Acts 9:17-21: a reflection

17Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. 19He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. 21All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”

When Ananias goes to the man who had been the fierce persecutor of the church, now blinded and waiting in Damascus, the first word out of his mouth is remarkable: Brother Saul. This is the same Saul who had made havoc of the church, who had come to Damascus intending to drag believers off in chains; and Ananias, sent by the Lord, greets him not as an enemy, not with suspicion, but as a brother. Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God had transformed the persecutor, and Ananias welcomed the transformed man as a brother, embracing him, laying hands on him, receiving him into the fellowship of believers. To welcome as a brother even a former enemy whom God has changed, rather than holding his past against him with suspicion, is the grace Ananias showed. God's transforming work makes the former enemy a brother; and we are called to welcome him as such. Ananias called the persecutor brother.

Notice how Ananias greeted the former persecutor: as Brother Saul. He had every earthly reason to be wary of Saul, whose reputation as a persecutor of the church was well known, who had come to Damascus to arrest believers. Yet Ananias, obeying the Lord, welcomed him not with suspicion or fear, but as a brother, embracing the man God had transformed. This is a striking grace: to welcome as a brother even one who had been a fierce enemy, once God has changed him, rather than holding his past against him. When God transforms someone, even a former enemy, they become a brother or sister; and we are called to receive them as such, not to keep them at arm's length with lingering suspicion. Ananias did not say, I will believe your change when you have proven it over years; he called Saul brother at once, welcoming the transformed man. God's transforming work can make an enemy a brother, and we do well to welcome such a one warmly rather than warily. To embrace the transformed former enemy as a brother is to honor God's changing grace. Ananias welcomed the changed man without holding his past against him.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to welcome as brothers and sisters even former enemies whom God has transformed, rather than holding their past against them. We can hold someone's past against them, keeping even a transformed former enemy at arm's length with lingering suspicion; but Ananias welcomed the former persecutor as Brother Saul, embracing the man God had changed. When God transforms someone, they become our brother or sister, to be received warmly, not warily. Do not hold a transformed person's past against them with suspicion; welcome them as a brother or sister, as Ananias welcomed the former persecutor Saul. Welcome as a brother or sister even a former enemy whom God has transformed, rather than holding their past against them with lingering suspicion, as Ananias greeted the former persecutor as Brother Saul and embraced the man God had changed; for God's transforming work makes even a former enemy a brother or sister, and we are called to receive such a one warmly rather than warily, not requiring years of proof before we believe the change, but honoring God's changing grace by welcoming the transformed as our own, as Ananias called the persecutor brother.

Lord, when Ananias goes to the man who had been the fierce persecutor of the church, now blinded and waiting in Damascus, the first word out of his mouth is remarkable: Brother Saul. This is the same Saul who had made havoc of the church, who had come to Damascus intending to drag believers off in chains; and Ananias, sent by you, greets him not as an enemy, not with suspicion, but as a brother. Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. You had transformed the persecutor, and Ananias welcomed the transformed man as a brother. Show me how Ananias greeted the former persecutor: as Brother Saul. He had every earthly reason to be wary of Saul, whose reputation as a persecutor was well known. Yet Ananias, obeying you, welcomed him not with suspicion or fear, but as a brother, embracing the man you had transformed. This is a striking grace: to welcome as a brother even one who had been a fierce enemy, once you have changed him, rather than holding his past against him. When you transform someone, even a former enemy, they become a brother or sister; and we are called to receive them as such. Ananias did not require years of proof; he called Saul brother at once. Take that to my heart, for I am called to welcome as brothers and sisters even former enemies whom you have transformed. I can hold someone's past against them, keeping even a transformed former enemy at arm's length with lingering suspicion; but Ananias welcomed the former persecutor as Brother Saul. When you transform someone, they become my brother or sister, to be received warmly. Keep me from holding a transformed person's past against them with suspicion; help me welcome them as a brother or sister, Lord, as Ananias welcomed the former persecutor Saul, honoring your changing grace.