17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
9:17
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight
Ananias obeyed Jesus, went to Saul’s house, and called him “brother Saul.” Ananias believed Jesus that Saul had become a Christian. Ananias anointed Saul for healing by laying his hands on him. Acts 22:14-16 gives a fuller account of Ananias’s statement.
and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Saul would receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for his role as an apostle by the filling of the Holy Spirit. This filling was a vital qualification to serve God.
9:18
Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Ananias baptized Saul. It is usual for people to be baptized following their conversion (Acts 22:16).
9:19
So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Saul ended his three-day fast and spent some days in fellowship with the disciples at Damascus. This event was his first experience of mutuality with believers and experience in the church.
PRINCIPLE:
Fellowship with Christians is a mark of genuine conversion.
APPLICATION:
The first experience that Saul had after his conversion was fellowship in the body of Christ. He met with “disciples” in Damascus for some days.
This man would have a ministry to Gentiles, kings, and governors. Nevertheless, he went to the “Jews first.” Paul would need the filling of the Spirit to accomplish what God had in store for him.
