Acts 9:10–17

The essential work in Saul's soul was finished, and now the Lord uses a human servant. Two things about that servant are worth noting. First, he was just "a certain disciple," clearly of no special prominence. It was fitting that the only man to help Saul in any way was a very humble one. Saul had been very prominent as an opponent and was soon to be very prominent as a servant of the Lord. The disciple who helped him was undistinguished and retiring. Yet he was near enough to the Lord to receive His instructions and talk with Him. It is often like this in God's ways. Second, Ananias lived in Damascus. So he was one of those against whom Saul had been breathing out threats and murder. One of the very people Saul would have murdered was sent to call him "Brother Saul." Saul's evil was repaid with good in this overwhelming way.

Even Saul, apostle though he was, had to enter by the same lowly gate as anyone else. And so we have the story of Ananias, and the ways of the Lord. The Lord did not use some great apostle, nor even Philip, but a disciple at Damascus named Ananias, to whom He spoke in a vision.

And now the Lord spoke to that servant in a vision, addressing him by name, as He had personally addressed Saul. Yet how great the difference! To Saul it was One previously unknown to him who spoke. To Ananias it was One with whom that disciple was well acquainted. "Ananias," said the Lord. "Here I am, Lord," was the ready response.

But see the way the Lord meets him. There was in Damascus a man named Ananias. The Lord always has servants to do His work, blessed be His name! Ananias was free to serve the Lord. What a happy thing it is to be a servant of the Lord. He was ready to do anything the Lord wanted.

Notice, in chapter 9:10, how familiarly the Lord talks with His disciple. He opens His mind to him as to a friend. He tells him the circumstances that affect His own mind. Then Ananias answers in the same blessed confidence, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man," and so on. Of course Ananias had to obey the Lord. But this shows the unbounded confidence with which he could open his whole heart, because Jesus was so intimate with him.

So far from restraining prayer, we really need more openness with God. Scripture fully warrants this, and the case of good Ananias shows it (Acts 9:10-17). The Lord sends him to Saul of Tarsus to receive him after his conversion. But Ananias has a difficulty in his mind, and with beautiful simplicity and reverence he lays it before the Lord... Notice that the Lord does not reprove Ananias in the least. This incident, left on record, encourages us to tell the Lord about all our difficulties with reverent intimacy.

Saul was to be, beyond all others, a witness of Christ to the Gentiles. So God took special care to remove from every fair and honest person any suspicion that this had been arranged between Jews. Outwardly the vision of glory was unmistakable before many witnesses. Of the whole company, only Saul heard what passed between the Lord and His servant. But divine wisdom told Ananias what had happened, without Saul or anyone else on earth telling him.

The Lord's eye was on Saul. Nor was that all. He gave him the hope of shortly regaining his eyesight. He had already seen the man who would come in and restore it, and God revealed his name too, though until then this man was a complete stranger to him. And now the Lord spoke to that servant in a vision, addressing him by name, as He had personally addressed Saul. Yet how great the difference! The One who spoke to Saul was a stranger to him. But Ananias knew well the One who spoke to him.

Three days and nights he neither eats nor drinks. The deep moral work of God went on in that converted heart. Yet even he, apostle though he was, must enter by the same lowly gate as anyone else. And so we have the story of Ananias, and the ways of the Lord. The Lord did not use some great apostle, nor even Philip. He spoke in a vision to a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. And he goes. The Lord also gave another vision to the apostle himself. In it Saul sees Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.

First, he was just "a certain disciple," clearly of no special prominence. It was fitting that the only man to help Saul in any way was a very humble one. Saul had been very prominent as an opponent and was soon to be very prominent as a servant of the Lord. His helper was a quiet, unknown disciple. Yet this man stayed close enough to the Lord to receive His instructions and talk with Him. It is often like this in God's ways. Second, Ananias lived in Damascus. So he was one of the people Saul had been breathing out threats and murder against.

Saul's main dealing was with the Lord Himself. But he must also learn that he cannot be independent of the people of God… The Lord adds that Saul has received a confirming vision. In it a man named Ananias comes to him and puts his hands on him, so that his sight may be recovered. The laying on of his hands had no supernatural power in itself. Instead, God chose to show His power alongside the fellowship that a believer expresses by laying on hands. So the Lord revealed His errand to Ananias, and gave Saul a matching vision, so that there could be no mistake.

In Acts 9:12, 17 the healing of the body was a picture of the spiritual. In Acts 13:3 it was the act of the saints. It expressed their fellowship in the work to which the Holy Spirit had called the apostle Paul and Barnabas.

So Ananias, a simple disciple, is all the more fitting a messenger to Saul. The Lord appears to him in a vision and tells him to go to the house of Judas and look for this man. Saul has already seen him in a vision, in answer to his prayer, laying his hands on him so that he may receive his sight. So the man who is to minister to others in such a large and blessed way must first learn his own need of ministry, and receive it.

The Lord tells Ananias to look for Saul at Judas' house and restore his sight. Ananias answers respectfully, though he comes close to arguing back. The Lord overrules all his reluctance. He assures him of His own abounding grace, and also of Saul's genuine repentance, which fitted him for the wonderful work he was now called to. How fully, then, may we pour out the exercises of our hearts to Him! How completely may we count on the loving interest of the One who has all things at His disposal, and who takes an interest in our history from first to last!

So far from holding back prayer, we really need more frankness with God. Scripture fully warrants it, and the case of good Ananias shows it... Ananias has a difficulty in his mind, and with beautiful simplicity and reverence he lays it before the Lord... Notice that the Lord does not reprove Ananias in the least. The incident left on record surely encourages us to tell the Lord, with reverent intimacy, about all our difficulties.

He begins to reason with the Lord. He had heard that this man had come to bind those who called on the name of the Lord... Of course he had to go and do what the Lord wanted. But the Lord explains the matter to him. He shares His thoughts about Saul with him: that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name, and that He would show him what he must suffer for His name's sake. In a word, the Lord opens His heart to Ananias, as to a friend whom He treats with full confidence.

But Ananias — is he ready for this full expression of mercy to someone like Saul? Could he take in the new wine of this gospel of the glory, which could reach out and lay hold of a man like him? No; he objects... He cannot help supposing that it was all a mistake. Impossible that one like this could be laid hold of in this way, as a fit vessel to display the fullness of mercy.

Acts 9 applies the title "saints" to believers of the present age for the first time. The earlier Scriptures often describe Old Testament believers this way... The letters use the title constantly. Superstition gives it to a few special people, such as Matthew or Peter, and only after they have died. Scripture gives it here and now to every blood-washed believer in the Lord Jesus. Note this fact carefully.

In the New Testament the word used means "holy one." A saint is one set apart for God; he is such by calling... Saints are therefore a distinct, recognised group of people who belong to God — His saints. All Christians are included in this group, so the apostle could speak of "all saints." Christians need not shrink from owning the name God was pleased to mark them out with. They should always remember that there is a way of life that fits saints.

It would seem from the book of Acts that calling on the Lord's name was the hallmark of a Christian. In Acts 9 Ananias, in his prayer to the Lord, speaks of Saul of Tarsus as having "authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name" (verse 14). And again, in verse 21, some were asking, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name?"

It would seem from the book of Acts that calling on the Lord's Name was the hallmark of a Christian. In Acts 9 Ananias, in his prayer to the Lord, speaks of Saul of Tarsus as having "authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name" (verse 14). And again, in verse 21, some were asking whether this was not the man who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem. Indeed, is anyone saved who has not called on the Name of the Lord? … To be saved, the call need only be made once. But the references to the Christian company calling on the Lord's Name are in the continuous tense. They suggest that believers would normally be calling on the Lord.

Tell me I am not to worship Christ: you take away the only Christ I know. I have no other than the One I adore and worship with a thankful heart that owes everything to Him. … But more; calling on the name of the Lord is, so to speak, the definition of a Christian. Paul three times begged the Lord to take away the thorn, and the Lord heard his cry and answered. Stephen was calling out and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

I can only conclude that Saul thought he had done such a good job with the Jerusalem Christians that he would spread his net wider. I don't know why he chose Damascus, it was quite a long way and it was outside of Israel. That may have been the point. Perhaps he was proving that he could strike at Christians outside the borders of historic Israel, so that fleeing believers would not think themselves safe even outside the country. So Damascus it was. He got letters from the chief priests to the synagogues there, so they would know he had official backing to deal with this error in the harshest possible way.

Ananias had communications from the Lord (vv. 10-12), which even in a vision drew out the expression of his extreme surprise. Nor can there be conceived a more exquisite unfolding of the free intercourse which grace has now opened between the heart of the Master in heaven and that of the servant on earth. Ananias on one side ventures respectfully even to the verge of remonstrance (vv. 13, 14) … as the Lord on the other overrules all reluctance by the assurance not only of His own abounding grace, but of Saul's genuine repentance fitting him for the wonderful work to which he was henceforth called.

But Ananias — is he prepared for this full expression of mercy to someone like Saul? Could he understand the new wine of this gospel of the glory, which could come out and lay hold of someone like him? No; he objects… He cannot help supposing that it was all a mistake. Impossible that one like this could be laid hold of in this way.

Ananias, in Acts 9, was something of a Jonah, unprepared for full grace. And so shall we be, if we do not come to God ourselves as "the chief of sinners," taking up all sin as in our own persons.

So far from restraining prayer, we really need more frankness with God. … The Lord sends him to Saul of Tarsus to receive him after his conversion. But Ananias has a difficulty in his mind, and with beautiful simplicity and reverence, he lays it before the Lord. … Notice that the Lord does not reprove Ananias in the least. The record of this incident encourages us to tell the Lord about all our difficulties with reverent closeness.

"Go your way," said the Lord. This one command was enough to still every doubt and to settle every question that had arisen in his soul. He went his way and entered the house, honoured to be sent on such a mission.

Far from holding prayer back, we really need more openness with God. Scripture fully supports this, and the case of good Ananias shows it (Acts 9:10-17). The Lord sends him to Saul of Tarsus to receive him after his conversion. But Ananias has a difficulty in his mind, and with beautiful simplicity and reverence, he lays it before the Lord… Notice that the Lord does not reprove Ananias at all. The incident is left on record to encourage us to tell the Lord about all our difficulties, with closeness and reverence.

As the chapter unfolds, we see a beautiful picture of a true servant as a vessel of the Lord. We sometimes speak of being channels of blessing. But does Scripture ever speak this way? A channel is only a pipe that something flows through; it holds nothing. A vessel holds something, and it must be full before it can give to others.

(1) The choice was the Lord's, and this must be so with every true minister of God. (2) The chosen vessel was to preach Christ, to tell of His glory, to declare His name. (3) His mission was to go to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel. In Acts 2 the circle covered only Jerusalem. In Acts 8 we saw it reach Samaria. Now we find it has become world-wide.

His past gave no sign of what he was to be. Yet God would make the apostle of His fullest grace to the uncircumcision — that is, the Gentiles — out of the apostle of man's deepest hatred against Christ. The Great Potter (see Jer. 18:1-6) was about to lay hold of a very unlikely-looking lump of clay and transform it. Until now that "chosen vessel" had been in the Potter's mind — from now on the Potter's mind would be in the vessel.

Saul had gone further in the Jews' religion than many of his own age in his own nation. He was far more zealous for the traditions of his fathers (Gal. 1:14). No one would have thought he had any liking for Gentiles. His zeal for the Law and for Jewish traditions was unquestionable. Yet he was the vessel chosen to bear Christ's name before the Gentiles and kings, as well as the people of Israel. So the field of service given to him was the widest of all… He could preach to his own countrymen, and he did. But the Lord's word to Ananias (Acts 9:15) mentions service to them last, even though Saul always went to his own people first when he could.

But the Lord answers by telling him that Saul was a chosen vessel to Him, to bear His Name in testimony of the widest range — to both Gentiles and Jews. Here, though, the Gentiles come before the Jews. What he is to suffer matches the breadth of his testimony. To bear the Name of Jesus means suffering; witness and martyr are the same word.

When the Lord first met Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, and three days later sent His servant Ananias to him, at that very time He said: "I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name." He did not speak of great things he would do so much as the great things he must suffer. Read Second Corinthians chapter 11 from verse 23 to the end, and you will find an amazing list of sufferings, and most of them are not even mentioned in the book of Acts. Few have ever suffered as Paul suffered, so he may indeed speak of it with authority.

Saul would carry His name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel, and all he did across the world of that day would be less than all he suffered for Christ's name. He really was a chosen vessel to the Lord — overflowing in labours of love, and even more beyond compare in his sufferings for Christ.

The Lord would show the man who had made others suffer what great things he himself must suffer for Christ's name. Later history proved this, and the sufferer accepted it fully.

The Lord replies by telling Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel to Him, to carry His Name in testimony of the widest range — to Gentiles and to Jews both. But the Gentiles come first here. What he must suffer matches the breadth of his testimony. To carry the Name of Jesus means suffering; witness and martyr are to be the same word.

This word is general. It covers any kind of necessity — the necessity that lies in the nature of the case, or in particular the necessity that comes by divine appointment, and this gives the word greater strength. "Must" is the way it is most often translated. Many passages show the necessity established by the will and word of God, and Acts 9:16 is one of them.

It was not so much in service as by suffering that all in Paul which was like the Lord came out. If Paul was nearest in likeness to Him, he would have the most to suffer. He had been brought to the feet of the Man of sorrows.

Without the suffering here there can be little spiritual power for entering into the glory set before us. It would lose its true incentive and energy in the soul, because it would not be linked, as it should be, with the blessed Lord's pathway and life on earth. So the apostle's work as an evangelist was one continuous series of bitter persecutions, most of all from the Jews.

Will you search all through the Scriptures and show me one example of a faithful witness for Christ who found his path an easy one? The idea of an easy path may push some people today into a place the Lord never called them to. But Paul, right at the start, was to suffer many things for the name of Christ.

Ananias obeys at once. He goes to the house where Saul was staying, lays his hands on him, and tells him the errand he was sent on: not only to restore Saul's sight, but that he should be filled with the Spirit. The force of the message lay here. The Lord Jesus, who appeared to Saul on the road, had now sent Ananias supernaturally to bring His blessing. How clear it is that God was at work, and that the Lord Jesus was the revealer of His mind and the channel of His mercy.

The most striking fact in the whole transaction is the gift of the Spirit through Ananias. The ordinary way of giving the Spirit was through the hands of an apostle. In Saul's case the wisdom of God broke clean through that way, if hands were used at all. Here every care was taken to show God laying all human pretensions in the dust. Using a disciple like Ananias lays the axe to the root of official pride. And this was where the Lord was calling out the most honoured servant He ever chose to use.

Ananias is therefore, as a simple disciple, all the more suited to be sent to Saul... So the man who is to serve others in such a large and blessed way must first learn his own need of ministry, and receive it. What a fitting messenger this Ananias must have seemed to the thankful and humbled man! His name means "the Lord has shown grace," and "grace" was indeed his newfound joy.

Ananias came in, put his hands on him, and said, "Brother Saul." What a thrill went through that man's soul as Ananias called him "Brother Saul." I understand it well. The week after my conversion, some simple Christians gave me the right hand of fellowship and let me take my place with them at the Lord's Supper. A deep thrill of joy went through my soul that they should acknowledge I was a child of God.

Ananias goes, puts his hand on him, and addresses him by the sweet title of relationship which Christ began, set apart, and has given.

Saul had a fine natural mind, trained to the highest level. No doubt he believed he was able to judge all things. Yet this religious man was completely blind. He did not know his own need. He did not know Christ, or all that God is doing through Christ. He was even trying to rid the earth of everything that bore the name of Christ. But grace brings this highly intellectual bigot — blind to everything of Christ — into the presence of Jesus. At once he is blinded to everything of earth, so that his eyes may be opened in connection with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Here we have the gospel, carried by Ananias from the Lord to Saul. It removed the fear of God that had filled his soul. It spoke peace to his troubled conscience. With a tender hand it drew out the barbed arrow of conviction. And Saul now receives the Spirit of God as a seal of this message of mercy. Until now his eyes had been blinded to everything but the darkness within. Now they can "look up" to the source from which it all came — to the very face of Jesus Christ in glory.

He had been three days without sight, but now the time of darkness was over. He was to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That shows beyond dispute that he had now reached deliverance, along with the scales falling from his eyes and his receiving sight. Only a delivered soul could be filled with the Holy Spirit.