“Now there was a disciple
In Damascus
Named Ananias.
The Lord said to him
In a vision.
‘Ananias!’
He said.
‘Here I am!
Lord!’”
Ἦν δέ τις μαθητὴς ἐν Δαμασκῷ ὀνόματι Ἀνανίας, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν ὁράματι ὁ Κύριος Ἀνανία. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν Ἰδοὺ ἐγώ, Κύριε.
The author of Acts indicated that there was a disciple (Ἦν δέ τις μαθητὴς) in Damascus (ἐν Δαμασκῷ) named Ananias (ὀνόματι Ἀνανίας). The Lord (ὁ Κύριος) said to him (καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν) in a vision (ἐν ὁράματι). ‘Ananias (Ἀνανία)!’ He said (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν). ‘Here I am (Ἰδοὺ ἐγώ)! Lord (Κύριε)!’” A disciple of Jesus in Damascus, named Ananias, had a vision to go and find Saul of Tarsus, who would also have a similar vision. Ananias responded with the common response of the Israelite prophets. “Here I am! Lord!” Saul’s speech had a shorter version of this in Acts, chapter 22:12, without any mention of a vision, “Ananias (Ἀνανίας) was a devout man (δέ τις ἀνὴρ εὐλαβὴς) according to the law (κατὰ τὸν νόμον), witnessed (μαρτυρούμενος) by all the Jews living there (ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν κατοικούντων Ἰουδαίων).” In fact, all the Jewish people living in Damascus liked Ananias, but there was no mention that he was a disciple (Ἦν δέ τις μαθητὴς) of Jesus, like here. Saul’s speech in Acts, chapter 26, had nothing at all about Ananias. Would you respond to God by saying, “Here I am! Lord!”?
