And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was the first recorded sin in the newly organized church. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. There are no exceptions in this all of Romans 3:23, as Paul indicated in these Old Testament words, cited just before: THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE (Romans 3:10b-12). Saul was not aware, until after our Lords words, that the One who had interrupted his journey was Jesus, and that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, the LORD, but he was certain, at this point, that whoever this One was, He was the LORD. Am I not an apostle? The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. 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. 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. . Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Grace is not only the basis for ones salvation, but also for ones spiritual walk and service: As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:6-7). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Those who think themselves worthy of Gods blessings (as many Jews did in that day) are those who are in trouble. sight. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was helpful to the Lord. The blindness to which Saul was subject for three days provided him with much time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). (6) Little emphasis is placed on Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit. His parents allowed visiting priests to minister secretly in their home during the dangers of the French Revolution. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11). by the sin of Adam. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. It is the invitation for sinful Israelites to be saved, by repenting and calling on the name of the Lord for salvation: Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. Leave them; they are blind guides. Ananias hesitation to visit Saul showed that he had good relationship with Jerusalem, for he knew of the trouble that the persecutor had raised against the early converts, and of the goal of his mission to Damascus. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). ,/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 15But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,m Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 136. This would mean that the Gospel isnt as good as we thought it was and that God violates the law of double jeopardy where He punishes the same sin twice. The Diocese of Rochester In America 1868-1993. According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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 . 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). Encourage and rebuke with all authority. 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). \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. Ananias came to Saul with grace to liberate him from his wrong-headed beliefs and open his heart to Jesus. Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. Did they think their task would be a simple one? That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. Paul recognized that his ministry was that of bringing the light to those who were lost, including the Gentiles, kings, and his fellow-Israelites: For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? The first evidence of Sauls conversion was his immediate identification with the church in Damascus. (Acts 9:11)? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. Both are call stories. WebA study of the language describing what resulted from Ananias going to Saul should help in determining the part played by Ananias in Saul's being "filled with the Holy Spirit." 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it . He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. He sent me so that you can 29He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,* but they tried to kill him. 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). 1. All rights reserved. Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. Pauls opposition resulted in the scattering of the Christians from Jerusalem, thus taking the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1; 11:19-21). What was Ananias role in Sauls conversion to Christianity? What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. 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. No one, it would seem, was even thinking of what God was about to do. 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). 13:1 On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity (Zechariah 12:1013:1). Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. 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? Straight Street was widened and colonnades added to it. Barnabas stood up for Saul and explained everything to the Jerusalem Christians. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. 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.
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