From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of Gods choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. So Ananias found Saul at Judas' house, praying for help. 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). More than that, he had a deep dislike and hostility toward Christians before his conversion. Over and over in his epistles, Paul spoke of salvation in terms of radical change. 31* The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. Impatient men forget that God is not bound by time. 2. Ironically, Ananias could have become one of Sauls targets of persecution for following the Lord Jesus. 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. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? What happened when Ananias anointed Saul? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 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). All of this account describes the two complementary divine visions which Ananias and Saul received. First, there are problems which appear to be serious. Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? Charles Spurgeon once wrote: Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Spirit upon the renewed heart. God was sealing Saul to Himself. He is there praying,j Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.. Ananias had to overcome his fear so that Saul would be overcome by grace. also Isaiah 64:6). (4) Sauls salvation was miraculous. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. (7) The salvation of Saul was Christ-centered. 32As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. Ananias In Galatians 1, Saul wrote that God had called him while he was still in his mothers womb (Galatians 1:15). Hear, you deaf! Note Pauls summary of the gospel at the end of Galatians 2: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20). This expression, calling on the name of the Lord seems to be one used consistently in the Old Testament. Pauls experience was not visionary but was precipitated by the appearance of Jesus, as he insists in 1Cor 15:8. gJi\!2LITShA%)&bqd=/)@Eg*tttpt @V6wCAp{GyAGG9h d=u3zDca{y:&0}=!P`XX z;g3 {~paveta +w This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (8) The salvation of Saul made him a vital part of Christs body, the church. Rather than attempt to pacify Ananias or to alleviate his apprehension, God went on to tell him that Saul would not only be a brother, but he would be His instrument for bringing the gospel to Gentiles too. 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. Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira got caught up in a band-wagon effect. 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. (Philippians 1:4-9). He goes for broke. What do Ananias actions, when asked in the passage to heal Saul, suggest about his feelings toward him? It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers. Sermon Seeds: The Way Forward - United Church of Christ 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. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Pauls language in Acts 26:11 seems to mean that Damascus is merely one of other `foreign cities to which he carried the persecution. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 114. In different contexts, preachers might want to draw specific analogies concerning those for whom the congregation should be praying even though it cuts against our grain to do so. I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. 151 The doctrine of total depravity is that every person, every man, woman, and child, has been affected (infected?) Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). And notice one more detail about the way in which Ananias did this. 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.f And yet, even in opposing God, he furthered Gods purposes; he was instrumental in the evangelization of the Gentiles (Acts 8:1, 4; 11:19-21). Romans 6). Then Jesus told them, You are going to have the light just a little while longer. It may well be a call to live transformed lives in the same circumstances in which we were found. 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 ultimate issue was Gods ability to saveeven the most committed unbeliever. Did Peter and Paul meet? My names sake". In fact, more is written of what Saul said and did because he was saved than is written of what he said and did resulting in his salvation. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6-7). 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). 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. The first is this: every saved person must have a personal conversion experience. This blindness was only removed by faith in Christ, a miracle brought about by divine action: In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see (Isaiah 29:18). . Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? * [9:26] This visit of Paul to Jerusalem is mentioned by Paul in Gal 1:18. 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. 1:15; Eph. Were they some of those converted to Christ through his preaching? 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). 17So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, 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. The life-changing implications of conversion are expressed in these words of Paul to Titus: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 24n but their plot became known to Saul. They do not understand the gospel well enough. 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It was irresistible argument and spread consternation among the Jews. Ananias baptised Saul in the name of Jesus - the one who had sent him to the vanquished enemy of the church. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. Working Preacher from Luther Seminary What is remarkable about the Lord's directions to Ananias? 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. Say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. 5 And whether they listen or fail to listenfor they are a rebellious housethey will know that a prophet has been among them. 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. 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.
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