why was ananias afraid of helping saul

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. For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. (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. Dont let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your freedom, do so. 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). (14) There is an interesting symmetry or parallel between the conversion of Saul and the conversion of Cornelius. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. One is the truth from God Himself, Saul, the typical (albeit more zealous) Jew, opposed God in the person of Christ and His body, the church, even while he thought he was serving Him. Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? Israels watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep (Isaiah 43:8-10). 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. 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. Also, Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? You, my brothers, were called to be free. For all the saints. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. 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. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn (Isaiah 59:15b60:13). All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. 17) and the restoration of the man after the shattering experience he had known, and for the early ministry in Tarsus, Syria, Cilicia, and Antioch, which prepared mind and method for the major assault on the pagan world. We will also attempt to determine to what degree Sauls conversion was typical and to what degree it was unique. We honor him on May 14. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). 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. The two messages cannot be reconciled. 141 Compare this voice with that in John 12:29. The words, Brother Saul must not have come easily to Ananias. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. Saul, like Israel, had been blinded as to the meaning of the law because of his rejection of Christ (cf. 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). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The first evidence of Sauls conversion was his immediate identification with the church in Damascus. 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. 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 Him be the glory forever. part of the price for themselves while donating it to the church 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. 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. In 2 Corinthians 11:32 Paul speaks of an ethnarch of Aretas, the king of the Nabataean Arabs, who guarded the city to prevent him escaping from it. called for him to be slapped. Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? ,/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 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. When we look at Pauls great love and compassion for the saints, we have to remind ourselves of the hate he once had toward them. The couple wanted to appear as outstanding church members, but they didnt want to part with their possessions. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 1:4, 26-28; 2:1-7).143. To him be honor and might forever. It was due to the intervention of Barnabas, a man who would prove to be a lifetime friend of Paul, that the apostles risked a meeting with him and then granted him the freedom to associate with the saints in Jerusalem. His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. also Isaiah 64:6). 137 The Way is a designation for the new movement used several times in Acts 9:19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; cf. In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Saul asked.I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. Hebrew Baby Names Meaning: In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Sapphira is: Sapphire (gem); beautiful. NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word. They were to be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed. We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, 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. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. 1:16f. Who told Saul to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street? The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 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 Even then he knew he wanted to live the life of a religious. He should not be circumcised. 148 I would assume that Saul was one of those who covered his ears so as not to hear the praise of Stephen, as reported in Acts 7:57. 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 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. (6) Little emphasis is placed on Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit. He started NOW to trust God. 9. 4. Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. 19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 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). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. . This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. (Philippians 1:4-9). If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. When Ananias The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. Is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 harsh? What Israel failed to do, Jesus, the Messiah would do. 36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). He spoke of salvation as dying to the old manner of living and as rising from the dead in order to live an entirely new life (Romans 6). Sauls Baptism. Sauls conversion was a miracle, short and simple, but not so much the result of the external miracle of the bright light and the voice of the Lord as the internal transformation and illumination which God wrought: 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man (Galatians 1:15-16). As at Damascus, Saul eventually had to leave the city of Jerusalem to save his life. While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord appeared in a vision to a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, telling him that Saul of Tarsus was praying and in need of help. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This is why Jesus was so receptive of sinners and so hard on the self-righteous. This divine illumination is that miracle which God performs within a lost, blinded, dead soul, so as to bring about salvation: 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. That Luke would narrate this conversion three times is testimony to the importance he attaches to it. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f It is hardly likely that at this stage Saul recognized Jesus as Lord, though he does so greet him in 22:10 `What shall I do, Lord? A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, pp. This first account occurs when the word is first spread to the Gentiles. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. And yet while God had foretold the rebellion of Israel and their rejection, so He had also foretold of Israels restoration (cf. (1 Corinthians 9:1). Ananias and Saul. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. 15:21). 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;* so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.h He hears the voice of the Lord crying out to him. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, . also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. 129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. Web3. Saul, why do you persecute me? 1:15; Eph. The passage which we are studying can be divided into these major segments: We will begin this lesson by making some general observations concerning this account of Sauls conversion,134 after which we will examine the sequence of events leading up to Sauls conversion, the events surrounding his conversion, and the consequences of his conversion as depicted by Luke. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). 20and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:4-5, 7-9). At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. Webb Ananias was successful because he trusted Jesus and he viewed Saul as his brother. 19and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.*. 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. 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. 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. 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). Saul was knocked to the ground and confronted with the reality that hed been working against God rather than helping God. The Lord Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision. Damascus was an important town, about 150 miles (242 km) from Jerusalem, with a considerable Jewish population. WebAnanias went. 2 Cor. 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, 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). 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 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). 10. Instead, he became the first believer to minister to Saul. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. 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. Christian ministry be reconciled with the wealth and prosperity that Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. . If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. When he found him, 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 your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'" 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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! 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. Not everyone can be Paul, but we all can and should be Ananias. Why was Ananias afraid? There are two very important implications to the personal dimension of Sauls conversion. He paid for his education by working for the priests. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. 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). 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). 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. The only question is who is the LORD? The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). Why do you think the street was named "Straight" These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42:16). Let us avoid cookie cutter conversions.. The longer I study Sauls conversion, the more convinced I am that his conversion is typical.