vivid remembrances of his conversion, speaking of it with much feeling as

late as his first epistle to Timothy.  We feel sure that Paul himself never

forgot the first time he was addressed by a Christian as 'brother', and how

that greeting was enhanced by the circumstances.  Consequently we commence

the goodly fellowship of the companions of the apostle with the name of

Today it is usual to associate the name Ananias with the sin of lying.

Indeed, in the writings of some the word has been used in this connection as

a synonym, much as Herod's name is used by Shakespeare in the phrase, 'It out

-herods Herod'.  But the name was a common one in the days of the apostles,

and it is comforting to remember that of the two others of the same name

which are mentioned in the narrative of the Acts, Ananias was the name of the

man to whom it was first revealed that Saul of Tarsus was a chosen vessel

unto the Lord.  Ananias was also the name of the High Priest before whom Paul

stood, as recounted in Acts chapter 23.  The name means 'Jah is gracious',

and would speak to the heart of the stricken Saul.  The grace of the Lord

became the keynote of his afterlife and ministry, and in every sense the

association of this name with the commencement of Paul's life as a Christian

was fitting.

We are not drawing upon our imagination when we stress the name of this

disciple who ministered to the newly converted persecutor, for the Lord said

of Saul:

'He ... hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and

putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight' (Acts

Twenty -five years after, in spite of suffering beyond measure and

labour beyond computation, the name and the character of the man who first

called him 'brother' is remembered by Paul:

'And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good

report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and

said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight' (Acts 22:12,13).

It was no small or easy commission that Ananias received when he was

'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' (Acts

Ananias knew only too well the character of the man to whom he was

sent, and in his answer to the Lord declares how he had heard through many of

the evil that Saul had done to the saints at Jerusalem, and that now even to

far away Damascus, armed not only with the persecuting zeal of a fanatic but

with authority from the chief priests, had he come to bind all that called

upon the name of the Lord.  Ananias had heard 'how much evil' this man had

wrought.  The Lord shows him 'how great things' Saul must suffer for His

sake.  Ananias is in fear for those who call upon 'the name' of the Lord, but

the Lord reveals that this same persecutor shall bear His 'name' before the

Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel, and that he shall suffer great