Ananias of Damascus

Paul was called as an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. He was a great apostle of our Lord and directly called, chosen by the Lord Jesus Himself. He called himself confidently as an Apostle, not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead; on the way to Damascus Jesus Himself set him apart as a chosen vessel to carry the Gospel among the Gentiles (1 Cor.1:1).

Paul tells the church in Galatia that, Gospel preached by him was not according to man, neither received from man, nor was taught by anyone, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal.1:1,11,12).

He wrote 13 epistles in the New Testament. But before using him for the Great Commission, Lord used a certain disciple to bring back the lost sight of this great man on the way to Damascus. His name was Ananias of Damascus. I believe that he was a nor-mal ordinary disciple of the Lord, not so well known among the believers. But, he must have been devoted to the Lord. Lord called him in a vision and asked him to go to the Saul of Tarsus (Paul) to lay his hands on him to receive sight. Lord gave Ananias specific address of the house of Judas, where Saul stayed.

Lord, who gave sight to many blind people, can give sight without anyone laying his hands on Saul. But Lord desired to involve such disciples and so, He asked Ananias to go and lay his hands on Saul. Lord wanted to use an ORDINARY DISCIPLE like Ananias in the life of the GREAT APOSTLE Paul. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He uses a weak person to lead the strong. If we were to choose a person to pray for Saul, we would have chosen someone who is efficient, very active, well known. But Lord chose a nominal disciple. So, puzzle pieces of Paul’s life after coming to the Lord would not be complete without this one piece of Ananias. Lord is the watchman of the secrets. He might have seen Ananias’ secret devotion, obedience, faithfulness, loyalty, etc. And one fine day, Lord is involving him in His great work to pray for Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-19).

When Lord asked Ananias to go, Ananias gives some information about Saul, to the Lord, as if Lord doesn’t know it. But Lord did not rebuke him, but instead replied him back gently: “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Ananias obeyed, went his way and entered the house; laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit”. Immediately, there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received sight at once; and he arose and was baptised.

Lord enabled Ananias to play a very important role in the life of the great Apostle of the Lord.

God will use such faithful, true and ordinary disciples like Ananias in a mighty way. His timings are perfect and His ways are higher. We need to wait, trust and hold on to Him. God bless.

~ Anjali Jose