Acts 9:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ananias hesitates, telling the Lord what everyone has heard: how much evil this man has done to the saints at Jerusalem.
What Does Acts 9:13 Mean?
Ananias answers honestly, as Moses and Jeremiah once answered daunting calls. Saul’s violence is no rumor to him; refugees from Jerusalem have carried their reports to Damascus. This verse also gives Acts its first use of a lovely title for believers: “thy saints” — holy ones, people set apart as God’s own.
It is a prayer of honest fear, and the Lord does not rebuke it. Scripture leaves room for the obedient to voice their misgivings before they obey; Ananias tells God plainly why the errand seems unthinkable — and then, told to go, he goes. Honest questions and real obedience are not enemies. They often live in the same faithful heart.
Acts 9:13 in the Original Language
hagioi (ἅγιοι), 'saints' -- holy ones, ordinary believers set apart as belonging to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 9:13
What does Acts 9:13 mean?
Ananias hesitates, telling the Lord what everyone has heard: how much evil this man has done to the saints at Jerusalem.