Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Acts 9:17. It's a really important passage about how Jesus shows up to someone who is struggling with faith. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: Saul was a Pharisee: Saul was once a very devout Jew, but he became convinced that he could earn God's favor by his own works and traditions. He was basically a religious hypocrite. Jesus appeared to him: Jesus showed up to Saul in the street while he was preaching about his own righteousness. Jesus sent Ananias: Jesus told Saul, “I’ve sent me, Ananias, that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” What does it mean? “Brother Saul” : This is a gentle way of addressing him. It means he's recognized as someone who has been misled. "The Lord, even Jesus..." : This is key! Jesus isn’t just showing up; He is showing up to help Saul. It emphasizes that Jesus is the one working through this. “appeared unto thee in the way…” : Jesus appeared to Saul while he was walking and preaching. "that thou mightest receive thy sight…" : This means Jesus wants Saul to see the truth again. He’s offering him a chance to understand who God is. “…and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” : This is the result of Jesus' visit. Receiving his sight and being filled with the Holy Spirit means Saul will experience a profound change in his life - he’ll receive spiritual gifts and a deeper understanding of God’s love and grace. In short, this verse tells us that Jesus didn’t just show up to help Saul; He directly sent him to receive sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. It's a powerful message about Jesus’ power to transform people! --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Talk about why this story is significant in Christian theology?