Summary: Ananias is here ordered to go and look after him, to heal and help him; for he that causeth grief will have compassion.

Ananias is here ordered to go and look after him, to heal and help him; for he that causeth grief will have compassion.

A native of Damascus; for it is said that he had a good report of all the Jews who dwelt there, as a devout man according to the law; he had lately embraced the gospel, and given up his name to Christ, and, as it should seem, officiated as a minister, at least pro hac vice-- on this occasion, though it does not appear that he was apostolically ordained.

But why were not some of the apostles from Jerusalem sent for upon this great occasion, or Philip the evangelist, who had lately baptized the eunuch, and might have been fetched hither by the Spirit in a little time? Surely, because Christ would employ variety of hands in eminent services, that the honours might not be monopolized nor engrossed by a few,--

The direction given him is to go and enquire at such a house, probably an inn, for one Saul of Tarsus. Christ, in a vision, called to Ananias by name, v. 10. It is probable it was not the first time that he had heard the words of God, and seen the visions of the Almighty; for, without terror or confusion, he readily answers, "Behold I am here, Lord, ready to go wherever thou sendest me, and to do whatever thou biddest me." Go then, saith Christ, into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas (where strangers used to lodge) for one called Saul of Tarsus.

Note,

Three reasons are given him why he must go and enquire for this stranger, and offer him his service:--

1. Because he prays, and his coming to him must answer his prayer. Behold denotes the certainty of it: "Assure thyself it is so; go and see."

Christ was so pleased to find Paul praying that he must have others to take notice of it: Rejoice with me, for I have found the sheep which I had lost.

But was it such a strange thing for Saul to pray? Was he not a Pharisee? and have we not reason to think he did, as the rest of them did, make long prayers in the synagogues and the corners of the streets?

Yes; but now he began to pray after another manner than he had done; then he said his prayers, now he prayed them.

Note, Regenerating grace evermore sets people on praying;

2. It is no time to linger, for behold he prayeth: if the child cry, the tender nurse will hasten to it with the breast. "Oh! go to him quickly, and tell him he is a dear son, a pleasant child, and since I spoke against him, for persecuting me, I do earnestly remember him still." .

Observe what condition Saul was now in.

He was under conviction of sin, trembling and astonished; the setting of sin in order before us should drive us to prayer. He was under a bodily affliction, blind and sick. Christ had promised him that it should be further told him what he should do (v. 6), and he prays that one may be sent to him to instruct him.

3. Because he hath seen in a vision such a man coming to him, to restore him to his sight; and Ananias’s coming to him must answer his dream, for it was of God (v. 12): He hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, and just such a man as thou art, coming in seasonably for his relief, and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight.

Ananias objects against going to him, and the Lord answers the objection.

1. Ananias pleads that this Saul was a notorious persecutor of the disciples of Christ, v. 13, 14.

He had been so at Jerusalem: "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, what a malicious enemy he is to the gospel of Christ: all those that were scattered upon the late persecution, many of whom are come to Damascus, tell how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem, that he was the ringleader in the mischief-- what havoc he has made in the church: there was no man they were more afraid of.

"His errand to Damascus at this time is to persecute us Christians: Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name, to treat the worshippers of Christ as the worst of criminals."

Christ has taught us another lesson, to render good for evil, and pray for our persecutors

Will it be to any purpose to go to him? Can such a hard heart ever be softened, or such an Ethiopian ever change his skin?

Christ overrules the objection (v. 15-16): "Do not tell me how bad he has been, I know it very well; but go thy way with all speed, and give him all the help thou canst, for he is a chosen vessel.

You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. He is a vessel of honour,

Paul is destined by God:

(1.) He is to bear my name before the Gentiles, is to be the apostle of the Gentiles, and to carry the gospel to heathen nations. Christ’s name is the standard to which souls must be gathered, and under which they must be enlisted, and Saul must be a standard-bearer. He must bear Christ’s name, must bear witness to it before kings, king Agrippa and Caesar himself; nay, he must bear it before the children of Israel, though there were so many hands already at work about them.

(2.) I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. He that has been a persecutor shall be himself persecuted.

This, one would think, was a cold comfort for a young convert; but it is only like telling a soldier of a bold and brave spirit, when he is enlisted, that he shall take the field, and enter upon action, shortly.

Ananias goes on Christ’s errand to Saul, and with good effect. He had started an objection against going to him, but, when an answer was given to it, he dropped it, and did not insist upon it.

Ananias delivered his message to Saul, v. 17. Probably he found him in bed, and applied to him as a patient.

It was promised, as one of the signs that should follow those that believe, that they should lay hands on the sick, and they should recover , and it was for that intent that he put his hands on him.

Saul came to lay violent hands upon the disciples at Damascus, but here a disciple lays a helping healing hand upon him.

Ananias called him brother, because he was made a partaker of the grace of God, though not yet baptized; and his readiness to own him as a brother intimated to him God’s readiness to own him as a son, though he had been a blasphemer of God and a persecutor of his children.

The hand that wounded heals.

Ananias delivers his message to Saul as in the prophet’s words

: Come and turn to the Lord, for he hath torn and he will heal thee; he hath smitten, and he will bind thee up; now after two days he will revive thee, and the third day he will raise thee up, and thou shalt live in his sight.

Ananias assures Paul that he shall not only have his sight restored, but be filled with the Holy Ghost: he must himself be an apostle, and must in nothing come behind the chief of the apostles, and therefore must receive the Holy Ghost immediately

.

At the word of Ananias

Saul was discharged from his confinement by the restoring of his sight; for Christ’s commission to open the prison to those that were bound is explained by the giving of sight to the blind, . Christ’s commission is to open the blind eyes, and to bring out the prisoners from the prison.

Saul is delivered from the spirit of bondage by receiving sight (v. 18), which was signified by the falling of scales from his eyes; and this immediately, and forthwith: the cure was sudden, to show that it was miraculous. This signified the recovering of him,

Note, Converting grace opens the eyes of the soul, and makes the scales to fall from them , to open men’s eyes, and turn them from darkness to light: this was what Saul was sent among the Gentiles to do, by the preaching of the gospel, and therefore must first experience it in himself.

We are taken from the darkness.

During those three days Paul sat in darkness, like Jonah for three days in the belly of hell; but now the scales fell from his eyes, the cloud was scattered, and the Sun of righteousness rose upon his soul, with healing under his wings.

He received his bodily strength, v. 19.

When he had received meat, he was strengthened, v. 19. The Lord is for the body, and therefore care must be taken of it, to keep it in good health.

Paul associated with the disciples that were at Damascus, conversed with them, went to their meetings, and joined in communion with them.

Note, Those that take God for their God take his people for their people.