Paul received his sight and his Christian mission.

Acts 22:12-16

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.” Acts 22:12-13

Ananias was a born-again follower of Jesus Christ, who was Jewish and once devoted to the laws of Judaism. He had a good reputation with the Jews who were with him in Damascus, those whom Paul intended on arresting for their Christianity. Before Paul’s conversion, he was called Saul. Ananias brought Saul from the point of where he realized that “…something was rotten in Denmark…” to where his eyes were opened to see Jesus Christ clearly. From that point, Saul is called Paul.

As described in the previous post of Acts 22:6-11, our born-again experience begins when we see a great light shining around us, in essence making us say, “...something is rotten in Denmark…” From there, we need to be obedient to the word of God to be explained what we are to do next. That next step is to find someone who is knowledgeable in the word of God and has a good reputation within the body of Jesus Christ. To find a person like that is to find help in receiving our sight, to be able to see Jesus, the Christ, and Son of God.

In today’s world, it’s extremely difficult to find someone who truly lives for the Gospel of Jesus Christ who is willing to open our eyes to see Jesus as the Savior of the world. Even the churches have abandoned the Gospel of Christ, the one place where anyone should be able to hear the message of the Cross and to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. The world is filled with wolves in sheep clothing, causing the planted Gospel seed to be choked out. The masses of today’s culture live for the beast with two horns like a lamb, Revelations 13:11-13, which is Satan’s version of the Holy Spirit. We need to read the word of God for ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:6

Click here for a description of today’s churches, Ezekiel 33:30-33

“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. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’” Acts 22:14-16

Today, we know that baptism refers to baptism of the Holy Spirit, not water baptism, as quoted, “John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16

Ananias revealed that Paul was chosen to know the will of God, which was for Paul to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people, to all the Gentiles [non-Jewish] Acts 22:21. The Christians of today know Paul as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul was not one of the Twelve Apostles, but he said this, “Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 As followers of Jesus Christ, our mission is to bring the testimony of Jesus to all peoples, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

When a new Apostle was being chosen to replace Judas, the Judas who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, a clear description was given as to what an Apostle is. An Apostle had to be somebody who were with the other Apostles when Jesus Christ was among them. An Apostle had to be someone who was with the other Apostles from the time Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to the day when Jesus ascended into Heaven. The Apostle had to be a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthias was that chosen Apostle. “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Acts 1:21-22

Paul was a blind man whose eyes were opened to see the “Just One”, and to hear the “voice of His mouth”. Paul was truly a sheep of the Good Shepherd, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 As followers of Jesus Christ, we see Him and hear His voice. Paul was definitely a witness to all people, all meaning the Jewish and non-Jewish population of the world. As followers of Jesus Christ, we share our born-again experience with anybody who is willing to listen. Our born-again experience is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart.

As soon as Paul’s eyes were opened to see Jesus Christ clearly, Ananias said to Paul, “…why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” The moment someone realizes there is something “…rotten in Denmark…”, and their eyes are opened to Jesus Christ, that is the question that should be asked, “…why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Through Jesus Christ, our sin is washed away, and the Holy Spirit works in us to bring Holiness by the sanctification of our spirit.

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1