Acts 9:1-20 (NRSV)
Read Acts 9:1-20 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 9Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest Verse 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Verse 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. Verse 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Verse 5He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Verse 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." Verse 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Verse 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. Verse 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Verse 10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." Verse 11The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, Verse 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." Verse 13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; Verse 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." Verse 15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; Verse 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." Verse 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Verse 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, Verse 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, Verse 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
Devotion
My wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. One doctor described her cancer as “aggressive.” But another doctor said, “I would not say it is aggressive. The tumor has probably been in the milk duct 5, 8, even 10 years. 80% of all women have this same breast cancer and the cure rate is 97%.” Our mutual relief prompted my wife to say, “Information is empowering!” How right she was!
Ananias did not want to visit Saul, the evil guy who did evil things to God’s saints in Jerusalem. So when God informed Ananias of God’s great plans for Saul to bring the Gospel message to the Gentiles, Ananias was greatly relieved. Armed with that information, Ananias ministered to Saul by laying his hands upon him, restoring his sight, baptizing him and feeding him. Information empowered Ananias to minister to the one who would become God’s instrument to the Gentile world.
Prayer
Speak to us, dear God, in ways that empower us to reach out to others, even those we perceive to be enemies, with your acceptance and grace. Amen.