Why did God tell Ananias to go to Saul despite his persecution?
God directed Ananias to go because Saul was a chosen vessel unto Him, appointed to bear His name before the Gentiles. Although Ananias knew Saul had done evil to the saints and had authority to arrest believers, the Lord overruled his fear and sent him to Saul, who was praying and had seen a vision of Ananias restoring his sight.
Les explains that Ananias objected because he had heard how much evil Saul had done to the saints at Jerusalem and that Saul had authority from the chief priests to arrest all who called on the Lord's name. The Lord answers, "Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles." Les sees this as a sudden change in format: Jesus had earlier told the disciples not to go into the way of the Gentiles, and throughout His earthly ministry He had ignored them. Even when Greeks wanted to see Him, He did not bring them in; He told Andrew and Philip to say the hour had come, speaking of His death, burial, and resurrection, and that unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit. Saul was also praying and had seen in a vision Ananias coming to put his hand on him so he might receive his sight.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
More Questions
What did the Lord say to Ananias to answer his objection about Saul?
God overrode Ananias's objection by telling him to go anyway, because Saul is a chosen vessel to bear God's name before the Gentiles, which marked an abrupt change in the format of God's dealings.
Why did the Lord tell Ananias to go to Saul anyway?
The Lord overruled Ananias's objection by telling him to go anyway, because Saul is a chosen vessel unto Him, appointed to bear His name before the Gentiles.