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Ananias knew from God that Paul was born again. He was used by God for Paul to receive a
miracle. But that is not all.
THE RESULT OF ANANIAS’S OBEDIENCE
Act 22:14 Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will,
and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen (procheirizomai: to take by the hand before
time; pre-appointed) thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see (eido: view, know,
perceive) that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
Because of Ananias’s obedience, not only did Paul receive his sight, Paul also received three
areas of revelation:
1. Knowing God’s Will: Preaching the gospel to the Gentiles (20:24; 26:17)
2. Seeing Jesus: Appearances to Paul (Acts 9:3-6; 23:11; Galatians 1:12)
3. Knowing the Revelation of the New Testament (Ephesians 3:2-7; Colossians 1:25-27).
Act 22:15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
You cannot be an effective witness (verse 15) without revelation (verse 14). Part of Paul’s
witness was his testimony. He will also give this again in chapter 27.
Act 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.'
This verse is poorly translated. The action of the aorist participle proceeds the action of the
main verb. The aorist participle is “calling on the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13), being
saved. The main verb is “wash away.” Sins are washed away by calling on the name of the
Lord. Ananias told Paul to quit delaying and head for the water to be baptized. His sins would
be washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.
GOD PREPARES PAUL FOR MINISTRY IN ARABIA (17-18)
Paul shares about Jesus appearing to him in a trance and telling him to leave Jerusalem quickly.
Act 22:17 "Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that
I was in a trance
And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the
temple, I was in a trance (ekstasis: ecstatic, astonishment);
Paul skips over much time in his testimony and brings up the supernatural, his experience of
being in a trance.
Act 22:18 and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they
will not receive your testimony concerning Me.'