2022_01_31 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- Acts 9-10
In Acts chapter 9, we read about Saul’s dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. He had gotten his “letters of authority” from the high priest, giving him permission to arrest and bring to Jerusalem anyone who was a follower of Jesus. So with murder in his heart, he set out with determination, but an unexpected encounter with Jesus changed everything.
As much as I love Saul’s conversion story, in reading chapter 9, I was drawn to Ananias and the role that Jesus specifically asked him to play in Saul’s life. This Ananias stands in stark contrast to the Ananias and Sapphira story of Acts 5. The Ananias of chapter 5 lost his life for lying to the Holy Spirit; the Ananias of chapter 9 was utterly faithful to his Lord.
Ananias was a follower living in Damascus. Word had spread to Damascus about Saul and his persecution of the believers in Jerusalem. In verse 14, Ananias says that he is aware of Saul’s plans for the believers in Damascus. Luke doesn’t give us details about Ananias, but I wondered if he was in hiding? Had others fled for fear of their lives? The Lord appeared to Ananias in a vision and told him to see Saul and lay his hands on him, healing Saul of his blindness. Can you imagine?
Initially, Ananias pushes back, making sure that Jesus knows who Saul is and what’s he’s done. But it’s interesting to me that Jesus tells Ananias that Saul has already had the vision of not just a nameless person coming to see him, but of Ananias. This was the role that Ananias was to play, and Jesus knew he would be obedient, even though fearful. Jesus shares with Ananias the role Saul will play in spreading the message of salvation to the Gentiles.
Ananias’ heart of obedience is convicting to me. He didn’t just follow Jesus’ command grudgingly; he entered in fully. He pushed his fear aside and trusted his Lord. Jesus desires for us to do the same.
Executive Director of Education and Outreach