Context No. 2970 of 4322 · Acts

Acts 9:6-10: in context

6But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.” 7The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. 10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

After the blinding light, the risen Jesus tells Saul to get up and go into the city, where he will be told what to do. Saul rises from the ground, but though his eyes are open he can see nothing, and they lead him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he is blind, and neither eats nor drinks. Meanwhile the Lord calls a disciple named Ananias in a vision.

The fierce persecutor is reduced to complete helplessness, blind, led by the hand, fasting in the dark. The man who set out with letters of authority now cannot even find his own way. God has stopped him fully and left him waiting in darkness for the next word. And notice that God does not complete the work through Saul alone; he calls an ordinary disciple, Ananias, to go to him. God humbles the proud, and then uses the obscure and the faithful to carry his purpose forward. The blinded Saul must wait for a man named Ananias to bring him the next step.

When God stops me and I am left waiting in the dark, can I trust that he is at work, even calling others to play their part in what he is doing with me?

Sources

Acts 9:6: "Rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do."
Acts 9:8: "When his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus."
Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God."