Ananias the "Layman"
Now there was a certain
disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said
in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So
the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called
Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul
of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. "And in a vision he has
seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him,
so that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered,
"Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he
has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. "And here he has authority
from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." But
the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to
bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
"For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My
name’s sake." And Ananias went his way and entered the house;
and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord
Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me
that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy
Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes something like
scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and
was
baptized. - Acts 9:10-18
It should be noted here that the Holy Spirit was
given to Saul through the laying on of hands of a simple
disciple. Ananias was what the commentators call a
"layman." That the Lord should use one who was not an
apostle should certainly be a rebuke to those who seek to
confine spiritual prerogatives to the" clergy."
- William MacDonald, Believer's Bible
Commentary
Ananias was neither Apostle nor official,
yet the laying on of his hands communicated ‘the Holy Ghost.'
- Alexander MacClaren, Grace Triumphant
