What are 3 long term physical effects of tobacco use? When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 87-89), plays out the two views of Sauls conversion, the first (and seldom held the view of Ramsay), that Saul was suddenly and radically converted; second, that there was a considerable process involved. This Paul knew and testified to. 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. 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). This light would thus have been very bright indeed. 00:00. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. For now, he was told to proceed on to Damascus, where he would be given his next instructions.144 His blindness certainly gave Saul the opportunity to dwell on these events. No, Ananias did not do any of these things so far as the author of Luke-Acts is concerned. 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). 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. Saul 20and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Preachers can narrate verses 10-14, and then basically say, You see, Ananias didnt know what had just happened. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? I was inclined to think that most of us, experientially, are called to faith in Christ only to gradually learn Gods will for our life, progressively revealed to us as we walk in Him. Ananias is not only surprised by his commission; he is resistant to it, at least initially. Why did Ananias and Sapphira sell their property? Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. But everyone can pray for and with those who have scorned the church and are scorned by the church. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. Gods promises and purposes would not be stopped by this madman, Saul. His acceptance by the latter was finally brought about through his friendship with Barnabas (Acts 9:27). Indeed, God would reveal His sovereignty by using Saul to further the gospel, first by his opposition (which scattered the church and spread the gospel), and then by his conversion (which resulted in his powerful proclamation of Jesus as Messiah). The first thing we shall do is to make some observations on the passage as a whole to attempt to see the forest before we scrutinize the trees. 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. 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. 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. The children will practice being giving and friendly with someone that they do not know. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Road to Damascus 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. Saul had been granted permission by the high priest to arrest any man or woman in Damascus who were Christians. The New International Version They, too, were afraid of Saul and did not believe he really was a follower of Jesus Christ. and the other is a deceptive, self-serving half-truth from people interested For the remainder of this essay, I will pursue the second option. 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). 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). Enough revelation for the moment. Thus, his opposition to Christ and His church took on a missionary spirit. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Saul Visits Jerusalem. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus followers What did Ananias's do to heal Paul's eyes? Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle Or did they somewhat dread his arrival, knowing how zealous he was in his opposition to the church. Ananias When Saul reached Jerusalem, the Christians there also were afraid of him, because they thought he was going to have them all arrested. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. The Lesson of Ananias | Tim Challies This would leave AD 33-46 for the visit to Arabia (Gal. Why were Ananias and Sapphira killed on the spot? No change in life is greater than the change from unbelief to belief in Christ, from being lost and condemned to being saved and eternally secure, from being separated from God and others to being united with Him and with all believers. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). 5He said, Who are you, sir? The reply came, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.e Just as Saul seemingly had hatred toward Christ-followers, how do you think a Christ-follower like Ananias felt toward Saul? Why did God send Ananias to Saul Why this swift act of judgment? (You know, just in case God has forgotten something) 24n but their plot became known to Saul. 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. vii.) SAUL 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. About three hours later, Sapphira arrived. 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). Not everyone can be Paul, but we all can and should be Ananias. 34Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.. There are all too many autonomous Christians, those who feel that coming to faith in Christ does not necessitate identifying with His body, the church. 1:1; 1 Cor. to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:18). For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". How was Saul converted to Christianity? 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). Saul These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Ananias was that kind of a disciple. It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. When Ananias 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. I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. He sought to preach Christ in simplicity and not in a way that would detract from Him. * [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. 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). Acts 9:19-23 Saul in Damascus. His conversion was by far the most vital influence in Pauls life. My names sake". After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. In spite of the clear and present danger, Ananias went and began to look for the Christian hunter Saul. The risen Lord selected Saul out of the group with which he was traveling to hear, to see Him, and to understand His words. Ananias and Saul. It was an act of faith and bravery equivalent to helping a lion out of a trap. 4. It does not store any personal data. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? - Answers many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus. In peace, as in persecution, the church was comforted and continued to increase. 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. In Hellenistic times it was completely replanned on the Hippodamian grid-system. What Ananias didnt know is that Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, From the fact that three different accounts of Sauls conversion are recorded in Acts, we know this event had to play a crucial role in the expansion of the church. 21All who heard him were astounded and said, Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests? As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. I can believe someone might have prayed that Saul be waylaid, or terminated, in some divine act or providential accident (act of God). Now that the Lord had identified Himself as Jesus, Saul recognized that he was the sinner. What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). But Saul only became bolder in his preaching. Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. What happened to Straight Street since then? 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. Later it was the seat of administration of an Assyrian province. Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? (9) Finally, I believe that Lukes portrayal of Sauls salvation is typical of that of the nation Israel, which is still future. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. also 16:17; 18:25-26). It is some 150 miles Northeast from Jerusalem and watered by the river Abana from Anti-Lebanon. 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. (2) Sauls salvation was exclusively the work of a sovereign God. of him. 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. It was as the Son of God that Christ was revealed to him on the Damascus road (Gal. He had heard of all the terrible things Saul had done to Christians in Jerusalem and how it was his intent to do the same in Damascus, Ananias town. In this occasion, no one seems to have prayed for Peters miraculous escape. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. Blindness, not willing to see, not willing to understand is all too common but Ananias cured Saul blindness by a touch. many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus? But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. Ananias found The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. The good news of the gospel is that Christ Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). (6) Sauls salvation was a conversion, a radical change. 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. Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. Presumably this is the case, however I still wonder a bit about this. (N)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. And the second group, who were waiting for Saul to come and help them deal with the followers of the Way, were about to discover that Saul had joined them, perhaps bringing other members of the opposition along with him. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. [ a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). 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, Sauls vision prepared him for the arrival of Ananias, clearly indicating that he was the one God had appointed to reveal His will for him. The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. (6) Little emphasis is placed on Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit. Saul was received as a true believer, as a brother.146 The laying on of Ananiass hands, however, was a distinct act of identification with Saul. Were these people as eager as Saul to destroy the church? . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Acts does not tell us that he goes on to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, found churches in urban centers across the Roman Empire, stand true to the gospel while on trial for his faith over and again, and end up under house arrest in Rome awaiting a trial before Caesar. 11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsusp named Saul, for he is praying. This method of argument Paul continued to use with the Jews (Acts 17:3). Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. 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). We know that the salvation of men rests ultimately with God and not with usand not even with the one whom we wish to see saved. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). . This is very evident in the conversion of Saul. 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.
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