why was ananias afraid of helping saul

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). 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. 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. This silence is instructive, in my opinion. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. 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). ESCAPES IN A BASKET Ancestry, Pharisaic training, Hellenistic education, were fused by it into the character which the Holy Spirit formed and fashioned over the fourteen years of training. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? 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. many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus. ,/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 What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast (Galatians 2:8-9). Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day (2 Timothy 1:8-12). 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. In this chapter we have, I. Why was Ananias afraid? What is meant by the competitive environment? 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. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 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. The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult. Choose from news (Monday), leisure (Thursday) or worship (Saturday) or get all three! 1:16; cf. . His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:12-16). I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! 15:8; Gal. Ananias and Saul - Holy Land of God . They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). WebAnanias, had he disobeyed Christ, would not have helped Saul on that path in which he, as Paul the apostle, did so much, and suffered so much, for Christ. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. Israel too will just as surely return to God; and when it happens, it will be all of God, all to His glory and praise: 15 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. * [9:2] The Way: a name used by the early Christian community for itself (Acts 18:26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). Ananias baptizes Saul, and Saul's eyes are opened. The life-changing implications of conversion are expressed in these words of Paul to Titus: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. The first evidence of Sauls conversion was his immediate identification with the church in Damascus. 2:22, Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. If the worst sinner (Saul) was not too sinful to save, then you are not too sinful for God to save. What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? 21 Were you a slave when you were called? 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d 1 What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory (Isaiah 60:19). (Acts 9:11)? To put it differently, the account of Sauls conversion in Acts 9 is but the first of three accounts, the other two coming from the lips of Paul himself. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in 140 They are called his sunodeuontes, `those who were in the caravan with Him (cf. Ananias found (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). 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). 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. Saul recognized that he was a sinner, and that his righteousness was but dung before God. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Saul did not agree with his teacher, Gamaliel, on how the Christians should be dealt with, however. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Q&A 1. . If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. As I look at the problem, I believe several conclusions must be drawn. Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. He officiated as high priest from about AD 47 to 52. 23:16-17, 19, 24; 23:26). What if They'd Said No Who is blind but my servant {Israel}, and deaf like the messenger I send? What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. ACTS 9:27 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. 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." It strikes many readers as harsh, a return to Old Testament retribution. Working Preacher from Luther Seminary And if Sauls blindness led to his own conversion, at least the blinding of Bar-Jesus contributed to the conversion of the proconsul (and perhaps too his own conversionwho knows?). It was only with the exit of Saul from the Holy Land, back to his native land (Tarsus), that peace once again returned. * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Saul was not seeking God. Saul was saved in spite of himself. My names sake". He goes for broke. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). Saul is welcomed into the church. Only a radical conversion can produce this attitude in the life of a man like Saul: For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:8). At first Ananias was afraid because he knew how Saul persecuted the Christians, but the Lord said that Saul had a special ministry he must fulfill. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Indeed, this seems to be the rule. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave and friendly. 135 There are those who describe Saul as a tormented man after the stoning of Stephen. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move 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. 35And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? It is a miraculous, dramatic reversal, first of ones beliefs, and then of ones behavior. For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Acts 9:10-19 NKJV - Ananias Baptizes Saul - Bible Gateway The account of Ananias and Saul is found in Acts chapter 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. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 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. Not all Christians are equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Ephesians 4:11). 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g Later, when Paul looked back on his past devotion and deeds, all done in the name of Judaism, he came to view his apparent righteous deeds for what they really weredung: 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is difficult to estimate the amount of resistance Ananias would have had to this divine instruction to receive Saul as a brother in the Lord. Grace is also the source and the standard for our service: Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:6). (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. To him be honor and might forever. 8 Although I am less than the least of all Gods people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. Saul and Ananias | A Story of Learning to See Again For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. (6) Little emphasis is placed on Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit.

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