why was ananias afraid of helping saulcheckers chili recipe
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. Before he reached Damascus a light flashed in front of Saul that was so bright he fell down on the ground. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. The narrative lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings Read more. What a shock Sauls conversion must have been to both groups! One is the truth from God Himself, Is paralegal higher than legal assistant? Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. 21 And all those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests? 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding147 the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ. The pastor advised him to pray for the person every day for two weeks pray for the person not about the person. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3). WebAnanias, I am sure. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. After he put his hands on Saul, the Bible only records that Saul received his sight. 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). To establish the congregations identity with Ananias, the preacher might want to begin in the middle of the passage which actually looks back to Acts 8:1-3 (and 9:1). and the other is a deceptive, self-serving half-truth from people interested 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a chance to relate to Ananias dream that leads him to overcome his preconception of Saul (a correct but now outdated preconception), come to see Saul as someone God has called, and respond faithfully. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. And Jesus took the persecution of Christians very personally. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). 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). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? No one, it would seem, was even thinking of what God was about to do. 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. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. In the place of Ananias we would fear that it might not work out, and the consequences could be very serious. At length, in Gods good time, the door opened, and the events of half a lifetime assumed final and complete significance. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, (Grand Rapids: Wm. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 113. ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, * She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Ananias was that kind of a disciple. The splendid deliberateness with which God forged His human tool is the great lesson of these years. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. My names sake" (Acts 9:16) even before his ministry began. 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. 131 . I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). called for him to be slapped. He became a priest himself in 1823. 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). 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). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. WebActs 9:10-18 Ananias. 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?. How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? (Acts 9:17) and that Saul was to "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:17). Few Christians will encounter the risen, glorified Lord as Saul did here. WebThe Conversion of Saul. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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. When Saul stood up, he discovered he was completely blind, and the men who were with him had to lead him by his hand until they reached Damascus. 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. Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. WebAnanias went. Now that the Lord had identified Himself as Jesus, Saul recognized that he was the sinner. 22But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. 2:1 He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. a. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. 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. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. 7 Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? Paul was no ordinary followerhe became the most visible and active pillar of the new Christian church. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray (Revelation 18:23). What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Ananias found WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped (Isaiah 35:5). Saul was knocked to the ground and confronted with the reality that hed been working against God rather than helping God. Jesus was alive and not still in the grave! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. by the sin of Adam. 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). 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). 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). That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9). 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. WebThis happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. And, who knows, God may even answer those prayers and the persons life be blessed and changed in ways we cannot even imagine.. Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. Impatient men forget that God is not bound by time. 142 His companions therefore took him by the hand and led him through the gate of Damascus to the place where, presumably, arrangements had been made for him to stay. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 185. also 16:17; 18:25-26). This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 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. 138 Three times (8:3; 9:2; 22:4) this fact of persecuting women is mentioned as a special blot in Pauls cruelty (the third time by Paul himself) and one of the items in his being chief of sinners (1 Tim. This Paul knew and testified to. * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). 12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight., 13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (C)how much [a]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 15:8; Gal. As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:32). Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. There will be no more night. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W 26:63; Luke 22:67, 70). Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Why this swift act of judgment? 6:17; Phil. The men who traveled with Saul were frightened and confused. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. 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. Then, on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a vision of Jesus. 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. Why did Saint Paul change his 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). . 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). 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 . Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through 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). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. He spoke of it as the movement from darkness to light (Colossians 1:12-13; Ephesians 4:8-14) in which the new believer should now walk. 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. If there is one thing of which Saul is now convinced (by what he has so far seen and heard on the road) it is that whoever he is talking to is LORD. What is the safe score in JEE Mains 2021? 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. (3) The racial expansion from the Jews to the Gentiles. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. But as I see the call of God referred to in the New Testament, it seems that the call of salvation assumes other callings, to which Paul and other New Testament writers made frequent reference: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? He started NOW to trust God. (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,* he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. 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." Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? He paid for his education by working for the priests. (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. 4. I can believe the saints who gathered to pray would have prayed for the protection of the church in Damascus and for the safety of individual saints, especially the leaders and the most visible Christians. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. Saul was also blinded, which identified him with the blindness of the nation Israel of which the Old Testament prophets wrote (see above). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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). Now they were keeping watch on the gates day and night so as to kill him, the Romans . 143 . The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Saul recognized that he was a sinner, and that his righteousness was but dung before God. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers. It is here in Acts, for the first time, that Saul is called Paul. This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. Ananias would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). * As I look at the problem, I believe several conclusions must be drawn. Those who think themselves worthy of Gods blessings (as many Jews did in that day) are those who are in trouble. 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. 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 The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. His name was Ananias (not to be confused with the husband of 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). 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. He wrote letters to the first churches in order to help them understand the Scriptures and to tell them how to live as good Christians. (1 Corinthians 9:1). Saul immediately began to preach about the Son of God in the synagogues. . 36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). Ananias and Saul in Damascus. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. Did they think their task would be a simple one? 6 For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? the citation of Ps 2:7 in Pauls speech at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33). In him was life, and that life was the light of men. * [9:119] This is the first of three accounts of Pauls conversion (with Acts 22:316 and Acts 26:218) with some differences of detail owing to Lukes use of different sources. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move 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). 25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? 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. Throughout his life and ministry Paul marveled at the grace of God shown to him and to other sinners. * [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. 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. . Leave them; they are blind guides. Sauls conversion was also his call to ministry, and this conversion experience is strikingly similar to that of one of his predecessors, Ezekiel: 1:4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the northan immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. He should not become uncircumcised. This can hardly be possible. with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see Teaching from the Scriptures, p. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. As applied to our Lord, then, the title `Son of God marks him out as the true representative of the Israel of God and as Gods anointed king; but it is no merely official title. . How many times should a shock absorber bounce? Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. 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). And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9.