Saul was a chosen vessel who would be a powerful testimony of Jesus before both Jews and Gentiles. God encouraged Ananias and explained to him that “this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). When the Lord instructed Ananias to meet Saul, Ananias was disturbed because he was aware of Saul’s hatred and persecution of Christians (Acts 9:13–14).
Saul then saw a vision of a man named Ananias come and restore Saul’s sight, which he had lost when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:12). Saul listened and followed Jesus’ directions to enter the city, where he would be shown what to do (Acts 9:6). The answer was direct: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). Saul questioned who it was that was addressing him and who it was that Saul was actually persecuting. While Saul was traveling to Damascus to persecute believers there, Jesus Himself interacted with Saul, asking Saul why he was persecuting Jesus (Acts 9:4). What a remarkable turn that someone who was so destructive could actually be transformed and used by God in such a powerful way! There is much for us to learn from Saul being a chosen vessel. In Acts 9:15 we read that “he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” (NASB95). Surprisingly, it is in the account of Saul’s pursuit of that task that we learn that Saul was a chosen vessel. He had asked for and received written approval to arrest any who believed (Acts 9:2). He was leading persecutions of the church (Acts 8:3) and was active in threatening believers (Acts 9:1). In Acts 7:58 we are introduced to a leader named Saul.