SAUL OBEYS AND IS BAPTIZED

Acts 9:10-12 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, 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 prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

On the road to Damascus, Saul recognized Jesus as the promised Savior, repented of his persecution of His church, and asked, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The Lord replied, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do (See Vss. 1-6). Blinded by the presence of Jesus, Saul was led helplessly, but willingly into the city of Damascus where he remained for three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink (Vs. 9). Although Saul recognized Jesus as the Savior and was willing to follow Him, it is evident that his willingness was not sufficient to become a new-born child of God and a disciple of Christ. The acts of faith that must be obeyed was yet to be explained to Saul.

In order to reveal the missing acts of faith, Jesus, in a vision, came to a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. Jesus instructed him to seek out one called Saul of Tarsus, who had also seen in a vision that a man named Ananias would allow his sight to be restored by the laying on of his hands. Having heard of Saul as a persecutor of the church of Christ, and how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem, Ananias questioned the reason for this instruction and probably feared for his own safety (Vss. 13-14). But the Lord assured Ananias by telling him that Saul 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 (Vss. 15-16). Here we find a true demonstration of providential justice. Saul was the primary advocator of the death of Stephen. He was also the main protagonist that brought suffering and persecution to the cause of Christ and His followers. Now he is called by the very One whom he had rejected, to be one of the primary disciples and preachers of the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. And, in doing so, he will greatly suffer, be persecuted, and eventually, lose his life in defense of this same Christ Jesus.

Continuing in verse 17 we find Ananias obeying the command of the Savior. He had searched for and found Saul on the street called Straight, and in the house of a man named Judas. Ananias then entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Seeing the humble, repentant man called Saul before him, and realizing that his Savior, Jesus Christ, had chosen him to preach His message of salvation to all nations throughout the world, the scornful contempt that Ananias had for Saul as a persecutor of the body of Christ was replaced with nothing but brotherly love. And with the touch of his hands on Saul, immediately there fell from his eyes, as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith (Vs. 18a), exactly as Jesus said it would be. Prior to this time, Saul had been living in spiritual darkness, unable to comprehend the fact that, in Jesus Christ, all Old Testament prophecies had been fulfilled. Now he was, not only able to physically see the world about him, but he could spiritually see Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and Savior of the world.

Then Saul did what all repentant people of the world do when they hear, believe, and confess Jesus Christ as their promised Savior. Saul did exactly what the three thousand souls did after hearing and believing the apostles' Holy Spirit-inspired message of salvation through Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost. He did what the many men and women did when Philip preached the New Covenant message of salvation to the Samaritans, and to the Ethiopian eunuch as he returned home from Jerusalem. In each of these conversions to Christianity, they all were baptized for the remission of their sins and were added to the church of Christ. So did Saul - he arose, and was baptized (Vs. 18b). It was not possible for Saul to carry out, Jesus' command to preach salvation to the world while he, himself was not a born-again Christian. It took thet final act of baptism then, and that same final act of baptism is just as necessary today. Only by baptism for the remission of sins allows one to be placed, by God, in Christ's church. In Christ, and only in Christ, can one find the hope of eternal salvation.