What does Acts 9:18 Mean?

Context Summary

How graciously God makes use of prepared souls as partners in the work of salvation! It would have been easy for the risen Lord to have Himself completed what He had begun; or He might have brought a Philip or an Apostle upon the scene. But instead of this He called a comparatively obscure man who was to give Saul the help and counsel he needed, Galatians 4:19. See to it that you are of such a temper that Jesus may commission you to heal the wounds with which He brings His predestined servants to the ground. A little taper may be used to kindle a great light. Though not a great man Ananias was pre-eminently a good man, Acts 22:12. He had his strong prepossessions, but laid them aside at the bidding of Christ. Take care not to entrench yourself too strongly in your prejudices. Be mobile to Christ's touch, while you are strong against all others. What a comfort Acts 9:15 must have been to Paul in after-days! Perhaps the sweetest part of these terms of his commission was unto Me. It was a noble act of faith for Ananias to call him brother. Yet if the Master accepted, the disciple could not refuse. Note that a new convert was bidden in those days to seek the pentecostal gift! [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 9

¹  Saul, going toward Damascus, is stricken down to the earth,
⁸  and led blind to Damascus;
¹⁰  is called to the apostleship;
¹⁸  and is baptized by Ananias
²⁰  He preaches Christ boldly
²³  The Jews lay wait to kill him;
²⁹  so do the Grecians, but he escapes both
³¹  The church having rest, Peter heals Aeneas;
³⁶  and restores Tabitha to life