The physician Luke wrote after “Saul” saw a great light and heard Jesus' voice on the way to Damascus, the Lord spoke to a man named Ananias whom He told to, “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 prays, And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said unto him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake”, and in chapter nine and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Ananias, “went his way” to where Saul was located where we read:
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 you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
The verse begins, “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, ...” Luke began with the words, “and Ananias went his way” which means “and Ananias, whose name means whom Jehovah has graciously given, departed and left”, “and entered into the house” or “and came in the dwelling place, habitation and abode”; “and putting his hands on him” which means “and placing, setting and laying his, Ananias', physical hands upon Saul”, “said” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how “Ananias” obeyed the Lord, traveled to the house where “Saul” was staying, entered and put his physical hands upon him while saying the following words.
The verse continues, “... Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, ...” Luke added the words, “brother Saul” which means “fellow believer Saul whose name means desired and was the Jewish name for Paul”, “the Lord” or “the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “even Jesus” which means “the selfsame Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “that appeared unto you in the way” or “who revealed and allowed Himself to be seen by you, Saul, while you were on the traveled road” “as you came” which means “even while you, Saul, arose and appeared”, “has sent me” or “has dispatched and assigned me, Ananias”, “that you might receive your sight” which means “so you, Saul, may recover the ability to see”. Luke shared how “Ananias” referred to “Saul” as a “brother” whom he told that “Jesus”, who revealed Himself to “Saul” as he traveled, assigned him to go to “Saul” so he could see again.
Finally the verse says, “ and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” Luke ended with Ananias' words, “and be filled” or “and be supplied, furnished and imbued” “with the Holy Ghost” which means “with God's pure, sacred, morally blameless and ceremonially and religiously consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son”. Luke completed this verse with “Ananias” telling “Saul” he was also dispatched to him so he could be furnished with the “Holy Spirit” of God.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about “Ananias'” obedience to the Lord's direction and how he fulfilled God's desire to have “Saul” see again and be “supplied” with His Holy Spirit. “Ananias” resisted his own concerns about “Saul” and followed the Lord's commission for him. “Saul” was to be used greatly by the Lord Jesus in His Kingdom, and when a person submit themselves to Jesus, they will be forgiven of their sins, filled with His Spirit, granted everlasting life and employed in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Let all who read these words surrender to Jesus who will “save” and enable them to be used in the purposes of the Heavenly Father God.
Next time Luke shares concerning Saul, “immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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