Acts 9:10-22

Acts 9:10-22

 

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Behold, here am I, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened.

Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." And all those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?" But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

 

This is the story of how one obedient disciple was Christ’s instrument and set fire to the dynamite ministry of Saul of Tarsus.

 

Ananias – before the Lord even gave him his task, he had a willing and obedient heart, saying, “Behold, here I am, Lord.”

 

His assignment was simple: Go to Saul and be the Ananias in his vision, the Ananias who restores his sight.

 

He never said no. Even when afraid, he simply described his fears to Jesus. So rather than scold him, Jesus simply gave Ananias further explanation with the repeated command, “Go.” The reasons were simple: because Saul was a chosen instrument of Christ’s to bear His name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel; and because Christ was going to show Saul how much he must suffer for Jesus’ name (Note: perhaps through the example of Ananias, the formerly persecuted, obeying Christ even to the point of ministering to Saul, the persecutor – how could Saul have possibly missed this example? Saul’s life would be forever changed. No longer would he persecute. He would now serve Jesus and witness to even his persecutors that Jesus is the Christ.).

 

And Ananias obeyed. He went and laid his hands on Saul, and he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus… has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” He called Saul brother, trusting Jesus. He brought peace from Jesus’ family to Saul, being Jesus’ instrument to heal Saul’s eyes and even to fill Saul with the Holy Spirit.

 

Because this disciple Ananias was faithful:

• Saul’s sight was restored
• Saul was baptized
• Saul ate and was strengthened
• Saul was with (rather than hunting down) the disciples in Damascus
• Saul caused great amazement by his conversion
• Saul preached Jesus and proved that He was the Christ

 

Jesus used Ananias to light the dynamite ministry of Saul. Every believer is significant, though we fill different roles in God’s plan. Praise God for the role He gave Ananias!

 

Father, make us faithful, like Your servant Ananias. May we obey You, even in the face of our fears. May we trust Your wisdom, Your commands, and Your plans. And may we be faithful servants… because You are faithful to us.