Acts 9:10-18 - Divine Installation

Blinded Saul was led to Damascus and he was praying. To complete the destiny He had for Saul, the Lord sent Ananias, a disciple, to pray and lay his hand on him.

This Ananias was a spiritually sensitive disciple from Damascus. His name means "the mercy of The Lord."  According to Acts 22:12, Ananias was a devout man with a standing in the community. He was well spoken of.

Ananias was quick to respond to the Lord Who appeared to him in a vision. The way he responded, saying "Here, I am Lord", reminds us of how the prophets in the Old Testament responded. This is indicative that he was a man who was living close to the Lord.

Here the Lord directed Ananias to go to the house of Judas, at the street called Straight, to seek for Saul of Tarsus. The Lord told Ananias that Saul was praying. And he saw a vision that Ananias was coming to pray for him and lay his hand on him so that he might regain his sight.

However, Ananias was cautious. For he had heard many reports of Saul's past misdeeds. Saul had brought great harm to the believers in Jerusalem. And that he now had authorization from the chief priest to arrest the believers who called on the name of the Lord Jesus.  For Ananias, this could even be a trap to ferret out the believers. That explained why he was  hesitant.

But the Lord's instruction to him was very firm: Go! It's a command. It's not a request and there's no option. To ease Ananias' fear, the Lord revealed that Saul was His chosen instrument to carry the message to Gentiles, kings, and even the people of Israel.

We shall learn later that Paul's major ministry was to the Gentiles. And in fulfilling God's assigned mission, he was brought before kings and rulers. In Acts 13:7-12 he appeared before Sergius Paulus, and Gallios in Acts 18:12-17. He appeared before King Agrippa II in Acts 26:1–12; Felix in Acts 24:1–21 and Festus in Acts 25:1–26:32. And then whatever city he went to, he would always address the Jews in the synagogues first.

Furthermore the Lord told Ananias that Saul would have to suffer much for His name's sake. So Ananias departed assured and did as the Lord had directed him. On entering Judas' house in the street of Straight, he bee-lined for Saul.

Notice how he addressed him, Brother Saul. He was no longer an archenemy but a brother in the Lord. Ananias proceeded to explained his mission. He was sent there by the Lord who met Saul on the road. He was there to lay hand on Saul that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Luke concluded this section with the miracle that Saul received. His sight was restored and he got up and was baptized. He then took some food and was strengthened

Conscious of it or not, God's miracles abound. They are just waiting to happen. And the Lord is still seeking and developing vessels to bring about the miracles. Perhaps we are not conscious that each one of us is God's miracle, going somewhere to happen. And truly we are.

Be like Ananias. Don't write anyone off. Each person reached for the Lord could be a potential great for God's Kingdom. Let's do whatever he has directed us. And we must seek to be like a Saul who had turned to be a Paul.  Like him let's go and reach the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.