Saul Baptized by Ananias

Luke told Theophilus that "a certain disciple," not an apostle or preacher, saw a vision from the Lord. It must have been a shock for Ananias to hear the Lord tell him to go to Straight Street and ask for Saul of Tarsus. The Lord said Saul was praying and had seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. However, Ananias still hesitated because of all he knew about the persecution in Jerusalem and the letters Saul carried from the chief priests which gave him authority to bind any Christians he found in Damascus. The Lord informed him that Saul was specially chosen to take his name to the Gentiles, kings and the Jews. Coffman says Saul's purpose coincides directly with the prophesy of Isaiah 62:2.

Ananias called Saul "Brother," perhaps because they were both from fleshly Israel, or in anticipation of Saul's impending baptism which would result in his being one of God's children in Christ. Saul's sight was miraculously restored through the laying on of Ananias' hands and, according to Acts 2:38, he received the gift of the Holy Spirit after he was baptized. Notice Saul was baptized immediately after receiving his sight (Acts 9:10-18).

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