Ananias was a certain disciple in Damascus, a devout Jew who believed Jesus was the Messiah, chosen by the Lord to restore Saul's sight and deliver God's commission.
Les Feldick describes Ananias as a believing Jew in Damascus who followed Jesus as Israel's Messiah while still keeping the Law. The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision, instructing him to go to Saul, who was praying and had seen Ananias coming to lay hands on him. Ananias initially hesitated because he knew Saul's reputation for persecuting believers, but the Lord assured him that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles.
Acts 9:10-17 — This passage directly describes Ananias, his encounter with the Lord in a vision, and his role in Saul's conversion.
In Acts chapter 9, the Bible introduces Ananias as 'a certain disciple at Damascus.' The Lord speaks to him in a vision, calling his name, and Ananias responds, 'Behold, I am here, Lord.' The Lord instructs him to go to the street called Straight, to the house of Judas, and inquire for one called Saul of Tarsus, because Saul is praying and has seen a vision of Ananias coming and putting his hands on him so that he might receive his sight. Ananias expresses concern, recounting the evil Saul has done to the saints at Jerusalem and his authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on the Lord's name. The Lord reassures him that Saul is a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles. Ananias then goes, enters the house, lays his hands on Saul, and says, 'Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.'
Les Feldick emphasizes that Ananias was a believing Jew in Damascus who had embraced Jesus as Israel's Messiah but had not yet understood the change that would come with the revelation of the Gospel of Grace. Ananias was a devout, law-keeping Jew, representative of the early Jewish believers who were still operating under the Gospel of the Kingdom. Les points out that Ananias was naturally fearful when the Lord told him that Saul of Tarsus—the chief persecutor of believers—would be coming to his house, because Saul had authority from the chief priests to bind all who called on the name of Jesus. The Lord's command to 'Go thy way' (Acts 9:15) shows that Ananias was not to argue, and the revelation that Saul would be a chosen vessel to bear the Lord's name before the Gentiles was something unheard of in Jewish culture at that time. Les uses Ananias to illustrate how the early Jewish believers were still thinking in terms of Israel and the Kingdom, not yet aware of the coming dispensation of Grace that Paul would later reveal.
Ananias was hesitant and expressed concern to the Lord. He had heard of Saul's evil deeds against the saints in Jerusalem and knew that Saul had authority from the chief priests to bind those who called on Jesus' name. Les Feldick notes that Ananias was among the kind of Jewish believers Saul was coming to arrest, making his fear understandable.
The Lord told Ananias, 'Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles.' Les Feldick emphasizes that this was a shocking revelation to the Jewish mindset, as they had no expectation of taking the message to the Gentiles in their generation.
Ananias obeyed the Lord's command. He went to the house on Straight Street, laid his hands on Saul, and addressed him as 'Brother Saul,' telling him that the Lord had sent him so that Saul might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Introduction to Ananias in Acts 9
Les begins this clip by referencing the context of Acts 9 and introduces Ananias as the one God is dealing with in Damascus, emphasizing that Saul had only just recognized who Jesus was, not yet the full gospel.
The Lord's Instructions to Ananias
Les explains the Lord's directions to Ananias to go to Straight Street and to Judas's house, and that Saul was praying and had seen Ananias in a vision, indicating Saul was being prepared for something special.
Ananias's Fearful Response
Les shows how Ananias expressed his understandable fear, having heard of Saul's evil deeds against the saints in Jerusalem.
Ananias's Concern About Saul's Authority
Les notes that Ananias knew Saul had authority from the chief priests to bind all who called on the Lord's name, and that Saul was the chief persecutor intent on stamping out followers of Jesus.
God's Commission for Saul
Les highlights the Lord's command to Ananias to 'Go thy way' and that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear God's name before the Gentiles—a concept foreign to Jewish thinking.
Ananias's Faithful Obedience
Les reiterates that Ananias was a believing Jew who, despite his fear, was approached supernaturally by the Lord and warned that Saul would be coming to his house.
Saul's Preparation for Ananias
Les places the conversation in context, showing that while Saul was still blind and praying, the Lord was already informing Ananias of the situation.
The Chosen Vessel for the Gentiles
Les emphasizes that the idea of going to the Gentiles was unheard of in Jewish culture, even though the prophets had spoken of Israel as a light to the nations—this was not expected in their generation.
Acts 9:10: And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
This introduces Ananias as a disciple and shows his immediate response to the Lord's call.
Acts 9:11: And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
This gives the specific instructions to Ananias and reveals Saul's state of prayer.
Acts 9:12: And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
This confirms that Saul had a vision of Ananias, preparing both men for the encounter.
Acts 9:13: Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
This shows Ananias's knowledge of Saul's persecution of believers.
Acts 9:14: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
This explains Ananias's fear because Saul had official authority to arrest believers.
Acts 9:15: 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:
This reveals God's purpose for Saul, which included the Gentiles—a surprise to Ananias.
Acts 9:17: And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
This records Ananias's obedience and the fulfillment of his mission.
Yes, Les Feldick describes Ananias as a believing Jew, a devout man according to the law, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah but had not yet understood that Jewish believers were no longer under the Law.
Ananias was afraid because he had heard of Saul's evil deeds against the saints in Jerusalem and knew that Saul had authority from the chief priests to bind all who called on the name of Jesus in Damascus.
Ananias obeyed the Lord, went to the house on Straight Street, laid his hands on Saul, and called him 'Brother Saul,' fulfilling the vision that Saul had seen.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel Is Different From Peter's — Acts 9 & Galatians 1