10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:10-16 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here observe, 1. That although Christ converted St. Paul himself, yet Ananias, as his minister, must instruct him: by Christ is grace infused, but by his ministers does it increase. Such an honour does Christ put upon the ministers of the gospel that he makes use of their endeavours, ordinarily, both for the protection and augmentation of grace in the hearts of his people.
O the necessity and usefulness of a standing ministry! It is a singular favour to have the mind of God made known to us by men like ourselves. And behold the honour which God puts upon his ministers in using them as conduit pipes for conveying the water of life to us, which is not ordinarily communicated immediately from himself, nor immediately received by us!
Observe, 2. The title given by Ananias to Saul, Brother Saul. They were now brethren by faith and profession, owning the same God, united to the same Saviour, animated by the same Spirit, encouraged by the same promises, partakers of the same hope, and heirs of the same glory.
As the scripture speaks of a brotherhood between Christ and believers, He is not ashamed to call them brethren; so it speaks of a brotherhood between believers themselves, Love the brotherhood; that is, the whole fraternity and society of Christians, who are Sanguine Christi conglutinati; cemented by the blood of Christ, and united by the bond of love.
Observe, 3. Ananias acquaints Saul with the special favours which God intended for him: The God of our Fathers hath chosen thee, or taken thee by the hand, as the word signifies, that thou shouldst know his will, and see that just one. So he calls the blessed Jesus, to convince them of their sin in putting him to death; And be a witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
The work of the ministers of the gospel is now to witness for, hereafter to witness against: now they witness for God and his truth, and persuade sinners to believe it; hereafter they will witness against sinners for not believing and obeying the truth of God.
Lord, what a sad consideration is this, that the ministers of Christ must be brought in as witnesses against the souls of their neighbours and friends and be forced to testify to their faces for their condemnation! Ah, Lord, with what a heart must a poor minister study when he considers that every sermon that he preaches must be brought in for a witness against many, if not most, of his hearers! Doubtless, this sad reflection makes every faithful minister of Christ study hard, pray hard, entreat hard, and be earnest and instant in season and out of season so that they may not be the condemners of their people’s souls.
Observe, 4. The advice which Ananias gives to this new convert to take upon him the badge of Christianity, to wit, Baptism: Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.
Here note, That sacraments are not empty insignificant signs; but God, by his grace and blessing, renders his own ordinances effectual for these great ends for which his wisdom has appointed them: Be baptized, and wash away thy sins. As water cleanses the body, so the blood of Christ, signified by water, washes away the guilt of the soul. Where true faith is, together with the profession of it by baptism, there is salvation promised, He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved. Mr 16:16