The Pilgrim Path---Acts 9: 10 – 19

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The LORD said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, LORD.” And the LORD said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “LORD, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the LORD said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the LORD Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.

“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine…”

A very devoted follower of the LORD Jesus is introduced to us in Acts chapter 9---his name is Ananias. He is a resident of Damascus. The very city that Saul had set his sights upon for “arrests” in this heretical religion (the Disciples of the Way / Jesus’ people). Ananias was unaware of the “meeting” that had transpired between Saul and the God-Man outside of town. He was made aware “soon enough” in a vision by the Savior Himself. It is very revealing to get this short but hefty text from Dr. Luke concerning what happened. The Living Christ tells Ananias “where” to go---and HE tells him the soul he is to “see.” Ananias reminds the LORD that this “Saul” guy had just lately been an evil doer of extraordinary proportions toward His church and His people. This was troubling to Ananias, for he figured he was liable to be caught up in the next wave of woe---courtesy of this firebrand---Saul of Tarsus. The LORD calms all the fears Ananias has in a rather quick manner and basically says this: “You do not have to worry anymore---Saul belongs to ME now…”

---Saul is a chosen instrument to do my work from here on…

---Saul is going to present the Gospel to kings, Gentiles---and Jews

---Saul will know real suffering for my sake (for the Sake of Jesus and HIS Kingdom)

Well, after hearing this---Ananias is ready to go “lay hands” on Brother Saul! I doubt seriously he would have gone without such a special invitation. Once he got the word---he obeyed!

From Simon Kistemaker: Ananias understands that Jesus himself has paved the way for him to go to Paul and for Paul to meet a brother in Christ. He has nothing to fear from the persecutor of the believers, for he will find Paul, a blind person, in the house of Judas on Straight Street…touched by Paul’s meekness, Ananias demonstrates his genuine love in greeting Paul. As the transliterated word “Saoul” in the Greek indicates, he addresses Paul in either Hebrew or Aramaic. Not only that, he also calls him “brother.” For Paul, this one word more than anything else speaks volumes. Now he knows that with the greeting brother, Ananias has accepted him and is welcoming him into the church. This servant of the LORD, therefore, spans the gap between Judaism and Christianity. By touching Paul, he indicates that he recognizes Paul as a believer. And then he delivers the message Jesus has given him…

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Some say, “How can I discover whether I am God’s elect?” Do you pray? If so, never be afraid of nonelection. An Application: To the children of God---The best mark of our being the sons of God is to be found in our devotion, and as a natural consequence the more we are found in prayer the brighter will our evidences be. Perhaps you have lost your evidence, and I will tell you where, in your closet. Prayer is the ship which bringeth home the richest freight---the soil which yields the most abundant harvest. To the ungodly---a prayerless soul is a Christless soul. I beseech you, as you love yourselves, contemplate what will become of you if you should at last die without prayer.

From T. de Witt Talmage: Prayer is the sigh of the heart, for before even your first tear touched the earth, God, I think, dispatched an angel from the throne, and thrust his wing under the falling tear and caught it, and sped with it backward towards the throne of grace; and as that tear glittered in the light of the celestial throne, all heaven broke forth into full chant, crying, “Behold, he prayeth.”

From Thomas Manton: We cannot be saved if we live as we desire. Assurance is no idle doctrine…

From Samuel Rutherford: I am most gladly content that Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces: it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ. I see he is jealous of my love and will have all to himself.

HYMN

LORD, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of your tone;

As you have sought, so let me seek your erring children lost and lone.

O teach me, LORD, that I may teach the precious things you do impart;

And wing my words, that they may reach the hidden depths of many a heart.

O use me, LORD, use even me, just as you will and when and where;

Until your blessed face I see, your rest, your joy, your glory share.

Frances R. Havergal, 1872

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason