What did the Jews in Ananias's day know about God's plan for the Gentiles, and what did they not expect?
The Jews in Ananias’ day knew that the prophets, including Isaiah, had spoken of Israel being a light unto the Gentiles. They did not expect that plan to apply to their own generation; they had no idea they were to go to the Gentiles and shared Jonah’s resistant mindset.
Les teaches that Ananias balked because Saul had authority from the chief priests to bind all who called on the Lord’s name. The Lord told Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles, which was unheard of in Jewish culture. Les explains that the Jews knew the prophets spoke of it and that Isaiah spoke of Israel being a light unto the Gentiles, but they certainly did not expect it in their generation. Their attitude was like Jonah’s: they would rather walk the plank than go to a Gentile city. Up until that time God had dealt only with Israel, the Jew, so this was a drastic change of direction. Les then points to Acts 11:19 to support this.