In brief
Ananias is a disciple in Damascus to whom the Lord speaks in a vision. He asks him to go to Saul of Tarsus, the former persecutor, who is praying on the street called Straight. Despite his fear, Ananias obeys. He lays hands on Saul, calls him brother and tells him that the Lord has sent him so that he may regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Saul sees, is baptized, and at once preaches Jesus. We remember courageous obedience.
What does the name Ananias of Damascus mean?
Ananias is the Greek form of the Hebrew Hananiah, generally linked to the Lord has been gracious. The Bible does not explain the name of this Ananias of Damascus. He should not be confused with the Ananias of Acts 5, husband of Sapphira.
The story of Ananias of Damascus
Saul blind in Damascus
Acts 9:1-9Saul travels to Damascus to arrest the disciples. On the road, a light from heaven throws him to the ground and Jesus speaks to him. Saul gets up, but he cannot see. He is led into Damascus, where he stays three days without sight, without eating and without drinking.
A call in a vision
Acts 9:10-12In Damascus there is a disciple named Ananias. The Lord calls him in a vision and Ananias answers that he is here, Lord. He is told to go to the street called Straight, to the house of Judas, to look for Saul of Tarsus, because he is praying.
Fear and the Lord's answer
Acts 9:13-16Ananias hesitates: he has heard about the harm this man has done to the saints in Jerusalem. The Lord answers that Saul is a chosen instrument to carry his name before the nations, before kings and before the people of Israel, and that he will have to suffer much for that name.
Brother Saul
Acts 9:17-19Ananias goes to the house, lays his hands on Saul and calls him brother Saul, saying that the Lord Jesus has sent him so that he may regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Something like scales fall from Saul's eyes. He gets up, is baptized, and regains strength.
The witness of Paul's conversion
Acts 22:12-16When Paul later tells the story of his conversion, he presents Ananias as a devout man, well spoken of. He reports what Ananias said to him, asking why he was waiting, and urging him to get up, be baptized and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
What Ananias of Damascus teaches us
- Obeying the Lord sometimes means going to someone we fear.
- God hears sincere objections and answers them with patience.
- Welcoming a new believer by calling him brother is a concrete act of the church.
- God can put an Ananias on our road at a moment when we are going through a night.
- Quiet service, like that of Ananias, can play a major role in the history of the church.
Key verses
The Lord calls Ananias by name and tells him where to find Saul, because he is praying. The text shows that God prepares the meeting of the two men before they even see each other.
Ananias calls him brother Saul and says that the Lord Jesus, who appeared to him on the road, has sent him so that he may regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
In Paul's account, Ananias invites him to get up, be baptized and have his sins washed away, calling on the name of the Lord. Baptism is presented as a response to God's call.
Sermons about Ananias of Damascus
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ananias of Damascus in the Bible?
Ananias was a disciple in Damascus whom the Lord sent to Saul of Tarsus, who had become blind. He laid hands on him and called him brother, and Saul regained his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit and was baptized (Acts 9:10-19).
What does the name Ananias mean?
Ananias is the Greek form of the Hebrew Hananiah, generally linked to the Lord has been gracious. The Bible does not explain this name for the disciple of Damascus. He is different from Ananias, husband of Sapphira, in Acts 5.
Why did God choose Ananias to welcome Saul?
The Bible gives no specific reason. It shows an available disciple of Damascus: he answers that he is here, Lord, voices his sincere fear, then obeys. Paul later describes him as a devout man, well spoken of (Acts 22:12).