Acts 9:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Ananias obeys, enters the house, lays his hands on Saul, and greets the church’s persecutor with a healing word: “Brother Saul.”
What Does Acts 9:17 Mean?
The feared errand is performed with tenderness. Ananias names the One who sent him — “the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way” — so Saul knows the same Person who met him on the road has now arranged his healing. The stated purpose is double: that he may receive his sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
“Brother” may be the first word of kindness Saul ever received from a Christian, and it arrives with hands resting gently on his head — the hands of a man he had come to arrest. Forgiveness moves first, before explanations, before probation. The family of God opens to Saul with a word he could never have expected to hear.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 9:17
What does Acts 9:17 mean?
Ananias obeys, enters the house, lays his hands on Saul, and greets the church’s persecutor with a healing word: “Brother Saul.”