Amidst the amazing story in Acts 9 of the conversion of the Apostle Paul is an often-overlooked character, Ananias, who deserves our consideration and admiration for his obedience in adversity.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
John Pollock writes in his book The Apostle: The Life of Paul,
“Ananias the obscure (never heard of before or since) had been chosen to baptize Saul. This was to be the first example of a historical pattern that great ambassadors for Christ, however much prepared in other ways, would be brought to their vocation by unimportant agents:
– Augustine hears a child’s voice repeat, ‘Take up and read!’;
– John Wesley listens to an anonymous Moravian reading Luther;
– D. L. Moody, wrapping up shoes in a store, pauses for a few words from his Sunday school teacher;
– Charles Haddon Spurgeon, sheltering from a snowstorm, hears a workingman in a snowbound minister’s pulpit.”
Among the many benefits of serving the local church, as a member of Empowering Action, is the opportunity to interact with modern-day Ananias’, whose obedience, often in obscurity and affliction, produce “fruit that lasts” for the Kingdom. Often their hearts reflect the words of the Psalmist,
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (Psalm 119:71-72)
