10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 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 that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Commentary
Vs. 10-12 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
The scene now shifts from Saul, to a disciple also at Damascus named Ananias. Now the Lord calls to him in a vision by name saying, “Ananias.” To which he responds, “Here I am Lord.” Ananias’ then is an eager servant of the Lord just like the Lord’s chosen servants in times past, and so the Lord knowing this now calls upon him, saying to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Vs. 11-12 And so, with that the Lord now gives Ananias specific instructions about where he must go, specifically to a street called Straight, which seems most appropriate, and their inquiry at the house of Judas for a man called Saul of Tarsus, whom the Lord tells Ananias is praying, “And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Vs. 12 Thus, the Lord has makes it clear to Ananias that this is His Will and His doing, and that He is bringing these two men together so that He may bring Saul into the faith. For as we will see He has many plans for him to fulfill.
Vs. 13-16 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Now when Ananias heard that he was to go to Saul of Tarsus he immediately had some strong reservations about doing so, for he had heard from many how much harm Saul had caused the believers (i.e., saints) in Jerusalem. Also, he had heard that Saul now had authority from the chief priests to even seek out and arrest believers even beyond Jerusalem (vs. 13-14). Nonetheless the Lord Jesus makes it absolutely clear to Ananias that he must go, saying to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus leaves no room for Ananias’ capitulation, but instead tells him that the dreaded Saul is in fact a chosen vessel of Mine, chosen to bear the Lord’s name before Gentiles, before kings, and the children of Israel. All which must have astonished Ananias when he heard these things. Therefore, to remove Ananias trepidation about doing so the Lord Jesus not only foretells him these things, which He will make happen in His own way and time, but He says He will even show the apostle Paul how many things he must suffer for His Names sake. Thus, there is to be no mistaking that the then Saul, and now soon to be apostle Paul will have not only a mighty ministry entrusted to him by the Lord, to bear witness to the Gentiles and Jews and their kings, but he will also be told how many things that he must suffer for Christ’s Names sake beforehand. Ananias then must go and seek out Saul immediately as he has been commanded by the Lord.
Vs. 17 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 that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Therefore, having heard from the Lord Jesus Christ and His and plans for Saul, Ananias in believing Him, now puts aside his own fears and sets out to find him. Having then found him, as the Lord directed him to him, he now speaks to Saul as now a beloved brother in the Lord, saying to him, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Vs. 17 Thus, Ananias in doing so shows us all that true Christian grace and maturity does not remember or recall one’s deeds done in the past, but rather he in following and obeying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now graciously extends the right hand of fellowship and seeks the wellbeing of Saul, a man who was once an enemy of church. It’s an incredible act of love and acceptance and kindness, all which must have also mightily moved the heart of Saul.
Vs. 18 “Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.”
Now as soon as Ananias spoke those words to Saul, the Scripture says that something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and immediately he received his sight! Having then received his sight and thus seeing by the brethren there for the first time, people whom he now loved, Saul arose and was baptized.
Vs. 19 “So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.”
Having received his sight and been baptized, Saul now ends his fast, for he is now a new man, believing in and belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ and His people. And so, the disciples there in Damascus now receive him as such. Therefore, the once feared and hated Saul is now a Christian whose life will now be fulfilled in serving the Lord Jesus Christ and His people, and thus opening the eyes of all people as his was opened to Christ!
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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