10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then 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 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 vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
9:10
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord [Jesus] said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
The Lord through a vision got the attention of a man, by the name of Ananias, living in Damascus. He had a frightening mission for this believer.
9:11
So the Lord said to him [Ananias], “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
The Lord challenged Ananias to go to the persecutor Saul living on a street called Straight, a major road in the city still apparent (called today Darb al-Mustiqim). Saul, the former prosecutor, was in the process of praying.
9:12
And in a vision he [Saul] has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
Saul also received a vision that a man named Ananias would put his hand on him and that he would receive his sight again. God prepared both Saul and Ananias for their meeting.
9:13
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
Ananias’s first response was apprehension about meeting a great persecutor of the church in Jerusalem. One can appreciate his hesitancy.
9:14
And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
Saints in Damascus had previous knowledge that Saul went to Damascus to take believers as prisoners back to Jerusalem.
9:15
But the Lord said to him [Ananias], “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
The Lord assured Ananias that Paul was a believer and was a “chosen vessel” of His to serve Him mightily. Saul would become Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles (Ro 11:13; Ga 2:2, 7-8; Eph 3:8).
9:16
For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
The Lord Jesus communicated to Ananias that the one who would suffer was Paul, not Ananias or his fellow Christians in Damascus. The most violent persecutor of the church would suffer persecution himself.
PRINCIPLE:
Christians should suffer persecution, not because of their person but because of their message.
APPLICATION:
Authentic Christians will face hostility in the world. Their message violates all other beliefs of men. People who endure persecution in the world need to be filled with the Spirit to face opposition. Some Christians face persecution needlessly because of their personality or unnecessary actions. The mutually exclusive message of Jesus as the only way to heaven is enough agitation for an unbeliever (Jn 14:6).
