Ananias

the one on the Street called Straight

Who was Ananias?

He was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus. Acts 9:10
The Lord sent him to find Saul, who was blind, on the street called Straight. Acts 9:9, 11
He laid his hands on Saul. Saul regained his sight and was baptized. Acts 9:17-18

What the Bible says

Acts 9:10

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.

Acts 9:9, 11

⁹And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink. ¹¹And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Stait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.

Acts 9:17-18

¹⁷And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest; that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up, he was baptized.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Ananias

Before Jesus. He was a disciple who lived in Damascus. Acts 9:10
Before Jesus. Paul describes him as a devout observer of the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there. Acts 22:12
With Jesus. The Lord called him in a vision, and Ananias answered, “Here I am.” Acts 9:10
With Jesus. The Lord asked him to go to Straight Street, to the house of Judas, and look for Saul of Tarsus. Acts 9:11
With Jesus. Ananias answered that he had heard of the evil Saul had done to the Christians in Jerusalem. Acts 9:13-14
With Jesus. The Lord told him that Saul was the instrument he had chosen to carry his name to the nations. Acts 9:15
With Jesus. The Lord also told Ananias that he would show Saul how much he would have to suffer for his name. Acts 9:16
Afterward. Ananias went, laid his hands on him, and called him “brother.” Saul regained his sight and was baptized. Acts 9:17-18
Afterward. Saul ate and recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus. Acts 9:19
Afterward. Right away, Saul began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Acts 9:20
Afterward. According to Tradition: According to tradition, he was the first bishop of Damascus. Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Damascus”

Words of Ananias

“Behold I am here, Lord.” Acts 9:10

When the Lord called him by name in a vision.

“Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem.” Acts 9:13

When the Lord asked him to go and find Saul.

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest; that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 9:17

As he entered the house, while he was laying his hands on Saul.

“And now why tarriest thou? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.” Acts 22:16

As Paul told it years later, in Jerusalem.

What they were like

He was a devout observer of the law, well spoken of by the Jews of Damascus. Acts 22:12
When the Lord called him, he answered, “Here I am.” Acts 9:10
He told the Lord what he had heard about Saul, and then he went. Acts 9:13-17

The greatest thing they did

Sent by Jesus, he laid his hands on Saul, and Saul regained his sight. Acts 9:17-18
He told Saul that he would be a witness for Jesus before all people. Acts 22:14-15

Not to be confused with

Hananiah: The Hananiah of the Book of Daniel was one of the three young men in Babylon, centuries earlier. This Ananias lived in Damascus. Daniel 1:6; Acts 9:10
He was a Christian in Jerusalem who lied about the price of a field. Acts 5:1-5
He was high priest when Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Acts 23:2
Annas: Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, was a high priest. His name sounds similar, but he is a different person. John 18:13

What people ask

Did Ananias baptize Paul?

Acts says Saul was baptized after Ananias laid his hands on him. It also says Ananias told him to be baptized. Acts 9:18; Acts 22:16

Why did Ananias hesitate?

He had heard of the evil Saul had done to the Christians. He knew Saul had come with authority to arrest all who called on the name of Jesus. Acts 9:13-14

What is Straight Street?

A street in Damascus. Saul was staying there, in the house of a man named Judas. Acts 9:11

Is he the same as the Hananiah in the Book of Daniel?

No. That Hananiah lived centuries earlier, in Babylon. This one was a disciple of Jesus in Damascus. Daniel 1:6; Acts 9:10

Why did Jesus send Ananias to see Saul?

Ananias told Saul himself: the Lord Jesus, who appeared to him on the road, had sent him so that Saul would regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:17

Were there many Jews in Damascus?

Yes. The Catholic Encyclopedia estimates about 50,000 in the time of Saint Paul. That is why Saul carried letters for their synagogues. Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Damascus”; Acts 9:2

Little known Acts tells of his visit twice: in chapter 9 and in Paul's speech in chapter 22. Acts 9:10-19; Acts 22:12-16 Before he arrived, Saul saw in a vision…

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Who Ananias is connected to

Paul · restored his sight
Jesus · sent him to Saul

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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