ACTS Chapter 9
This chapter is incomplete. I
lost part of the material on file. I hope to be able to recover/find it
soon. - Grady
VERSES 11-12 "And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into
the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas
for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, {12}And
hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his
hand
on him, that he might receive his sight.
A. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street..."
1. The Lord did not at first explain why he wanted Ananias
to go to Saul.
2. The complete nature will become clear to Ananias when he meets Saul
for the first time.
3. Notice also that Saul was penitent, he had bee praying. But it was
clear that prayer alone had not saved him. See Acts 22:16.
B. "And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in..."
1. The Lord had introduced Ananias to Saul in the same way
that he was notifying Ananias, through a vision.
2. The Lord reveals the true reason for Ananias’ laying on of hands
on Saul; it was for his receiving of sight. If verse 18 was alone one could
incorrectly assume that it was for the receiving of the Holy Spirit through
Ananias’ hands.
3. This verse also shows that Ananias had received the laying on of
the apostles hands for the purpose of being able to heal.
VERSES 13-15 "Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this
man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: {14}And here
he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto
me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Israel: {16}For I will show him how great things he must suffer
for my name's sake. "
A. "Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by man of this
man...."
1. Ananias had a natural hesitancy to go to Saul, owing to
the known fact that he was a great persecutor of the body of Christ.
2. God is understanding of our doubts and fears. He desires us to come
to Him with those doubts and fear, have him calm them, and then go forward
with doing His will.
B. "And here he hath authority from the chief priests..."
1. This shows that there was an excellent intelligence system
between Christians. Word had already been taken to the brethren at Damascus
concerning Saul’s character and mission.
C. "But the Lord said unto him...."
1. This is the first word of the nature of the apostolic commission
that Saul was going to receive.
2. He would be the Christian responsible for spearheading the Lord’s
work among the Gentiles.
3. It is hard to imagine that the Lord did not have Isaiah 62:2 in mind
when he was communicating this vision to Ananias.
D. "For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake."
1. Saul’s work would not come without a price. She would suffer
a great deal for the cause of Christ.
2. For a look at Paul’s suffering, see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.
E. Two things of interest here.
1. Christians were identified as saints here for the first
time. Saint literally means "one set apart for a holy purpose. Saint is
used 61 times in the New Testament, most of the time referring to Christians.
In the New Testament all Christians were referred to as saints, not a select
group. See Romans 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:1.
2. "All that call on thy name" is simply a reference to Christians,
i.e. those who obey his will. See Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2.
VERSES 17-18 "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house;
and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus,
that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou
mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. {18}And
immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received
sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."
A. "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house;
and putting his hands on him said..."
1. Why did Ananias call Saul "Brother Saul?"
a. He still was a brother in the law, which had not vanished
from the earth as yet. He was a fleshly kinsman. Paul would later speak
of other Jews in those terms. See Romans 9:3. This should not be construed
as evidence that Saul was a "brother in the Lord." If he were at this point
he would have been while still in his sins. See Acts 22:16.
2. Ananias immediately announced the purpose of his visit. While Ananias
would baptize Saul and this was necessary for Saul’s salvation, the thing
that Saul needed now was the receiving of his sight. He also announced
that it was for the purpose of Saul being filled with the Holy Ghost.
3. There is not doubt that Ananias fulfilled his commission on both
counts. But the filling with the Holy Ghost should not be construed as
the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which was given directly by God to those
whom he desired (i.e., the apostles, and to a lesser degree the household
of Cornelius).
a. What was the filling of the Holy Ghost and when did it take
place. Ananias was certainly responsible for the giving of it to Saul.
He was just as Peter was on the day of Pentecost. See Acts 2:38. It is
the same filling that comes when one is baptized into Christ. It is the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
{19}And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was
Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. {20}And
straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of
God. {21}But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is
not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem,
and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the
chief priests? {22}But Saul increased the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very
Christ."
Copyright 1999 by Grady
Scott may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.
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