Saul of Tarsus, the scourge of all things Christian, has emptied the Israelite capital of all but a few members of the cult that has thrown the Holy Land into turmoil. Determined not to allow anyone to escape his wrath, the popular Pharisee is hunting down the heretics, capturing them and bringing them back to Jerusalem for trial. The high priest has given him written permission to enter the synagogues of Damascus for that purpose. But on his way there with his military escort Saul meets the primary object of his wrath–the supposedly dead carpenter from Nazareth.

Verses ten through nineteen: In Damascus there lived a believer named Ananias who also received a visit from that same Carpenter Who told him to go to a certain location where he would find Saul of Tarsus who was praying while staring into nothingness because he had been blinded. One can only imagine Saul’s confusion. He had learned that the crucified Deceiver of the masses was not only the very Son of God, He was also very much alive. Over the three days of Saul’s dark, solitary existence the standard bearer of the Israelite religion had undoubtedly been thinking about his past. Incredibly, everything he had “known” to be true about God and His Way had been exposed as a lie. He had done everything he knew to do with a pure heart. But the Carpenter had shown him that his heart had actually not been pure, but had in fact been owned by Satan. Oh that the church would have a mass “Damascus Road” experience and learn the “Saulic Lesson.”

Ananias was in a quandary. He had been told by the Messiah to welcome the church’s worst enemy into the fold. He reminded the Lord of what Saul had done to His people, but to no avail. The Lord told him that not only was Saul of Tarsus now a believer, he was to be the Lord’s primary messenger to Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. Ananias, the Messiah had told him, had been specially chosen to share this news with Saul, plus one more minor detail–Saul would have to suffer greatly for obeying the Lord.

So who was this man Ananias whom the Lord had chosen for this most important task. The answer will not please the Law-nailed-to-the-cross people. The “Why” question is answered in Acts 22:12. Here Saul, now called Paul, is relating his conversion experience to a mob of Jews who are bent on killing him: “And one Ananias, a DEVOUT MAN ACCORDING TO THE LAW ….” Note it: God had chosen Ananias BECAUSE HE PROVEN HIS DEVOTION TO GOD BY OBEYING THE LAW. And remember, this was several years after the founding of the New Covenant Church. Obedience to the Law is still the method by which God’s true saints prove their devotion to Him (Rom. 2:13).

In verse 17 we are made privy to Ananias’ encounter with Saul. Here we find the disciple entering the room where Saul was praying and saying to him, “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you on your way has sent me so that you can receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” With that Ananias laid his hands on Saul and he received the Holy Spirit. Following this he was baptized. Later he was introduced to the disciples of the Lord living in Damascus. L.J.