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Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Before Paul ever ministers, God shows him that he will suffer greatly.

Act 9:17 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 thee in the way as thou camest,
hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

This is one of the first recorded cases of laying on of hands by someone outside of the fivefold
ministry. Peter and John have laid hands on the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit (8:17), but
until now, no layman has used this ministry. However, the ministry of laying on of hands is

available to all believers (Mark 16:18) and Ananias uses it to lift the scales from Saul’s eyes and
get him filled with the Holy Spirit. (Jesus must have instructed him to lay his hands on Saul).

Ananias also calls Saul “brother.” Ananias took the Lord at His word. Saul is now a believer and
called into the ministry. Ananias has to forget everything he had heard about Saul and refuse
to be moved by what he sees. He chooses to accept the word of the Holy Spirit.

9:17 The Apostle Paul Is Filled with the Holy Spirit, HOLY SPIRIT FULLNESS. Saul of

Tarsus was filled with the Holy Spirit as a result of Ananias’s receiving a vision (verse 10).
Saul (later Paul the apostle) was filled with the Holy Spirit as Ananias laid hands on him.
The accompanying sign recorded here was the return of Saul’s sight (verse 18). Some
also note that the apostle Paul valued the fact that he spoke with other tongues (1
Corinthians 14:18), so the absence of mentioning as much here might be interpreted as
1) evidence of the commonality of this experience in the early church---not necessarily
requiring mention every time; or 2) that this followed later in Paul’s experience.

SAUL’S EYES OPENED

Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight
forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Saul’s eyes are immediately opened as if someone has lifted blinders from them.

Act 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days
with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Saul’s first teacher is Ananias. Next, he is taught by disciples in Damascus. None of the
disciples who instructs Saul are well-known in the churches. At this time, there is not even an
organized church in Damascus, even though there is a great concentration of believers.

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