hand[1] and led him[2] into the city. There he remained[3] three days without eating[4] or drinking.
Now, there dwelt in Damascus a certain disciple of Jesus, named Ananias[5]. The Lord appeared to him in a vision [6], saying: “Arise, and go into the street that is called Strait, and seek, in the house of Judas, Saul of Tarsus, for, behold, he prayeth.”
Ananias answered: “Lord[7], I have heard from many of this man, how great evils he hath done to Thy saints[8] at Jerusalem." The Lord said to him: “Go, for this man is a vessel [9] of election to Me, to carry My Name before the Gentiles [10], and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must suffer[11] for the sake of My Name."
- ↑ By the hand. Like a helpless child.
- ↑ Led him. How different was this entry into Damascus from that which he had anticipated! “He, who had intended to lead away men and women captive from the city, was himself led into it dependent on the compassion of others” (St. Chrysostom).
- ↑ Remained. In a state of complete blindness.
- ↑ Without eating. But praying earnestly. Who can tell what passed in Saul’s great soul during those three days? Hitherto, he had hated Jesus for being, as he thought, a false Messias, and had, on that account, persecuted His disciples. He had believed that he was acting rightly, and was pleasing God by thus zealously opposing the Crucified One and His followers. Now, however, he had seen Jesus in His divine glory and had heard His voice; he knew that He had risen from the dead and was in heaven; and he knew that He was in truth the Messias and the Son of God. He recalled to mind all the prophecies with which he, as a scribe, was well acquainted; grace enlightened his understanding, so that he now perceived their real meaning, and that they were all fulfilled in Jesus. He could not understand his previous blindness of heart; deep contrition filled his soul; the blood of the innocent Stephen rose up in judgment against him, and all his cruel violence towards the followers of Jesus accused him. He had persecuted the friends and beloved of God, yea, even the Son of God Himself, and the words of his Divine Redeemer: “Why persecutest thou Me”, rang continually in his ears. He could not touch food; he could only humble himself, and pray earnestly to God to forgive him, to grant him still more light, and to give him the grace to make amends for the wrong he had done. His prayer was heard.
- ↑ Ananias. According to tradition Ananias was one of our Lord’s seventy disciples, and, later on, died a martyr’s death.
- ↑ A vision. While he was praying.
- ↑ Lord. Ananias was amazed at the commission entrusted to him, and, in his astonishment, remonstrated in the words that follow.
- ↑ Thy saints. Thy disciples.
- ↑ Is a vessel. He is no longer a persecutor of My followers, but a believer and a vessel of election to Me.
- ↑ Before the Gentiles. I have chosen him, especially, to proclaim the Gospel to the pagan world.
- ↑ He must suffer. So complete is his conversion that he, the former persecutor, will in his turn be persecuted, and will suffer much for My sake.
