Ananias’ Availability

Acts 9:10–22
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Available

Without doubt Ananias is one of the forgotten heroes of the Christian Church. If it is true that the Church owes Paul’s conversion to the prayer of Stephen, it is also true that the Church owes Paul’s spiritual growth to the brotherliness of Ananias. In this passage Ananias, one of whom nothing is previously recorded, appears on the scene. He was a devout Jew (22:12) and a believer in Jesus Christ. Ananias evidently had been warned that Saul was coming to Damascus to arrest believers.

The Lord told Ananias to go to the house of Judas, on the street called Straight in Damascus to minister to Saul (vv. 10-12). You can imagine how reluctant he might have been. However, after being assured by the Lord that Saul was a changed man Ananias obeyed and went to minister to him (vv. 13-16). He said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 17). By the power of God, Saul’s eyes were opened, and he could see (v. 18)! He was also filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized, and then he ate some food (v. 19).

After this Saul remained with the Christians in Damascus for several days and no doubt learned much from them. He also began to preach in the synagogues (vv. 19-20). They found it difficult to believe that the man who had been the chief persecutor of Christians was now preaching the faith that he had set out to destroy. Paul’s visit to Arabia (Galatians 1:17) likely took place between verses 21 and 22. Paul spent time alone with the Lord in a desert area. Perhaps it was during this time that he experienced “perils of robbers” and “perils in the wilderness” (II Cor. 11:26). It seems evident that he just needed time to come to grips with his newfound faith.

Application

Have I been fearful of obeying the Lord today? Who can I be an Ananias to? I just need to be a person who is availableand perhaps lead another D.L. Moody to Christ.