Ananias- Unsung Bible Ananias- Unsung Bible HeroHero

Acts 9:10-22; 22:12-21Acts 9:10-22; 22:12-21

Introduction Introduction

Three men named AnaniasThree men named Ananias– A liar (Acts 5)A liar (Acts 5)– A high priest (Acts 23, 24)A high priest (Acts 23, 24)– An unsung hero An unsung hero

Facts Facts – Wrote no booksWrote no books– Noticed by God (Hebrews 6:10)Noticed by God (Hebrews 6:10)

CharacterCharacter

““Just” a disciple (9:10)Just” a disciple (9:10)– Not an apostleNot an apostle– Unknown to many (Matthew Unknown to many (Matthew

6:18)6:18)– Better to be a “certain Better to be a “certain

disciple” than a Diotrephes (3 disciple” than a Diotrephes (3 John 9, 10)John 9, 10)

CharacterCharacter

Devout (22:12)Devout (22:12)– ““Practiced what he preached”Practiced what he preached”– Others know we are Others know we are

Christians? (Philippians Christians? (Philippians 2:15, 16)2:15, 16)

– Do we study? (2 Timothy 2:15)Do we study? (2 Timothy 2:15)

CharacterCharacter

Good report (22:12)Good report (22:12)– Believed in Jesus (Acts 9:17)Believed in Jesus (Acts 9:17)– Watched how he lived Watched how he lived

(1 Timothy 3:7) (1 Timothy 3:7)– Character is moldedCharacter is molded

Readiness Readiness

““Behold, I am here” (9:10)Behold, I am here” (9:10)– Ready to serveReady to serve– Like Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8)Like Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8)– Like Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10)Like Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10)

ReadinessReadiness

Missed opportunitiesMissed opportunities– Excuses (Luke 14:16-24)Excuses (Luke 14:16-24)– Problem of priorities Problem of priorities

(Matthew 6:33)(Matthew 6:33)

Willingness Willingness

Sent (9:13-17)Sent (9:13-17)– Logical questions (9:26)Logical questions (9:26)– Had come to persecute Had come to persecute

Christians (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1, 2)Christians (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1, 2)– Not like JonahNot like Jonah

WillingnessWillingness

Example of JesusExample of Jesus– In Gethsemane (Matthew In Gethsemane (Matthew

26:39)26:39)– ““The will of God will not lead The will of God will not lead

where the grace of God cannot where the grace of God cannot protect us.”protect us.”

– What about us?What about us?

Faithfulness Faithfulness

Love (9:17)Love (9:17)– Didn’t bring up the pastDidn’t bring up the past– Laid hands on Saul to healLaid hands on Saul to heal– Faithfully showed God’s love Faithfully showed God’s love

(John 13:35) (John 13:35)

FaithfulnessFaithfulness

Loyalty Loyalty – Spoke of Jesus- not selfSpoke of Jesus- not self– He is important He is important

(1 Corinthians 2:1-5) (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)– What impresses us about What impresses us about

preachers and other preachers and other Christians?Christians?

FaithfulnessFaithfulness

Lowliness of mindLowliness of mind– Saul became an apostleSaul became an apostle– Taught by a “certain” discipleTaught by a “certain” disciple– Paul wrote of “lowliness of Paul wrote of “lowliness of

mind” (Philippians 2:4)mind” (Philippians 2:4)

FaithfulnessFaithfulness

View of baptism (22:16)View of baptism (22:16)– Not optionalNot optional– Not done later as an “outward Not done later as an “outward

sign of an inward grace”sign of an inward grace”– Baptized immediately like the Baptized immediately like the

jailor (Acts 16:33)jailor (Acts 16:33)

Conclusion Conclusion

Need more “certain” Need more “certain” disciplesdisciples

Problems of a DiotrephesProblems of a Diotrephes Which one are we?Which one are we?