“And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,” (Acts 9:11)
The Lord spoke to Ananias of Damascus in a vision to go to Saul (Hebrew name) later known as Paul (Roman name) who was blinded when Jesus spoke to him on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there.
There is so much God is doing in this one verse. There is Ananias who sees a vision and obeys. There is Saul praying. There is the Lord answering Saul’s prayer. And let’s not forget Judas who allows Saul to stay in his home. Not much is said about Judas of Damascus. Let’s not confuse him with other people named Judas. It was a common name. Researchers all agree that Judas was a follower of Jesus. How and why Saul went to this disciple’s house isn’t mentioned in the Bible. And it was in Judas’ house that Saul, blinded and his mission to arrest the Christians stopped by the Lord, is now open to God’s Will. Isn’t that like the Lord? We have our strong desires, which may or may not be driven by the flesh. But when the Lord speaks to us, our eyes are opened to God’s Will and even that thing we said we’d never do, or that place where we said we’d never go becomes the desire of our heart. God coordinated all things and all people to bring about His Will and purposes for Paul who would become the apostle to the Gentiles and write most of the New Testament with great understanding of the Covenant of Jesus.
We rarely hear about visions today. God still speaks to people in visions and dreams to those gifted with the prophetic. But mostly we have the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us. We have to consider that this mission God gave Ananias was not an ordinary one. God made sure that Ananias would without a doubt know it came from God. Not much is known of Ananias, but when Paul returns to Jerusalem and a Jewish mob comes against him, he speaks to the people from the steps of the encampment relating all that has happened to him. He mentions Ananias. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.” (Acts 22:12-13) Paul doesn’t mention that Ananias is a follower of Jesus. He is talking to Jews and wants them to know that Ananias is known in Damascus as a devout man who is approved by the Jews there. Some studies say that Ananias was one of the seventy that followed Jesus. Other studies say he was known as a prophet.
Saul prayed when he was in Judas’ house. God tells Ananias this as a qualifier, that although Saul was a persecutor of the brethren, it’s alright because he is now praying. Yes! Praying, communing with the Lord, puts everything into perspective. We may start praying for our most deepest need or impossible situation, but as we speak to the Lord, He speaks to us His Word, His Will, His Purpose and His Peace to us. Ananias goes to Saul knowing all will be okay because after all Saul is communing with his Lord. And as long as the Lord is present, all is good.
I wonder about Saul’s prayer. Was it a prayer of repentance? Was it supplication, for his sight or for direction? Was it for understanding? All and everything he had believed and staked his life on; the Lord had shown him had been wrong. The Scripture tells us that he prayed. Most likely he prayed all the above. The Lord heard him. God hears our prayers. “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:8) Ananias went to Saul and made his life purpose known to him. All his questions and uncertainties of the moment of blindness became clear to him. He received his sight, physically and spiritually. The same should happen when we pray. The darkness of the situation or problem flies away and the light of Jesus brings strength and peace. He hears us and answers us in our time with Him.
One thing we do know about Saul was that he was zealot. Before Jesus, he was 1,000% (Yes, I know there is no such thing, but I want to emphasize the extent to which Saul was devoted.), 1,000% committed. And after Jesus, he was just as dedicated. Nothing distracted him from his mission before his life with Jesus and after he believed with Jesus.
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