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Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.
2007-02-08 17:40:55 · 6 answers · asked by Ron 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The context is apparent in the next two verses - Acts 9:17, 18. Saul, a persecutor of Christians, later became the apostle Paul. He was blinded when the Lord appeared to him as he was on the road to Damascus. The Lord sent Ananias to restore his sight.
"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." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength."
Ananias was a disciple who lived in Damascus - Acts 9:10-12.
"In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.
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. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
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2007-02-08 17:48:46 · answer #1 · answered by Serendipity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you look it up for yourself?
Saul, the chief persecutor of the early Christians, later to become Paul the Apostle (St Paul), had just had a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus to arrest some more Christians. Saul was struck blind but told to find a man called Ananias in Damascus, a believer, who would heal him. God then told Ananias to expect Saul and to heal him.
Ananias protested to God that this guy was bad news, but .....
Your verse continues from there.
2007-02-08 17:49:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus had appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus to call him to minister the word of truth, and Paul had been blinded at that time. Ananias was called by God to go and lay his hands on Paul and when he did immediately scales fell from Paul's eyes and his sight was restored. He was baptized and began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus was the son of God. Paul had been persecuting the church and after Jesus called him he became the greatest apostle the church has ever known. Many places in the epistles record the suffering that Paul endured but he was a very willing servant of the Most High and brought us much through his suffering.
2007-02-08 18:03:33 · answer #3 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In this particular passage, God is telling Ananias to go to see Saul (or as we know him--Paul). Ananias was a messenger to Saul/Paul for God. Ananias was a disciple at Damascus (a city in Israel)
2007-02-08 17:49:54 · answer #4 · answered by PHILIPPIANS 4:6 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SAUL (PAUL) was persecuting the Christians and heading to Damascus to take them back to Jerusalem. On the way Paul was made blind and was told to go into the city to await further orders.
In the meantime, Ananias (the text doenst emphasis, he was just a believer) is given this message. He is to go meet Saul and give him his sight back. God was going to make Saul a tool to bring salvation to the Gentiles. (non-jews)
2007-02-08 17:46:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Church must constantly renew itself, and it is renewed through the conversions of those who persecute it. Thus the Lord calls some people from different walks of life, who once they have received the faith, will be able to evangelise those of their own milieu and to preserve their freedom with regard to traditional groups. This was the case with Paul and his ministry.
Peace and every blessing!
2007-02-08 18:31:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋