25but his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? Q&A 1. Who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. 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. \4Q-b24Q-z U`E(O42. Lessons from a Fearful Follower Why this swift act of judgment? also Romans 1:1-7, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:3-11; cf. WebExplain why Ananias was told that Saul was a 'Chosen Vessel' Give an account of the vision which Saul had while traveling on the road to the Damascus. It was his preaching that resulted in the conversion of many Gentiles, and it was his writing (his epistles) to these saints which greatly strengthened them in their faith. It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. I see a man who is confident, aggressive, and zealous, rather than a man troubled by inner doubts. He sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell from Sauls eyes. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They are also very significant in what they conveyed to Saul. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. But there is a greater discrepancy between the accounts of Sauls conversion in Acts and that which Paul gave in Galatians 1. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? What else did Jesus explain to Ananias? 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11). There would likely be another group of people meeting on the evening before Saul arrived in Damascusthose who did not believe in Jesus as their Messiah, and who eagerly sought the eradication of the church in their city. Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and There are affinities between his conversion experience and Ezekiels inaugural vision, in which the prophet saw the likeness of the heavenly throne and above it a likeness as it were of a human form (Ezek. WebYou know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. The second option is to invite the congregation to identify with Ananias (who shows up in verse 10). The children will state that they can pray if they feel afraid and it will help them to be brave After that Saul was welcomed by the Christians and he preached freely in and around Jerusalem. (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. 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. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). Saul seems to have been the instigator of the persecution of the church, which began at the death of Stephen in Jerusalem and worked outward from there. His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). Saul is welcomed into the church. 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, WebThe Good Ananias: A Lesson for Believers. . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This light would thus have been very bright indeed. 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 was also blinded, which identified him with the blindness of the nation Israel of which the Old Testament prophets wrote (see above). The conversion of Saul is a very crucial event in this book, which spells out from a historical point of view (Romans, from a theological viewpoint) the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the plans and purposes of God. Rueban founded the Tribe of Reuban and Saul was King. The church sent him on his way to Tarsus by way of Caesarea. What happened to Saul when Ananias laid hand on him? (6) Little emphasis is placed on Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit. Matt. 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. In Pauls speech in Acts 22, he describes Ananias as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews that dwelt in Damascus (Acts 22:12). also Psalm 50:15; Joel 2:32; Jeremiah 29:12; 33:3-8). It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Pauls Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Cor. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. 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. Acts ix. But the gospel is good news for sinners. (9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? He is trying to inform God of whats going on. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? Leave them; they are blind guides. 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. He should not become uncircumcised. The Story of Ananias: Faith over Fear | Tactical Christianity many pulpits today promise to those who will follow Jesus. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Discuss 2 ways in which Paul suffered as an apostle 1:15; Eph. Granted, his experience is unique and dramatic. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In this chapter we have, I. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). There is more space devoted to convincing Ananias than there is to the conversion of Saul. WebAnanias placed his hands upon Saul who received the Holy Spirit and the restoration of his sight. The call to salvation is also the call to a life of holiness and obedience. Ananias with his wife Sapphira, sold some property and agreed to hold back Did they send for Saul? (1) There is considerable emphasis given to Sauls conversion in the Book of Acts. 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 16For (I)I will show him how many things he must suffer for My (J)names sake.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell from Sauls eyes. It is evident in the way he was saved. Am I not an apostle? 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. Why did Ananias go to Paul? ProfoundQa 43* r And he stayed a long time in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. 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). It is the very word that Luke will use in 16:10 of the conclusion reached at Troas concerning the vision of Paul. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. * [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). To whom did the Lord communicate "in a vision"? 1:16f. 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. 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). Let us not fail to respect the individuality of the conversion experience and to deal with people in the light of their individuality. Transform us as you transformed Paul. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? - Answers 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? What was the decision of Ananias and Sapphira? Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul's reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church . However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 3 Why was Ananias afraid of helping Saul? 1:1; 1 Cor. I very much doubt anyone prayed that this Saul might be saved. 15:21). (6) Sauls salvation was a conversion, a radical change. (what was bad was that they lied about the amount). Saul Q also Isaiah 64:6). Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 2:11-15). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. They could only kill him, and this they were determined to do (9:23). the light and blind passages above). The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight (Acts 9:10-12). The remaining verses of this account describe the results of Sauls conversion, all of which serve as dramatic proof of his radical transformation as a result of his encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:13-19). 9:31). by the sin of Adam. My names sake". (1) Sauls salvation was the salvation of a sinner. 136 E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. They, not unlike Ananias, were very reluctant to have anything to do with this Christian killer. 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). It was Gods initiative all the way. Ananias 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus (A)named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias., 11So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul (B)of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. They could not out-argue him. If he were viewed as a reactionary, a trouble-maker, perhaps there were some unbelievers who thought Saul was too much trouble. He spoke of it as the movement from darkness to light (Colossians 1:12-13; Ephesians 4:8-14) in which the new believer should now walk. Ananias and Saul - June 3, 2022. (N)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. How can this message of suffering for Jesus' name in (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. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death (Philippians 3:7-10). With the help of Ananias, he was transformed into a follower of Jesus and became one of the most well-known evangelists ever. 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. They are private Christians, living like islands rather than as a part of His body. Trembling and astonished, he inquired, This account is accompanied by an asseveration of its truth which suggests that some people were contradicting it.133. He went on to become a respected teacher and the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram. All rights reserved. 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 Verses 1 and 2 vividly depict Sauls intent, his intense desire and determination to rid the world of Christianity by taking active, aggressive, severe action against those saints who had fled from Jerusalem. 1:11--2:10; Philippians 3:1-14; Colossians 1:24-29; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 6:13-16; 2 Timothy 1:8-12; Titus 2:11-15; 3:1-7. WebThere was no indication in Jesus words that Ananias was going to give Saul the Holy Spirit. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. The call of salvation is a call to change. Would the church not have undertaken the task of discipling these folks? 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. But why would they be called his disciples? A( ) Ananias is obscure. Did they think their task would be a simple one? 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? (Isaiah 42:18-19). One thing was certain; no matter how much time had passed, the apostles were not yet convinced of Sauls conversion. He paid for his education by working for the priests. In other words a beginning point for narrating Acts 9:1-19 could be with Ananias knowledge of Saul as a persecutor, which he expresses in verse 13. It is here that Paul took the leadership and became the dominant or leading individual, instead of Barnabas. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.. In the process, Saul was to greatly extend the outreach of the gospel to the Gentiles. 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). The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. Rising Strong Small Groups And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 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. How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Ananias Laid Hands on Paul Ananias did as the Lord commanded and went to Sauls house and laid his hands on him. It's still there and you can still see the evidence of the colonnades (click Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photolithoprinted}, 1966), p. 91. Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate. Ananias was afraid because he knew Sauls reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church. 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. Who told Saul to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street? In order to have both, they pretended to give the full price of the sale of their property to the apostles. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. Thus, it is grace which sustains the saint, in addition to saving him: Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited (Hebrews 13:9). The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. 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.
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