why was ananias afraid of helping saul

1:11, Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. It was an act of faith and Thus, it is grace which sustains the saint, in addition to saving him: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited (Hebrews 13:9). 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 church sent him on his way to Tarsus by way of Caesarea. What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. A man who, along The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 21 Were you a slave when you were called? There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. 1:16f. Q&A 1. What Paul learned about himself, personally, on the road to Damascus he came to understand and to preach concerning all men. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Lesson Text Acts 9:1-19 Scripture Memory Verse WebAnswer: > 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. Here I am, Lord, he replied. That is all we know about Ananias - the small but essential part he played at the start of Paul's pilgrimage of faith. required neighboring states to grant it the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. Jesus words, Why are you persecuting Me?, clearly implied that Sauls persecution of the church was a persecution of the Lord. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 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). The first words spoken to Saul were, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4). 2 What do we know about Ananias in Acts 9? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He officiated as high priest from about AD 47 to 52. Why did Ananias go to Paul? ProfoundQa No doubt entered the mind of Saul that the He who had wanted to kill these saints now wanted to fellowship with them. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. l. [9:14] 9:12; 26:10; 1Cor 1:2; 2Tm 2:22. 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). 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. Damascus, a city some 150 miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, was one such city. It was Gods initiative all the way. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. 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. It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. Despite the threats Saul had made and his notorious track record of persecuting, arresting and even affirming the execution of Christians, Ananias, whose They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. The blindness to which Saul was subject for three days provided him with much time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. * [9:20] Son of God: the title Son of God occurs in Acts only here, but cf. There may well have been a long time between Sauls conversion and his arrival at Jerusalem. Did they think their task would be a simple one? What happened to Straight Street since then? Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} . 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. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. The question must be asked as to whether or not Sauls conversion has a more general application and relevance. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. 132 The impact of Sauls conversion on his message and his ministry is testified to by A. T. Robertson: Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Sauls conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. 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. 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). Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was 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). Acts 9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18). When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. Did they send for Saul? Throughout his life and ministry Paul marveled at the grace of God shown to him and to other sinners. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? (13) As Stephens death, instigated (or at least assisted) by Saul, resulted in an intense and widespread persecution of the churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere, so Sauls conversion seems to have been directly related to the return of peace (cf. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. Rising Strong Small Groups Copyright 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. 19and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.*. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (3) Sauls conversion experience was quick and dramatic in one sense, but it also involved a process, a process of at least three days.135. In Peters words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord(v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. 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). What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias. His Word Today 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 . Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). That is because our Lord always confronts, convicts, and converts men and women individually, in the light of their own actions and beliefs. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. The same grace which was shown to Saul in his salvation is shown to all whom God calls to Himself: 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. He is there praying,j 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. Also, Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In the process, Saul was to greatly extend the outreach of the gospel to the Gentiles. There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Sauls salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. Some of the Hellenistic Jews responded to the preaching of Saul as they had to Stephens preaching; they wanted to kill him (9:29). Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. 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. We will next seek to learn how this description of Sauls conversion fits into and contributes to the development of Lukes argument in Acts. 1. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. 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. . The light was the light of His glory. Saul, as it were, saw the light, but in addition, he was to become a light, a light to the Gentiles, as well as to his own people. All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. 149 It is more significant than might be supposed at first glance that the only occurrence of the title `Son of God in Acts should be in this report of Sauls early preaching. Say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. 5 And whether they listen or fail to listenfor they are a rebellious housethey will know that a prophet has been among them. And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time. And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. 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. Did Peter and Paul meet? Charles Spurgeon once wrote: Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. God was sealing Saul to Himself. 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. . To him be honor and might forever. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. on it belonged to the Roman province of Syria, but had a measure of municipal autonomy in the loose federation of cities called the Decapolis. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 181. 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 Paul knew and testified to. Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. 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 Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. 15:21). He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 28, p. 185. The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. Acts ix. 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? In Galatians 1, Saul wrote that God had called him while he was still in his mothers womb (Galatians 1:15). Saul, why do you persecute me? Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him, However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. * [9:1930] This is a brief resume of Pauls initial experience as an apostolic preacher. So it would appear. If the worst sinner (Saul) was not too sinful to save, then you are not too sinful for God to save. (7) Those who were saved by Sauls ministry were convinced by the power of the gospel message he preached and not by miraculous signs and wonders. Could Judas have been a Christian? But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, and said, You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 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). Unexpected and mysterious ELW 258 All are welcome ELW 641, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics. The Apostle Paul: Saul and Ananias 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. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. Rather than attempt to pacify Ananias or to alleviate his apprehension, God went on to tell him that Saul would not only be a brother, but he would be His instrument for bringing the gospel to Gentiles too. sight. Pauls language in Acts 26:11 seems to mean that Damascus is merely one of other `foreign cities to which he carried the persecution. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. Web'And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. After this incident with Paul we hear no more of him. 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). In different contexts, preachers might want to draw specific analogies concerning those for whom the congregation should be praying even though it cuts against our grain to do so. Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w 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. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). 136. Not only does the narrator tell the story of Sauls transformation from persecutor to apostle in Acts 9, Saul himself re-tells the story twice when defending himself before persecutors (before the tribune in Jerusalem, Acts 22:1-21; and before Agrippa, Acts 26:1-23). It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 60:3). And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. This three-fold repetition is a clear indication of the importance of this event, especially in the themes Luke is seeking to develop in the Book of Acts. Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. (4) More space is devoted to the process of getting Ananias to Saul than is devoted to getting Saul to Damascus and to the home of Judas. And so, Saul asked the LORD who He was. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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? 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 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). Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. Israel was also blind, and Pauls blindness was but a specific example of this blindness: The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. The towns of Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa were populated by both Jews and Gentiles and their Christian communities may well have been mixed. 129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). 146 It is possible, however, to understand the expression, Brother, as referring to Saul only as a fellow Jew. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). 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. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. WebAnanias went. 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. (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. What happened to Saul when Ananias laid hand on him? (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? But as Saul grew in strength and as his arguments were irrefutable, just as Stephens had been (Acts 6:10), his opponents realized that the only way to silence Saul was to kill him. 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. Sauls conversion is a watershed event, catapulting the gospel to the Gentiles and to more distant places. Sauls Baptism. His conversion was the beginning of a life-long process of maturing and growth in the Lord. 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). For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. 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 It is not clear whether this official was a representative of the king resident in Damascus to look after the interests of the Arabs there, or whether Damascus at this time was under the control of Nabataea. I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 168. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. He should not become uncircumcised. Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped (Isaiah 35:5). (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. The conversion of Saul is a very crucial event in this book, which spells out from a historical point of view (Romans, from a theological viewpoint) the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the plans and purposes of God. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. Saul and Ananias | A Story of Learning to See Again The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). This silence is instructive, in my opinion. 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb How humorous it seems to hear Ananias informing the Lord that Saul was an enemy, one who had caused many Christians great suffering and adversity, as though He was unaware of this! The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. 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 No doubt God had used Ananias to serve as Sauls first Barnabas. Just as Barnabas would vouch for Saul with the apostles in Jerusalem, so Ananias, a highly respected Jewish Christian, would vouch for Saul here. He is trying to inform God of whats going on. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. Acts 9:10-19 Acts 22:12-16 - Webflow 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. 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. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. WebExplain why Ananias was told that Saul was a 'Chosen Vessel' Give an account of the vision which Saul had while traveling on the road to the Damascus. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:8-11). Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? It is not a transition, but a transformation. also 16:17; 18:25-26). All rights reserved. This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. Amen (1 Timothy 6:16). Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. Stat two things God told Anaias concerning Saul Briefly describe what happened during Anaias' meeting with Saul. 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). 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). /w\/)sr?o|cBw3>E> The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. We know that Paul was not instantly a biblical scholar or a seasoned apostle. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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.

Civilian Distraction Device, Buckle Employee Handbook, Urbana High School Track Public Hours, Articles W