Saul’s Sight Restored
TRANSLATION
(10) In Damascus lived a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” (11) And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. (12) In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay hands on him so that he might regain his vision.” (13) But 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 the chief priests have given him the authority to arrest all who call on your name.” (15) But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for he is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings as well as the people of Israel! (16) I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (17) So Ananias departed and entered the house (of Judas). And, laying hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came sent me to you so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (18) Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. (19) He then ate some food and regained his strength.
And he remained for some days with the disciples in Damascus. (20) At once he began to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God in the synagogues. (21) All who heard him were amazed and said, “Isn’t this the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? Hasn’t he come here for the same purpose to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” (22) But Saul grew increasingly powerful, confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
OBSERVATIONS
What happened after Saul reached Damascus in a state of blindness and confusion after meeting the risen Lord lay at the heart of this segment of Acts 9. God chose Ananias, one of the disciples in Damascus, to minister to the one who would become the greatest missionary the church has ever seen. Repetitions again help us discover its message. Several proper names were used more than once: “Ananias” five times (vss. 10, 12, 13, & 17), “Saul” three times (vss. 11, 17, & 22), “Lord” five times alone (vss. 10, 11, 13, & 15) and once linked with “Jesus” (vs. 17), two more uses of “Jesus” (vss. 20 & 22), “the Son of God” (vs. 20), “the Messiah” (vs. 22). “Disciple(s) at Damascus” is found twice (vss. 10 & 19) along with one more use of “Damascus” (vs. 22). The following words were also repeated: “man” four times (vss. 11, 12, 13, & 21), “lay hands on him” twice (vss. 12 & 17), “name” four times (vss. 14, 15, 16, & 21), and “regain(ed) your/his sight” twice (vss. 17 & 18).
OUTLINE
I. The Lord chose Ananias to go and minister to Saul despite his bad reputation. (10-15)
II. Ananias obeyed and was used by the Lord to restore Saul’s sight. (16-18)
III. Saul remained in Damascus for a time, amazing all with his zeal for the risen Lord. (19-22)
IDEA STATEMENT
Obediently Ananias went to lay hands on Saul, restore his sight, and prepare him for a life of powerful ministry.
APPLICATION
Ananias’ use of the address, “brother Saul,” after his initial resistance to the Lord’s command to go and minister to him demonstrated the faith of this disciple who appeared only this once in the biblical record. His use of this term of inclusion and friendship showed why the Lord had chosen him as the one to bring healing to this dreaded persecutor of the early church. It took a lot of time and a lot of convincing for others in the early church to accept Saul with his history of violent oppression. For many the fear that he was feigning his conversion to gain entrance into the fellowship of believers to wreak even greater havoc on the church lingered for some time. His zeal and fearless proclamation of the Gospel would finally convince the early believers that Saul’s encounter with Jesus had transformed this one-time persecutor into a “chosen instrument” to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles.