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THE KING’S BUSINESS
into no discussion with Ananias (v. 17) ; He simply repeated his commission, telling him that whatever Saul had been he was now a “chosen vessel” unto the Lord to bear His name before the Gentiles and kings and the children o f Israel. v. 17. “And Ananias went his way (departed ) , and entered into the house, and putting (laying) , his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that (who) appeared unto thee in the way as (which) thou earnest, hast sent me, that thou mightest (mqyest) receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” Ananias protests no longer, readily, promptly and heartily he obeys. Strange as the com mandment appeared, the moment he sees Saul he tenderly lays his hands upon him and exclaims, “Brother Saul.” There was no man on earth that Saul had hated as he did the disciples o f the Lord, and there was no man on earth that-- Ananias had dreaded as he did Saul, but now this is all changed, faith in the one Lord had made them both brothers. The Lord had said nothing to Ananias about Saul being “ filled with the Holy Spirit,” but he had said that “ Saul is a chosen vessel to carry my name before the Gentiles,” and Ananias knew that he could not do that properly unless he was endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 5; cf. Acts 10)38), so he took it for granted that he'was to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That Saul’s beholding his Lord was no mere subjective vision appears again from this verse. The word translated “ appeared” means literally “was seen,” arid is used only of actual see ing with the eyes .1 Saul had actually seen the Lord Jesus with his eyes. Ananias knew this because the Lord had'revealed it to him. Saul had not yet told him o f what he had seen by the way. Note carefully how Ananias speaks o f Jesus. H e speaks o f Him as ‘.‘the Lord.” This is the title by which Jesus was constantly known in the early church (cf. Phil. 2:11; Rom. 10:9, 10, R. V .; Acts 16:31, R. V .). W e see nothing in the New Testament o f such titles as “The Man o f Galilee,” so common now-a-days. W e do" not even read o f
o f the Risen Lord blinded Saul’s eyes. When he opened his. eyes after having beheld that wonderful vision, he could see nothing whatever, and was led as helpless as a child into the city which he had expected to enter as a conqueror. He remained blind three days, but his inability to see other things caused him to be even more taken up with the Lord. He was so overwhelmed with a sense o f his awful guilt in having persecuted One who was the Lord that h e ,neither ate nor drank for three days. v. 10. “And (Now) there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and to him said the Lord (and the Lord said unto him) in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.” Ananias was not an official in the church, simply “a certain disciple.” This fact which is empha sized here, disproves the doctrine o f the - Mormon church (and o f many others beside the Mormon), that the laying on of an "apostle’s hands” was necessary to receiving the Holy Spirit, and that only-an apostle could baptize. Let us never forget that Ananias was simply “a certain dis ciple.” Though only a disciple, Ananias was a ready instrument at the Lord’s call. He was ready to answer at once, “ Behold, I am here, Lord.” . v. 11. “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street, which is called Straight, and enquire (inquire) in the house o f Judas, for one called Saul of Tar sus (for one named Saul, a ¡nan of Tar sus): for behold, he prayeth.” It was a startling message that Ananias received, and Ananias was staggered by It (vs. 13, 14). Though he was a ready instrument at the Lord’s call, when the definite instructions came, he hesitated. To „him. Saul o f Tar sus was Saul the terrible, and the thought o f Saul the terrible fills his whole mind and he protests against the commission. He had lost sight of what the Lord said, “behold, he prayeth.” It does not seem to have entered his mind that such a thor ough transformation could he so suddenly wrought in any man as had been wrought in Saul o f Tarsus. The Lord Jesus entered.
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