Ananias and 'brother Saul'

[Rubato 1]

Why did God go through the apparent hassle of talking Ananias into going and putting his hands on Saul? Why did Saul have to have hands laid on him?

Does this mean that men must be used to administer the gospel (as I have heard some say)?
Or that a preacher must be ordained by the laying on of hands of others, etc.?
Was this a special req. for apostles?

 

[webdog]

This should be a good thread. I would say 'no' to all of your questions, and would say that choosing Ananais was how God chose to return Paul's sight. We see Jesus heal the sick, blind and dead in a number of ways both personally and through the apostles, and in srikingly different manners. I believe it is symoblic, as is many passages of Scripture.

I was pondering this story a couple months ago. I aked myself "who had more faith...Ananais or Paul?" Paul got thrown off the horse, heard Jesus' voice, and then obeyed. Ananais, on the other hand, only had a dream that he should go see this same person who was killing his own kind! I often ponder wonder what would have happened had Ananais NOT gone to Paul?
You imagine a jew being told to go to Hitler's house during the holocaust? Talk about faith!

 

[TCGreek]

Why did God go through the apparent hassle of talking Ananias into going and putting his hands on Saul? Why did Saul have to have hands laid on him?

Like Webdog said, it's symbolic, richly rooted in the OT.

Does this mean that men must be used to administer the gospel (as I have heard some say)?

From what I see in Scripture a person should be ordained before they go into ministry.

Or that a preacher must be ordained by the laying on of hands of others, etc.?
Was this a special req. for apostles?

Timothy, who was not an apostle, was ordained by the body of elders (1 Tim 4:14).

"Laying of hands for ministry" is rooted in the OT.

 

[LeBuick]

I often ponder wonder what would have happened had Ananais NOT gone to Paul?

Can we remember Jonah?