Reflections: Yes, Ananias, I meant that

I always enjoy finding inspirational people in the Bible who aren’t the star of whatever incident was going on, but were just going about doing the right thing and happened to get mentioned for it, even just briefly. 

I was reminded of one such person while studying for a Global University class I’m taking about the book of Acts. The story was about Saul, a Pharisee zealously doing what he thought was the right thing by persecuting early Christians who shared the Gospel after the Day of Pentecost. Actively searching for Christians to punish them, Saul was even present at the death of Stephen, the first Christ-follower recorded to have died for his testimony. Saul was on his way to Damascus with official authorization to arrest Christians, when the risen Jesus intervened. Saul was blinded as he heard Jesus speak to him, step one in the turnaround for a man who would become a great missionary and write several New Testament epistles. 

The person I’m thinking of wasn’t Saul himself, later renamed Paul, but rather, Ananias. Not the one who famously lied to the apostles; rather, this Ananias lived in Damascus, was a follower of Christ, and was praying, when Jesus spoke to him in a vision with directions to go to the house where Saul and his group were waiting for someone to explain what was going on. 

That’s where Ananias gets relatable. He was doing what Christ-followers do—praying and waiting for guidance from the Holy Spirit—but when Jesus told him to go talk to Saul, he was genuinely puzzled. Word of Saul’s malicious errand had preceded him to Damascus, and Ananias wasn’t sure the visit was a good idea: “But Lord . . . He is here with authority to arrest all who call on Your Name!” (Acts 9:13 BSB).  

I can see his point, can’t you? But several things stand out. For one, Ananias was obviously diligent in prayer, and he recognized the voice of Jesus when he heard it. Luke doesn’t say, but I wonder if Ananias had been among those who saw the risen Christ and recognized when he saw/heard Him, but regardless, he was not afraid to engage in conversation and voice his concern. And Jesus responded to him, saying “Go! This man is my chosen instrument . . . I will show him how he must suffer for my name” (v. 14). I love how Jesus repeated the command, but also reassured Ananias, and Ananias promptly got up and obeyed. He even addressed Saul as “Brother Saul.” Sure enough, he found Saul ready to listen and be prayed for.  

I hope to be like Ananias, diligent enough in prayer to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit when I hear it, willing to obey even if I don’t understand, but not afraid to confess my hesitation to the Lord. I am regularly inspired by stories of courageous Christians who speak up at great risk, sharing the gospel with family or co-workers when the Holy Spirit, or Jesus himself in a dream or vision, tells them to. I’ll admit there are people—including some political leaders, but I won’t go there—that if the Holy Spirit told me to speak to them, my response would be, “Are you SURE?” Yes, He is sure. Just as he told Ananias, “Go,” he has told us the same in the Great Commission. I don’t know whether my speaking will result in a decision for Christ, apathy, or even animosity, but my part is to obey.