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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_9:10-19 a
10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight." 13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." 15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." 17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19and he took food and was strengthened.
Act_9:10 "Ananias" This name means "YHWH is gracious." Apparently he was a believing Jew of good reputation, not a refugee (cf. Act_22:12).
▣ "Here I am, Lord" This is a Jewish idiom of availability (cf. Isa_6:8). Act_9:11 was obviously given verbally because it is very specific instruction.
Act_9:12 "he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias" "In a vision" is not in the ancient Greek manuscripts P74, à , and A, but it is in MSS B and C. The UBS4 put the shorter reading in the text but gives it a "C" rating (with difficulty in deciding). This verse shows that Ananias' coming, actions, and message were confirming Jesus' earlier words to Paul (cf. Act_9:6)
▣ "lay his hands on hin" See Special Topic at Act_6:6.
Act_9:13 "I have heard from many" Obviously Ananias had heard the bad reports about Paul's vicious persecution of believers from the Jewish refugees from Jerusalem.
▣ "Your saints" The term hagioi is related to the Greek word "holy" (hagios). The OT background (kadosh) relates to some thing, some person, or some place set apart by God for a special task. The term "saints" is always plural, except one time in Php_4:21, but even there it is in a plural context. To be a Christian is to be a part of a family, a community. There are no loners in the faith.
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Act_9:14 "the chief priests" In the OT the high priesthood was for life and was passed on to a special family of Levite's son (cf. Leviticus 8-10). However, during the Roman period this position was purchased from the Roman officials. Therefore, there were several High Priests within the Sadducean family of Annas.
▣ "who call on Your name" This phrase has important theological implications. Luke uses it several times in Acts for
1. someone addressing Jesus (cf. Act_7:59)
2. someone who has accepted Jesus as Savior (cf. Act_9:14; Act_9:21)
3. an OT quote from Amo_9:12, where it refers to someone upon whom YHWH's name is called (i.e., believers, cf. Act_15:17)
4. A way for someone to publicly affirm his faith in Jesus (cf. Act_22:16)
This phrase is also part of Paul's plea to Israel from Joe_2:32 in Rom_10:9-13 (cf. 2Ti_2:22). Peter uses this same passage (Joe_2:28-32) in his Pentecost sermon and invited those present to "call upon the name of the Lord" from Joe_2:32.
The name stands for the person. By invoking the name sinners beseech Jesus to act on their behalf and include them in His family. See Special Topic at Act_2:22.
Act_9:15 "Go" This is a present middle (deponent) imperative. Jesus authoritatively sends the reluctant Ananias to Saul.
▣ "for he is a chosen instrument of Mine" Oh, the greatness of the grace and election of God! Paul does not fit the evangelical model of voluntary, volitional conversion. He was dramatically drafted!
NASB, NKJV "before the Gentiles"
NRSV, NJB "to bring my name before Gentiles"
TEV "to make my name known to Gentiles"
What a startling statement for a Jew to be told (cf. Eph_3:7)! Yet, this has always been God's plan (cf. Gen_12:3; Exo_19:5-6; Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13, see Special Topic at Act_1:8). Israel was only an instrument to reach the world, made in the image of God (cf. Gen_1:26-27), but fallen (cf. Gen_3:15).
▣ "and kings" Paul spoke to governmental leaders, small and great, and finally to Caesar!
▣ "and the sons of Israel" Paul's regular missionary pattern was to preach first at the local synagogue (cf. Rom_1:16) in every city. This allowed the Jews and the God-fearers who knew the OT a chance to respond first to the gospel. Then he would turn to the pagans.
Act_9:16 "for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake" Suffering is not the exception, but the norm for Christians in a fallen world (cf. Mat_5:10-12; Joh_15:18-21; Joh_16:1-2; Joh_17:14; Act_14:22; Rom_5:3-4; Rom_8:17-18; 2Co_4:7-12; 2Co_6:3-10; 2Co_11:24-33; Php_1:29; 1Th_3:3; 2Ti_3:12; Jas_1:2-4; 1Pe_4:12-16).
There is a theological relationship between the sufferings of Christ and the sufferings of His followers in this fallen realm. The book of 1 Peter shows this parallel.
1. Jesus' suffering, 1Pe_1:11; 1Pe_2:21; 1Pe_2:23; 1Pe_3:18; 1Pe_4:1; 1Pe_4:13; 1Pe_5:1
2. His followers', 1Pe_1:6-7; 1Pe_2:19; 1Pe_3:13-17; 1Pe_4:1; 1Pe_4:12-19; 1Pe_5:9-10
If the world rejected Him it will reject His (cf. Joh_7:7; Joh_15:18-19; Joh_17:14).
Act_9:17 "and after laying his hands on him" There is no scriptural basis for the concept of "apostolic authority" in bestowing spiritual gifts. Ananias is an unknown lay believer in Damascus who becomes
1. God's spokesman and an agent in
2. Paul's being the filled with the Holy Spirit (cf. Act_9:17)
3. Paul's physical healing (cf. Act_9:18)
4. Paul's baptism (cf. Act_9:18)
▣ "Brother Saul" What a great example of obedience and love!
Act_9:18 "there fell from his eyes something like scales" This is a technical medical term for the flaking of skin from a wound Luke uses to describe what happened to Paul's eyes in this moment of healing. The word scales is used of fish scales in the Septuagint (cf. Lev_11:9-10; Lev_11:12; Deu_14:9). The metaphorical extension can be seen in Num_16:38, where it is used of flattened metal plates. In this context they were probably flakes of skin or crust which oozed from Paul's eyes.
▣ "was baptized" Ananias apparently also baptized Paul (cf. Act_8:36; Act_8:38). NT baptism was an act of obedience to Jesus' example (cf. Mat_3:13-17; Mar_1:9-11; Luk_3:21-22) and command (cf. Mat_28:19.) It marks a change of ownership and allegiance.
Act_9:19 a "he took food and was strengthened" Paul had been fasting and praying since the light knocked him to the ground (cf. Act_9:9). After a three day total fast (no food or water), he must have been very weak.