Acts 9:10-14 10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Risin, go to the street called Straight, and look in the house of Judas for a man named Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he might see again.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
Luke introduces another significant person in the story of Saul of Tarsus. Ananias was a believer who lived in Damascus. According to 22:12, he was “ a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there.” It is unknown how Ananias became a believer or how the gospel reached that city. Damascus was part of the Decapolis, a XXX of ten cities. According to Matthew 4:25, crowds from the Decapolis followed Jesus. Mark 5:20 records the story of how the Gerasene man Jesus freed from a legion of demons went back to the Decapolis and shared how Jesus had healed him. Thus, the story of Jesus was likely known by people from Damascus. It is possible Ananias heard the good news direclty through Jesus or through the witness of one of the early believers.
Luke describes many visions in Acts and two simultaneous visions in this passage. Ananias received his vision from the Lord, who is later identified as Jesus in verses 13-14. Jesus was leading the whole situation of Saul’s transformation. Ananias knew who was speaking, which indicates his devotion and closeness to the Lord Jesus. He responded with the most important words of readiness and obedience, like Abraham (Genesis 22), Jacob (Genesis 31:11; 46:2), Moses (Exodus 3:4), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8), and others. It is a response of availability and emerging faith. Saul had the second vision that showed Ananias coming to him. The details of these visions indicate the sovereign plan of the Lord Jesus, but Ananias had to act on the vision, while Saul had to wait in prayer.
What Jesus said to Ananias was difficult to accept. At first, Ananias had some hesitancy and reluctance to obey the Lord’s directions because of Saul’s reputation. Significant events happened after Acts 8:1, and Saul was involved and became known among Christians, even as far as Damascus. Some of the refugee believers who fled Jerusalem could have brought the news about Saul with them to Damascus, and Ananias heard about it from them. Jesus gave detailed directions to go to Straight Street. This street is still present in Damascus and is known as Darb el-Mostakim. Verse 11 is the first mention that Saul was from Tarsus. Tarsus was a Greco-Roman City in southeast Asia Minor. It was known as a university city, even greater than Athens. Saul’s family was part of the Diaspora, when Jews “scattered” all over the Mediterranean region in the centuries after the Babylonian exile.
Jesus told Ananias about Saul’s situation and exactly what to do. The directions were almost unbelievable and were a test of Ananias’ faith. The rumors about Saul would be terrifying to any person. Ananias had to make one of the most important decisions of his life. When faced with an obstacle, threat, or challenge, we can learn a lot from the experience of this godly man who had natural fears. The following passage reveals that he chose the path of obedience.
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