Brave Ananias

“This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.” — Acts 9:15

In Damascus there lived a follower of Jesus called Ananias. One day the Lord spoke to him in a vision. “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

“Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street,” the Lord said, “and ask for a man from Tarsus called Saul. He is praying. In a vision he has seen a man called Ananias come and put his hands on him, so that he can see again.”

Ananias was horrified! “Lord,” he said, “I’ve heard so many people talk about this man, and all the terrible things he has done to Your people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with permission from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on Your name!”

Ananias was afraid. Going to see Saul would be like walking into a lion’s den.

But the Lord said, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name to people who aren’t Jews, and to their kings, and to the people of Israel.”

So Ananias went. He found the house and went in. And he put his hands on Saul.

Then Ananias said two words that must have been very hard to say: “Brother Saul.”

Brother. Saul had come to Damascus to arrest Ananias and his friends. And Ananias called him “Brother”.

“Brother Saul,” said Ananias, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again! He got up and was baptised. Then he ate some food, and got his strength back.

And straight away, Saul began to go to the synagogues in Damascus and tell everyone, “Jesus is the Son of God!”

Everyone who heard him was astonished. “Isn’t this the man who caused so much trouble for the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem?” they said. “Didn’t he come here to arrest them?”

But Saul grew more and more powerful in his preaching. He proved that Jesus is the Christ.

Saul, the man who hated Jesus, became one of Jesus’ greatest followers. Later he was known by another name, Paul. And he wrote many of the books in the New Testament.

But none of it would have happened if Ananias hadn’t been brave enough to obey God, and kind enough to call his enemy “Brother”.

Read it in your Bible: Acts 9:10–22

Dear God, thank you that you can change anyone’s heart. Please make me brave like Ananias, to obey you even when I’m scared, and to be kind even to people who have been unkind. Amen.