why was ananias afraid of helping saul
138 Three times (8:3; 9:2; 22:4) this fact of persecuting women is mentioned as a special blot in Pauls cruelty (the third time by Paul himself) and one of the items in his being chief of sinners (1 Tim. (11) Sauls conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. It is evident in the way he was saved. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9). 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. Introduction. God chose Saul and had his destiny planned, before He saved him. When I look through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I never find the gospel presented in the same way to different people. (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. The man who, days before, was persecuting Christ was now preaching Christ. 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. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned. Why did Ananias have to overcome his fear? It lay within the jurisdiction of the Roman province of Syria, and it formed part of the Decapolis, a league of self-governing cities. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. 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). Why do you think the street was named "Straight" Imagine for a moment that this is the week of Sauls arrival at Damascus.129 By this time Saul has gained a reputation as the ringleader of the movement to make Christianity extinct. 2, called him Ananias ben Nebedeus. It was a city in the days of Abraham, and at the time of the Israelite monarchy it was the capital of the most important Aramaean kingdom. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7). For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). For less than $5/mo. Did God Judge Ananias and Sapphira for the same sin? Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?d The Lord 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). ACTS 9:10-14 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, In Peters words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord(v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. Acts 26:18). Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight,. He started to KNOW GRACE! Ananias small act of obedience led to a great harvest for the kingdom. 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. 5 How did God use Ananias in the New Testament? The Lord seeks and saves individuals, and thus our methods should be personal. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lords wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. The result was the restoration of Sauls sight and, it would seem, Sauls reception of the Holy Spirit. 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 Why was Saul (later called Paul) going to Damascus? l. [9:14] 9:12; 26:10; 1Cor 1:2; 2Tm 2:22. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. The church did not shrink or suffer for Sauls arrival, but it grew because of it. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to (1 Corinthians 7:15, 17-22, 24).154. WebThe Conversion of Saul. The words, Brother Saul must not have come easily to Ananias. One moment, Saul is inflicting pain and suffering on others who trust in Jesus as the Messiah, the next, he is enduring suffering for the sake of Jesus, the Messiah. The importance of Sauls conversion can hardly be overestimated. 143 . 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. * [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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. We do not know the exact time when Saul was saved. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. It was just such a miracle which gave Saul his spiritual sight, as he received back his physical sight. 144 Was Ananias the one who told him what he must do? Ananias the high priest brought charges against Paul and And be thankful (Colossians 3:15). They could not out-argue him. Conybeare and Howson {The Life and Times of Saint Paul, p. 77 (sic punct.)} a conversion of will, intellect, and emotion, which dictated the abiding purpose and direction of his subsequent life and activity. All Ananias did was to obey Christs command to go pray with Saul so that Saul could do all those things. Saul sought them out to persecute, even kill them, as an unbeliever; but he sought them out to worship and fellowship with them as a Christian. WebAnd was Ana- nias still reluctant to help Saul after the Lord explained the situation to him? Saul recognized that he was a sinner, and that his righteousness was but dung before God. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy lifenot because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead (Isaiah 59:10). Third, these discrepancies may well have been evident to the writers, who did not see fit to remove or explain every problem. It is not just in the Book of Acts that the importance of Sauls conversion is evident. The Creator of the universe specifying the name of a street and the house in one of His planets. Why did Saint Paul change his What is wrong with Ananias response to the Lord? 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Start FREE. He constantly defended the gospel against those who would diminish grace and seek to pollute it with works. Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard (Isaiah 58:8). 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? 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. The life of Paul and his writings are very important parts of the New Testament. Now this would have been a very bitter pill to swallow for many Jewish Christians. 1* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,a went to the high priestb WebThe last time they saw Saul, he was arresting and killing Christians. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lords freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christs slave. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. Christianity was described as putting off the old and putting on the new (Colossians 3). No doubt God had used Ananias to serve as Sauls first Barnabas. Just as Barnabas would vouch for Saul with the apostles in Jerusalem, so Ananias, a highly respected Jewish Christian, would vouch for Saul here. The light from heaven brought Saul to the ground. The call of salvation is a call to change. 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. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company {photo-lithoprinted}, 1966), p. 90. WebAnanias, I am sure. Sauls Conversion. And now, he is preaching the same message. Pauls opposition resulted in the scattering of the Christians from Jerusalem, thus taking the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and beyond (Acts 8:1; 11:19-21). gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w 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.'" What a terrible revelation this isthat all are sinners, even the best, the most religious, the most righteous! There is a great basis for comfort in the sovereignty of God. Saul got help, though, from a man named Barnabas. 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. Hd7/`l@TM0h#`C2 +u-AsQ3j++&?Fu7_[1_?a^J> Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate. sight. also 16:17; 18:25-26). His disciples150 lowered him in a basket, from the window of a room which was in the wall of the city (9:25). Jesus did not address the entire group but said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? The others knew that something unusual was going on, but they did not grasp it (Acts 22:9). Not knowing what had happened, she, too, lied about the offering and was also struck dead (Acts 5:111). came under Alexander the Great's rule. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The Lord Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision. 37Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. 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). I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6). Enough revelation for the moment. The election of Saul to salvation was specific and thus, personal. At this point, the conversion of the hero of the Gentile mission is recounted. Did Saul's many sufferings during his ministry for Jesus' name come as a surprise to him? . 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. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14; cf. 22But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded [the] Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. 145 We may note incidentally the two new descriptions of the Christians used here. We can learn more about his life in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and we can still read some of the letters he wrote that have been collected into the Bible, such as Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians. 2 Cor. WebAs Donald Davis notes, In case God has overlooked Sauls atrocities, [Ananias] takes occasion to issue a brief reminder. No one could fault the reluctance of Ananias. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. Barnabas, one of the Christians, assured them Sauls faith was genuine. 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. The first words spoken to Saul were, Saul, Saul, Why are you persecuting Me? (Acts 9:4). If the blinding of Saul was a major turning point in his life, so was the blinding of Bar-Jesus. What happened to Straight Street since then? Verse 18 tells us that, "straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and he arose and was baptized." WebSaul/Paul was a pretty mean guy who persecuted Christians. . 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. Sapphira). He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 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. sOGOSapQ3[y~@9W It was surely fear (reverence), among other things, which prompted this. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 130 In our text, we are told the Saul went to the high priest to ask for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus (9:1-2), but in Acts 22:5-6 Paul indicates that the Council (the Sanhedrin) was also involved in providing him with letters of authorization to arrest Christians in Damascus. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. Just as Saul had opposed those who believed, so Bar-Jesus opposed the proconsuls conversion. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:6-12). * [9:119] This is the first of three accounts of Pauls conversion (with Acts 22:316 and Acts 26:218) with some differences of detail owing to Lukes use of different sources. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 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). Without Ananias prayer, Saul spends the rest of his life as a blind man wondering what his life might have been. If the unity of Christ and His body, the church, were a vital truth with respect to Sauls persecution of the church, it was also a vital truth for him as a Christian. Peter Heals Aeneas at Lydda. 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). But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). 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). (2) Sauls salvation was exclusively the work of a sovereign God. Saul was knocked to the ground and confronted with the reality that hed been working against God rather than helping God. 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). 23After a long time had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, And having escaped from Damascus in a basket, most likely alone, he probably returned to Jerusalem alone, without a witness who could corroborate his claims. If this passage is profoundly important, it also poses its problems. Ananias son of Nebedeus (or Nedebeus) was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 23:2) and Caesarea (Acts 24:1). We would readily grant that every conversion which is recorded is unique, to some degree. * My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever, says the Lord. They may have been attempting to compile a list of known (and even suspected) Christians, along with addresses, to facilitate Sauls task. sunodia, Luke 2:44). F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), fn. He went on to write nearly half of the New Testament. There is no story in Acts more important than Saul/Pauls call, his encounter with the risen Christ. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Nothing is more evident in the account of Sauls conversion than his radical reversal. The second evidence of Sauls conversion was in his bold proclamation of his newly found faith in Jesus as the Messiah. 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). 1 What happened to Ananias and Sapphira as a result of lying to God? Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! i3&K>Kpg It was Gods initiative all the way. 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 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. This is a miracle, a miracle which is all of God, and all of grace. (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. With the help of a priest who knew his parents he was allowed to attend religious school. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. In the end, then, Ananias decision to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street (verse 11) to lay hands on Saul was a decision to risk his life to do the will of God. In our text Ananias was instructed to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might receive his sight (9:12). WebAnanias was afraid of Saul. He did not say that God revealed his Son to him, but that He revealed His Son in him. Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. Nevertheless, there must have been those who intended to use Sauls coming to oppose the church. 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. Second, the gospel should be proclaimed in a way that is personal. also 2:14-17; 3:12-18; 4:1-18; 5:17-21; 6:13--7:1; Galatians 1:13-17; cf. So it would appear. When Paul spoke of his conversion here in Galatians 1, he did not speak of the light which shone without, but rather of the light which shone within. 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. But his blindness was symbolic of his condition. The common characteristics of conversion are those on which I would like to focus in the conversion of Saul. 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, 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). 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Second, the only result of this event shown in the Bible is that Saul received his sight. 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. Thus, whenever he spoke of his conversion and his call to ministry, he always spoke of this incident as an act of divine grace, of Gods unmerited favor, of an act of mercy toward him: I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:15-16). helpful to the Lord. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. 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). The conversion of Saul is important in another way. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Web17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me the Romans . 41He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. Ananias hesitation to visit Saul showed that he had good relationship with Jerusalem, for he knew of the trouble that the persecutor had raised against the early converts, and of the goal of his mission to Damascus. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. He was afraid because Saul killed Jesus’ followers🤨 There were three Ananiases in the Bible. The answer to both questions is no. We dont know why Ananias is only mentioned once after Acts chapter nine. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. * [9:29] Hellenists: see note on Acts 6:17. 2. (1 Corinthians 9:1). Now that the Lord had identified Himself as Jesus, Saul recognized that he was the sinner. to go lay hands on Saul (soon to be known as Paul) and restore his Indeed, this seems to be the rule. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. The famous story of St. Pauls conversion from being an outrageous persecutor of the gospel of Christ to be an illustrious professor and preacher of it.