Acts 9:10-19
Ananias: Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. (v. 13) Luke writes that The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. (Acts 7:58) I’ve always imagined this “young man named Saul” to be a young bystander – and maybe he was. But only a few verses later Luke writes that “…Saul was ravaging the church.” He must have been a violent young man – his reputation had spread some 100 miles north, to one of the major cities in the Roman Empire. And his humbling was as powerful as his ravaging. Knocked from his horse, struck blind, upbraided by Jesus Himself, led like a beggar to town, and no food or water for three days. Ananias must have been a welcome sight – when he finally regained his!
I’m imagining the conversation between Ananias and Saul. From the text (vv. 10-16) we know that Ananias had a personal relationship with the Lord, to have such a lengthy conversation with Him. We can also imagine Ananias to be one of the leading Christian figures in Damascus – or at least clearly plugged in – since he was well aware of Saul’s Jerusalem activities and that Saul had authority from the chief priests to ravage Damascus. So I imagine Saul rightly and completely humbled before Ananias and I imagine Ananias to be a loving, forgiving father-type to him. I can imagine Ananias quoting Joseph, …you meant evil…, but God meant it for good…, (Genesis 50:20). And I imagine that Saul was fully comforted by Ananias and his loving demeanor. What a joyful baptism that must have been for all who were there! Glory!!
Slava Bohu!