Scales Fall From His Eyes.

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

A Christ follower, a disciple of Christ's living in Damascus had a vision. That man, Ananias, saw the LORD  in that vision. Now, the was a dream and often in dreams we see ourselves doing many different things. In fact, last night I had a dream I was in my childhood home going through some cupboards where some of my favorite things had been stored. I could see myself going through the cupboards, opening the doors, taking out the items inside, I was thrilled. In fact it was one of the few times I started waking from a dream and knew I waking and didn't want it to end and fought to stay sleeping, to stay dreaming.  Ananias saw himself in a dream seeing the Lord Jesus. The Lord called to him, speaking his name and Ananias answered…  Behold, I am here, Lord.

Can you picture that scene? Imagine yourself sleeping and dreaming of the Lord calling you and you answering Him? How amazingly wonderful it had to be!

Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 

Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 

The Lord continued to speak to Ananias. Get up and go into a street called Straight and ask in the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus, he's praying and seeing you in a dream coming to him and putting your hand on him so he can receive his sight.

Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 

Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

The dream continued and Ananias didn’t just say, "Okay, I'll go." Ananias told the Lord he'd heard of Saul of Tarsus and the evil things he'd done to the Christ followers at Jerusalem. He told Jesus that he knew Saul had the authority from the chief priests to imprison all who believe in Jesus. Ananias did NOT want to be imprisoned by Saul, he knew the followers of Christ had scattered and were hiding from the man, not going to him, not surrendering themselves purposely to be imprisoned.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

Jesus told Ananias to go, because Saul was chosen by Jesus. Saul would take Jesus name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel. Saul would be shown that he would have to suffer greatly for Jesus. 

Ananias woke up, he rose from his sleep, from the vision he had and in his heart of hearts knew he had no choice but to listen to the Lord.  This was what his Lord wanted of him and he'd go. If Jesus wanted the great persecutor of His followers to be a vessel for Him, who was Ananias to not obey.  He love the Lord and would do all he said come what may.

Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

Ananias went to the house and into Saul an placed his hands on him telling him that the Lord, Jesus, appeared to Saul and now the Lord has sent him to give Saul back his sight and allow him to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 

The scales fell off Paul's (Saul's) eyes and he could see, physically and spiritually he could see. He was ready. After three days of darkness, of contemplation, of prayer

Paul sat in darkness three days. Three whole day no eating, no drinking, he was consumed with everything that had transpired. His entire life had changed in an instant and he was given three days of darkness to comprehend the truth revealed to him.  When he'd saw in his dream that a man was coming to restore his sight, he waited and as soon as the man did so, he knew, he had no doubt whatsoever, at all that all that he knew of Jesus was true. He had to be baptized! He had to belong to Jesus, he had to gain forgiveness for all His sins, every single sin he'd ever committed. The old him had to die in the waters of baptism and the new him had to rise up and the Holy Spirit had to fill him as he was born of water and Spirit!

Jesus had mentioned that Paul had to know this--

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

And he had to have been show this--

He'd be whipped five times and each time he'd receive thirty-nine stripes.

He'd be beaten with rods three times.

He'd be stoned once.

He'd be in three shipwrecks.

He'd journey often.

He'd be in perils of waters, robbers, his own countrymen, heathen, the city, the wilderness, the sea, among false brothers.

He'd be weary and in pain, ever on guard, hungry, thirsty, fasting often, cold and naked.

Jesus showed him that he would suffer greatly, all for Him, and Paul didn't shirk from his duty, he LOVED God, he LOVED the Lord. He lived to love them and would always love them and follow the truth revealed to Him.  Oh, that we could love the Lord with such zeal, such truth, such passion.

2Co 11:24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 

2Co 11:25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

2Co 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 

2Co 11:28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.