Acts 9:13-18

God chooses whom He wills, not man .

The Holy Spirit guides, teaches and transforms those that He chooses to do the work of God.

Acts 9:13-18

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Ananias is concerned; the Lord is sending him to a vicious persecutor of the church.

There is irony surrounding the name of Jesus in His dialog with Ananias about Saul. Ananias objects that Saul has persecuted those who call on Jesus’ name, Jesus reveals that He has chosen and transformed Saul precisely so that he will carry that name to the Gentiles—and even suffer for it.

In welcoming Saul in this way, Ananias displays both his obedience to Jesus’ call and Saul’s full inclusion in the fellowship of the Church. Saul now receives the empowering of the Holy Spirit for his mission to the Gentiles. This is an anointing to fulfill a specific calling and mission placed on Saul by God.

Saul will also have a role spreading the gospel before kings and his fellow Israelites. Faithlife Bible.

So far in Acts, Christians have been called “disciples,” “believers,” and those belonging to “the Way”. Here the word saints is used. It means those set apart by God for use in His service. Saul was not dreaming on the road to Damascus but instead had seen the resurrected Lord. NKJ BIble.

The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then the sinner becomes a new creature, and endeavours to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former companions. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Acts 7:59  And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Acts 8:17  Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:2| As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”