Verse 9: “Being led by the hand they brought him into Damascus, and for three days he did not see, and he did not eat, nor did he drink.”
Three days: When the number 3 is applied to a human being it is usually related to testing for the purpose of revealing something.

Did not eat, nor did he drink: He did not care about what his body needed. This is a description of fasting. We fast to weaken the body in order that it might make our prayer and spiritual situation stronger so that we can connect with God.

Verse 10: “There was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’ And he said, ‘Behold, here am I Lord.’”

Ananias: God instructed him to reveal truth to Saul in order to bring him into obedience to the will of God. It is through discipleship that people will be brought into obedience to God’s will for their life.

Here am I: He made himself totally available to God, for whatever God wanted him to do.

Verse 11: “And the Lord (said) to him, ‘Rise up and go unto the alley which is called Straight. And seek a house of a man by the name of Yehuda. Ask for a man by the name of Saul of Tarsus for behold he is praying now.’”

Alley: A small street

Straight: The name of this alley helps us understand the intent of Messiah. His purpose for revealing Himself to Saul was to make his life straight – in agreement with the will of God.

Praying: Saul understood the significance of prayer. He knew that he could not understand, discern, or respond to God without diligent prayer.

Verse 12: “And he saw in a vision a man by the name of Ananias that he was entering and that he laid hands upon him in order that he would regain his sight.”

Regain his sight: The words used here mean to gain sight, but to do so with a new perspective.

Verse 13: “Ananias answered, ‘Lord I have heard much concerning this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.’”

Saints: Holy ones – A saint is someone who does the purposes of God. A saint has called upon the Lord and is a disciple.

Verse 14: “He has received authority here, from the high priests, to bind all of those who have called upon Your Name.”

Called upon Your Name: One becomes a disciple by calling upon the name of the Lord. Salvation is not based upon being a good disciple. Salvation is a free gift from God, through Yeshua.

Verse 15: “The Lord said to him, ‘Go, he is a chosen vessel to Me this one, in order to bear My Name before nations and kings and the children of Israel.

Chosen vessel: God has chosen him – it does not matter what his reputation is, what he has done in the past, God revealed to Ananias that Saul had been called/chosen as a vessel to bear His Name.

Verse 16: “For I will show him how much it is necessary for him, on behalf of My Name, to suffer.”

To suffer: Saul was also called to suffer. Saul’s salvation was not dependent upon performing this task well or not. His salvation was dependant on him confessing his sins, acknowledging Messiah in his life, and believing that Messiah was the ransom for his sins. At that moment he was saved and then, having been saved, he begun to be a disciple. Part of discipleship is bearing the name of Messiah to other individuals and being willing to suffer. Disciples will meet opposition. True disciples respond to the will of God in obedience.


Verse 17: “And Ananias went away, and he entered into the house (Yehuda’s house). He laid upon him (Saul) the hands. He said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, even Yeshua – the one who appeared to you in the way which you were coming- in order that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Regain your sight: Previously Saul had been walking in darkness, he was spiritually blind. He was doing things that were not based upon the illumination of Scriptural truth.

Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit brings about change in our lives. Receiving the Holy Spirit is a sign of salvation (2 Corinthians 1v22, Ephesians 1v13-14).