10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias.
- Not much is known about Ananias. This is basically it.
- Mentioned again in Chapter 22
The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 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, 12 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.”
- The Lord here is Jesus.
- Ananias answers absolutely correct, “Here I am, Lord.”
- This echoes Abraham in Genesis 22 when the Lord commanded Abraham to sacrifice Issac.
- Also Isaiah 6 where he said, “Here I am! Send me.”
- v.11 Specific Instructions: Get up, go here, do this…
- not typically the way we receive callings.
***Blind Faith - leads to obedience***
- The best part of this is that Ananias is a disciple of the Lord.
- In this case it means he is a follower of Jesus.
- Not an Apostle
- Not one of the 12 disciples
- So a follower of Jesus was chosen to do the will of Jesus to lay hands on Saul and restore his sight.
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 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. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 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.”
- Fear is real, even for the most devout Christian.
- Ananias has heard about Saul and had good reason to fear him.
***Blind Faith - triumphs over fear***
- Jesus calls Ananias to obedience and to trust in Him over his fears.
- Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
- Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
- Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
***Blind Faith - achieves God’s vision***
- Not only did Paul receive his sight but he received much more.
- Paul was a chosen instrument
- “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine…”
- Moses at the burning bush…to confront Pharaoh
- Abraham to sacrifice Isaac…to kill his son
- Noah to build the Ark…to build a boat when there was no flood
- Jonah to go to Nineveh…to preach to the Assyrian people who Jews despised
- v.15 Paul will “carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
- Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
