Ananias is Available to Disciple Saul–a New Believer!

Acts 9:10–19a
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Without a 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. He evidently was warned that he 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 Paul (vv. 10-12). You can imagine how reluctant he might have been. However, after being assured by the Lord that Paul 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, Paul’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 Paul remained with the Christians in Damascus for several days and no doubt learned much from them.

Three obvious lessons we can learn from this passage are:

God can use even the most unknown saint to perform an important part in His great work.
We should never be afraid to obey God’s will. If Ananias had refused to obey he would have missed the greatest accomplishment and blessings of his entire life.
We must never underestimate the value of one person brought to Christ. Peter ministered to thousands, but Ananias was sent to only one man.

Application

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

Acts 9:10-19a (English Standard Version)

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of 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 evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

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