How does Acts 9:17 connect to Jesus' command to love your enemies? Scene in Damascus—Acts 9:17 “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, 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.’ ” Jesus’ Command to Love Enemies “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) How the Two Passages Interlock • Enemy status: Saul had “breathed out threats and murder against the disciples” (Acts 9:1). To Ananias, he was the persecutor—very definition of an enemy. • Direct obedience: Jesus speaks in a vision (Acts 9:10-12), paralleling His earlier Sermon on the Mount command. Ananias obeys both the specific vision and the general call to enemy-love. • Love enacted, not just felt: – He goes to Saul, risking his own safety. – He calls him “Brother,” granting immediate family status. – He lays hands on him, a gesture of acceptance and blessing (cf. Luke 4:40). – He becomes the conduit for Saul’s healing and Spirit-filling. • Gospel result: Loving an enemy turns a persecutor into a preacher (Acts 9:20-22). The command of Jesus produces the growth of the church. Additional Scripture Echoes • Luke 6:27—“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” • Romans 5:8—God loved us “while we were still sinners,” modeling what Ananias now mirrors. • Colossians 1:21-22—Former enemies reconciled through Christ; Saul experiences this in real time. Practical Takeaways • Enemy-love is a matter of obedience before emotion. • Acts 9 shows that Scripture’s commands are lived out by ordinary believers, not just apostles. • Extending grace can unleash unexpected kingdom impact; the next “enemy” might become a chosen vessel (Acts 9:15). Summing Up Ananias’ visit to Saul is the Sermon on the Mount in action. Acts 9:17 puts flesh on Jesus’ words, proving that loving an enemy is both possible and powerfully transformative when done in submission to Christ. |
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