A Certain Disciple

One of my favorite people in the Bible is Ananias. (Ac 22:12). Although not a leader or a remarkable believer, he was chosen to minister to Saul.

Soon after the beginning of the new first century church, the Pharisees in power became aware of the growing group of followers of Jesus. Saul was a Pharisee with great zeal to stamp out this heresy, which he did by imprisoning and executing these followers. He must have been a powerful and fearsome figure to the new Christians. While on a journey to the city of Damascus to find and imprison more Christians, Jesus spoke to him, and Saul was rendered blind. His companions led him into Damascus, where Ananias came to him.

And why Ananias? There must have been many believers at Damascus, so why this man? Ananias goes to Saul as God directs, even though ministering to Saul was such a dangerous prospect. God gives Ananias reassurance: Saul is praying, Saul is blind, Saul has been shown Ananias coming to heal, Saul has been chosen by God. And so Ananias goes.

When Ananias meets Saul, he speaks gently and lovingly to the man who has authority to kill or imprison Christians. Ananias calls him “Brother Saul”. He ministers healing in the name of Jesus. And he takes Saul to meet the other Christians in the city.

The Bible doesn’t say what happened during the next few days, when Saul stayed with the Christians he so recently persecuted, but what conversations Ananias and Saul must have enjoyed, speaking about God and the new way revealed by Jesus! Ananias was a gentle man, but also a strong and confident believer. Who else would have dared to go to Saul the persecutor? Who else could teach a man as educated as Saul? Who else had the believing to heal a blind man? Who else would have the confidence in God’s assurance that Saul was a chosen vessel?