A dramatic event happens in Acts 9. Saul is converted and becomes Paul. It also is about a man named Ananias.

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:1-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Saul was persecuting believers. So was He really persecuting Jesus? Whoever persecuted the believers were in fact persecuting Jesus. Jesus said that Saul was persecuting Him, not a group of people.

1. Anyone who touches you, touches Jesus.

“So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 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.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:6-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Saul was the person chosen by God to be His vessel. Despite Saul’s history (Acts 26: 9-11) God still chose Saul and transformed him by His grace. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

2. Do not underestimate the power of the grace of God.

“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 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. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:10-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The conversation between God and Ananias is filled with much irony. God gave a vision to Saul, the persecutor of the church, of Ananias laying hands on him to restore his sight. Ananias was deeply troubled.

Ananias was not a notable character in the Bible and we know nothing about him except that he is a disciple and appears in Acts 9. Yet He had a quick response to hearing the voice of God. We may feel like a zero but God can use us significantly.

3. Ananias was:
a. obedient
b. overcomer
c. open-hearted.

Ananias went out in obedience despite his uncertainties, overcoming them, about Saul. Despite Saul’s history, possibly going through depression and regret for all the wrong he had done, Ananias reached out to him. We need people to be Ananias in the body of Christ. We all can’t be Sauls but can’t we all be Ananias to someone?