Atomic Bible

Disciple in Damascus, baptized Saul (Paul)

Ananias

Named in 5 verses of Acts, first in Acts 9:10.

ἈνανίαςAnanias

The name means “or Ananiah, the cloud of the Lord.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Ananias Written by AI

Ananias was a disciple of Jesus Christ living in Damascus. After Saul's dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, Saul was left blind and was directed to go into the city to await further instructions. In a vision, the Lord told Ananias to go to the house where Saul was staying and lay hands on him to restore his sight. Initially hesitant due to Saul's reputation as a persecutor of the church, Ananias obeyed the Lord's command. He went to Saul, laid his hands on him, and conveyed the message that Jesus had sent him to restore Saul's sight and to fill him with the Holy Spirit. Ananias then baptized Saul, who later became known as Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles. Ananias played a crucial role in the early days of Paul's Christian life, demonstrating faith and obedience to God's call.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Ananias, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

A common Jewish name, the same as Hananiah. (1.) One of the members of the church at Jerusalem, who conspired with his wife Sapphira to deceive the brethren, and who fell down and immediately expired after he had uttered the falsehood (Acts 5:5). By common agreement the members of the early Christian community devoted their property to the work of furthering the gospel and of assisting the poor and needy. The proceeds of the possessions they sold were placed at the disposal of the apostles (Acts 4:36, 37). Ananias might have kept his property had he so chosen; but he professed agreement with the brethren in the common purpose, and had of his own accord devoted it all, as he said, to these sacred ends. Yet he retained a part of it for his own ends, and thus lied in declaring that he had given it all. “The offence of Ananias and Sapphira showed contempt of God, vanity and ambition in the offenders, and utter disregard of the corruption which they were bringing into the society. Such sin, committed in despite of the light which they possessed, called for a special mark of divine indignation.”

(2.) A Christian at Damascus (Acts 9:10). He became Paul’s instructor; but when or by what means he himself became a Christian we have no information. He was “a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt” at Damascus (22:12).

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(3.) The high priest before whom Paul was brought in the procuratorship of Felix (Acts 23:2, 5, 24). He was so enraged at Paul’s noble declaration, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day,” that he commanded one of his attendants to smite him on the mouth. Smarting under this unprovoked insult, Paul quickly replied, “God shall smite thee, thou whited wall.” Being reminded that Ananias was the high priest, to whose office all respect was to be paid, he answered, “I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest” (Acts 23:5). This expression has occasioned some difficulty, as it is scarcely probable that Paul should have been ignorant of so public a fact. The expression may mean (a) that Paul had at the moment overlooked the honour due to the high priest; or (b), as others think, that Paul spoke ironically, as if he had said, “The high priest breaking the law! God’s high priest a tyrant and a lawbreaker! I see a man in white robes, and have heard his voice, but surely it cannot, it ought not to be, the voice of the high priest.” (See Dr. Lindsay on Acts, in loco.) (c) Others think that from defect of sight Paul could not observe that the speaker was the high priest. In all this, however, it may be explained, Paul, with all his excellency, comes short of the example of his divine Master, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. Acts 9:10

    In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

  2. Acts 9:12

    In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

  3. Acts 9:13

    But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

  4. Acts 9:17

    So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

  5. Acts 22:12

    There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.