Acts 9:17: “So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you came here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’”

Look at the transformation. Look at someone Ananias is now calling “Brother.” This was someone who was on a rampage, who thought this was the best thing he could do with his time: “I have to persecute the church. I have to stamp out Christianity. I have to stop these people talking about a Messiah who has come and has died and risen again. I have to stop them from messing with people’s minds. They are deceivers.”

He might have been moved and motivated by the words of the Old Testament about stamping out anyone who wants to draw you away from following God. And he had authority from the chief priests and from the leadership.

As far as he was concerned, these leaders represented Moses, and they had authorized him to go and carry out this atrocity against Christians. He was a smart man, and he was going to execute it, and he had a band with him.

But something happened to him. He encountered Christ along that journey (Acts 9:3–6).

Initially, Ananias was afraid, because Jesus appeared to Ananias and told him to go to Saul, and Ananias said, in effect, “Lord, this man has done much harm to Your saints; he is a violent man” (Acts 9:13–14). “You want me to go to this person? You want me to be at risk?” Jesus said: this is a new person. “He is a chosen instrument of Mine” (Acts 9:15).

And Ananias called him “Brother Saul.” In a way, he is telling him: now your status has changed. You are not just outside anymore; you are inside, in relationship with God. It does not matter what your past is. This is the gospel. This is the salvation being offered: it does not matter what your past is. You can now be a brother. You can now be inside. You can now be with God. You can now be a child of God.

Look at the prodigal son in Luke 15. After he had done all manner of things, squandered his father’s property, he came back. As far as he was concerned: “I am not worthy; let me just have a tiny existence.” But look at the celebration. He was restored back to his position and there was a party (Luke 15:20–24). He wanted to say, “Let me just manage.” God was saying, “Come on in. Come on in. Come on in.”

“Your sins have been washed away. You are now going to wear a new robe. You are now seated with Christ in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6). That is such a powerful thing.

Look again at what Ananias told Saul: “The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” That is the gift of God that He has promised (Acts 2:38–39). You are not being set on a restitution journey. It is as if the past never happened. You are set on a transformation journey.

He is saying, “You are going to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What did Saul even know about the gift of the Holy Spirit? A few days ago, this was a man full of hatred against God, full of anger against Christians. But now it is as if it never happened—and even more than as if it never happened.

Later on he will continue to talk about how he has been a recipient of the grace of God, of the mercy of God: “I was shown mercy” (1 Timothy 1:13–16). Look at the transformation: from enemy to brother.

That is the power of God.

God bless you. See you later.