why was ananias afraid of helping saulblack and white emoji aesthetic
Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all (Romans 11:25-32). 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. Israel too will look on Him whom they have pierced and mourn. * [9:13] Your holy ones: literally, your saints.. Up till now, Jesus was the sinner, and Saul was the saint. He also warned those who would corrupt grace, to make it a pretext for sin (cf. (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. . Upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell to the ground and died. Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. Hypocrisy is the most dangerous spiritual virus to infect the church. It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul. 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). 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. New King James Version (NKJV). The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. Even if he were not one of these men, he would surely have hated to hear the gospel. 2 Cor. We can overcome our fears if, like Ananias, we trust that Jesus is directing the preaching work, Acts 9 Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible It was Gods initiative all the way. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands onq him to restore his sight.. * [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. Ananias WebThe Lord called to him in a vision, o Ananias!. WebWe can understand why Ananias would be afraid of Saul. What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you (Deuteronomy 28:28-29). What is the significance of the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. It was the most powerful piece of artillery in the Jewish camp that was suddenly turned round upon them. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 123. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. ). A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 115. Jesus was LORD and not a false prophet! B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. The Old Testament passages which I have suggested bear to Saul (blind, light) are passages which speak of Israel in their original context. Three times in the Book of Acts it is reported, the first time in the third person (he) by Luke (Acts 9:1-31), the second time in the first person (I) by the apostle, as he spoke to his Jewish unbelieving brethren in defense of his ministry (Acts 22:1-21), and the third time, again in the first person, as his personal testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice (Acts 26:1-23). At first he found himself in the position of being regarded as an apostate by the Jews and suspect by the Christian community of Jerusalem. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. God was sealing Saul to Himself. A man once confessed to his pastor that even though he didnt think of himself as hating people, there was one person he really hated for the way the person had wronged him. s Purpose In Sending Ananias To Saul 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). 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.g If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him (Daniel 2:22). Lessons from a Fearful Follower There is a great deal of information we are not given, and thus we cannot be dogmatic about our conclusions. This text portrays one of the historical landmarks of the church. To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42:7). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. Ananias and Saul - Holy Land of God 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 would have lost a human beings greatest privilege, of being an agent of the Lord (like an angel of the Lord). He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). Acts 9:17 - Ananias Baptizes Saul - Bible Hub 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way,137 both men and women,138 he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Their story is rarely shown in art, but is the subject of one of the Raphael Cartoons, and a panel on the Brescia Casket, both illustrated here. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. 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. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. 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. Our text presents Saul as a man who was not only running from God, but one who was actively opposing Him. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments (Lamentations 4:14). Or could it be that these disciples of Saul were Sauls disciples before his conversion, who accompanied him as he sought to capture Christians. How does Ananias ability to rise above his own feelings of hatred toward Saul encourage Saul to move Word was out that Saul would soon be arriving. I. We are given a little insight from the account in Acts 12 when Peter was imprisoned and it appeared he would soon be executed, as James had already been, and as we would infer Herod purposed to do with Peter (Acts 12:1-4). here - view only). We do not know the exact time when Saul was saved. Q&A 1. 1:11--2:10; Ephesians 3:1-13; cf. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 19and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.*. OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus. 2 Corinthians 4:14; cf. What do you suppose the saints would have prayed at this special prayer meeting? Saul Preaches in Damascus. (13) As Stephens death, instigated (or at least assisted) by Saul, resulted in an intense and widespread persecution of the churches in Jerusalem and elsewhere, so Sauls conversion seems to have been directly related to the return of peace (cf. We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. Sapphira). The baptism of Saul was his testimony to the change which had taken place. It does not store any personal data. Saul Visits Jerusalem. 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). First, there are problems which appear to be serious. 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 was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? 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 (Philippians 3:1-9; cf. 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). 12 It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hopethe glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 147 The more Saul preached, the more the Jews were confused. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11). 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. 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. 00:00. 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). The answer is: Jesus. Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 9:31). 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. 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). 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. Ananias 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. No sinner is beyond the grace and the grasp of God. Ananias would probably be afraid to go see Saul because Ananias was a Christian, and Saul was coming to the city to arrest the Christians. This conclusion could be based upon Pauls argument in Galatians 1 and 2, along with the expression, when many days had elapsed in Acts 9:23. The Essene community at Qumran used the same designation to describe its mode of life. A man who, along also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. Like Stephen, Saul seemed to gravitate toward preaching to the Hellenistic Jews (9:29). Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. And now, he is preaching the same message. 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 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Here is a graphic illustration of what true repentance isit is a turning about, beginning with ones belief and bearing fruit in ones conduct. And because Saul is welcomed into the church, he is sent out by the church. Pauls method was consistent with his message. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? At first, I thought this was unique with Saul. It is, in the Bible, the radiance of Gods glory. 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. "how many things he must suffer for Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. But then the preacher can continue that even though Ananias didnt know about Sauls epiphany, he did as the Lord told him anyway. How much does horse riding lessons cost in Bangalore? a disciple from Damascus who received a phophetic dream telling him They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). 24n but their plot became known to Saul. Web The children will describe Ananias as a man who helped Saul even though he was afraid. 19 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. SAUL Sauls salvation was focused on one thing and on one thing aloneChrist. Obedience is often not easy, but it is very likely the most direct way forward and the clearest way to honor God. 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. 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. Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. 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). 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).
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