why was ananias afraid of helping saul

Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. He sent me so that you can 17So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, 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. "how many things he must suffer for 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. We know from other accounts (22:6; 26:13) that it was high noon when Saul was stopped in his tracks by a bright light from heaven. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. 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. His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). Frequent biblical texts speak of God in terms of light: You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalm 76:4). Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. But then the preacher can continue that even though Ananias didnt know about Sauls epiphany, he did as the Lord told him anyway. ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit because it was the Holy Spirit who dwelt in the apostles, giving them their power and authority. It was as the Son of God that Christ was revealed to him on the Damascus road (Gal. 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. Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? 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. Saul was also blinded, which identified him with the blindness of the nation Israel of which the Old Testament prophets wrote (see above). Rather, he sought the arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment (with imprisonment the norm and death the ideal, it would seem) of those in Jerusalem. Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? 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. 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). 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g * It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. 15:21). Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, 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. (8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. This light was more, much more, than just a bright light. WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? The words which Ananias spoke to Saul indicate he was also to lay hands on him so that he would receive the Holy Spirit (9:17). As persecution was no longer needed to disperse the church and the gospel, peace was restored to the land. Perhaps Ananias called a meeting of the church to discuss how they would deal with Sauls arrival. 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. Paul would later use this expression (in the plural) to address his unbelieving Jewish opponents, as in Acts 22:1. That our Lords contemporaries believed the Messiah to be in some special sense the son of God is rendered probable by the wording of the high priests question to him at his trial: `Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? (Mark 14:61 par. In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. WebThe Conversion of Saul. It is evident in the way he was saved. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11). Yes, Lord, he answered. It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. Many are the plans in a mans heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand (Proverbs 19:21). Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. 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. Think about what happened as a result of this man overcoming his fear and obeying God. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, Chapter 9. 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, Thus, whenever he spoke of his conversion and his call to ministry, he always spoke of this incident as an act of divine grace, of Gods unmerited favor, of an act of mercy toward him: I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:15-16). 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. 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. Did he still not realize who the Lord was? 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. The message of the gospel, to be sure, is always the same, but the approach is not. >zZ0y^C{tg * [9:3143] In the context of the period of peace enjoyed by the community through the cessation of Pauls activities against it, Luke introduces two traditions concerning the miraculous power exercised by Peter as he was making a tour of places where the Christian message had already been preached. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 Why did Ananias and Sapphira lie to God? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. In our text Ananias was instructed to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might receive his sight (9:12). 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. 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. 139 A. T. Robertson writes, It is open to question if kurie should not here be translated Sir as in 16:30 and in Matt. 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. With this backdrop in place, the preacher can now focus on two movements of Ananias part of this story: his vision and conversation with the Lord (verses 10-16) and his laying hands on Saul leading to Sauls baptism (verses 17-19). I see a man who is confident, aggressive, and zealous, rather than a man troubled by inner doubts. The Church at Peace. a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? 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. He got up and was baptized, 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). If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. WebThats when Ananias heard a word from the Lord. Their attempt to deceive the apostles was an attempt to deceive God putting the Spirit of the Lord to the test (v. 9) and they paid the price! The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. 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 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. . Sauls baptism followed, accompanied by his profession of faith, his calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). The conversion of Saul is important in another way. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). They could not prove him wrong from the Scriptures. WebAnanias went. The results of Sauls preaching were predictable, very much like the response Saul would have had (or did have) to the preaching of the gospel before his conversion. What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2). It is also bad news for the self-righteous. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. 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. WebThe Good Ananias: A Lesson for Believers. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul he was filled with the Holy Spirit, healed of his blindness, received water baptism, and began to eat and regain his strength. * [9:20] Son of God: the title Son of God occurs in Acts only here, but cf. AT this season we are called upon to think of foreign missions. The call of salvation is a call to holiness, and to obedience, and to fellowship, with God and with our fellow-believers. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him (Daniel 2:22). Perhaps so, but I am not as confident of this as I once was. Paul experienced many hardships in his travels, and he was frequently thrown into jail for preaching about Jesus. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. During the subsequent Roman rule, the Just as Saul was called to a live of suffering, so Peter tells his readers that they too, like all saints, are called to suffer for His name: To this {suffering} you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). 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. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. The voice from heaven did not call out, Have you ever heard of the four spiritual laws?152 Ananias was sent to Saul only. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d 22But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. After this, Saul broke his fast and was strengthened. 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. 133 I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, reprint, 1987), p. 173. So it would appear. Have you had such an encounter? 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). Word was out that Saul would soon be arriving. According to Acts 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. The saints (9:32, 41; 26:10; cf. It may be that Sauls conversion was the instrument God used to convert these followers of Saul, so that they really were his disciples, in a two-fold sense. 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. He says: It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. Lest anyone think they are too sinful to save, let me remind you that when Paul wrote that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, he quickly added, among whom I am foremost of all.. Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations (Isaiah 51:4). At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. The call of salvation is a call to change. What did Ananias do for Saul? One cannot help but wonder if it did not send chills up and down Pauls spine when he cast the spell of blindness on the Jewish false prophet, Bar-Jesus: And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. To persecute them was to persecute Him. (Philippians 1:4-9). 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. . Pauls hatred for Christ and His followers was common knowledge. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). 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. It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. Nevertheless, at some point in time Saul did arrive in Jerusalem. In fact, as Saul would later write, he realized that he was chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He knew what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem. 20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. The message which Saul received was not only a call to salvation, but a divine call to ministry. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. Saul Preaches in Damascus. 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 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. Amen. 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. Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. Sauls world of self-trust was now at an end and prayer was helping him see that. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. He paid for his education by working for the priests. Get up and make your bed. He got up at once. Linking is encouraged, but content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed including, but not limited to such means as framing or other digital copying and/or distribution method, in whole or in part without the publisher's written consent. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. 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. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? 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. (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. also 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33; cf. I. 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. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. Salvation is a revolution, not an evolution. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. 20:32; 26:18) is a common term in Pauls writings and describes Christians as people who have been set apart for Gods service and must show an appropriate character. WebWhy was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. 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. There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. Salvation is the miracle whereby God removes the blindness of sin and of Satan, whereby God replaces death with life. 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? 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? Fifth, faith must take the text on face value, as it is written, and believe it as Gods inspired, inerrant, authoritative word. After this incident with Paul we hear no more Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard (Isaiah 58:8). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. the citation of Ps 2:7 in Pauls speech at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:33). When the Christians learned that the Hellenists to whom Saul had preached were plotting to kill them, they helped him escape through Caesarea and on to Tarsus. There are differences between the three accounts given to us in Acts. 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). 17(K)And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and (L)laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord [c]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and (M)be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. Those whose lives Saul would gladly have taken in his unsaved days now sought to save his life by sending him away. 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? . 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. The salvation of Saul was to result in the gospel being preached to distant people and lands, and in the extension of the church to many key cities. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move 11:2328; 12:710; Gal. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. remark on the symmetry with which Luke sets forth the two stories: The simultaneous preparation of the hearts of Ananias and of Saul, and the simultaneous preparation of those of Peter and Cornelius,the questioning and hesitation of Peter and the questioning and hesitation of Ananias,the one doubting whether he might make friendship with the Gentiles, the other doubting whether he might approach the enemy of the Church,the unhesitating obedience of each when the Divine will was made known,the state of mind in which both the Pharisee and the centurion were found,each waiting to see what the Lord would say to them,this close analogy will not be forgotten by those who reverently read the two consecutive chapters. 144 Was Ananias the one who told him what he must do? 129 The history of Damascus goes back to remote antiquity. Ananias is not the last believer who has seen fit to keep God up to date (The Storytellers Companion to the Bible: The Acts of the Apostles). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. God then used this man to further His purposes in launching the career of the most influential of the apostles. Thus, persecuting the church was persecuting Jesus Christ. The casting of this spell on this false prophet could therefore have been an act of kindness, as Gods blinding of Saul had been, intended to cease his opposition and perhaps even to bring about his conversion. All rights reserved. The two messages cannot be reconciled. Ananiass vision was intended to direct him to the house of Judas and to Saul. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. (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. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. In this occasion, no one seems to have prayed for Peters miraculous escape. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). Some were amazed, taking note of the dramatic turn-about in Sauls faith and practice (9:21). 10. This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. He is trying to inform God of whats going on. That He had already appeared to Saul "on the road" Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. By divine revelation, Peter called out Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit and to God. When Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus, he saw the risen, glorified Lord. Some would like the excuse to make some changes to make their life more comfortable. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. 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.

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