Acts 22:13

KJV

Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

KJV (with Strong's)

Came {G2064} unto {G4314} me {G3165}, and {G2532} stood {G2186}, and said {G2036} unto me {G3427}, Brother {G80} Saul {G4549}, receive thy sight {G308}. And {G2504} the same {G846} hour {G5610} I {G2504} looked up {G308} upon {G1519} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

came to me, stood by me and said, ‘Brother Sha’ul, see again!’ And at that very moment, I recovered my sight and saw him.

Berean Standard Bible

came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.

American Standard Version

came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 22:13 vividly recounts the pivotal moment in Saul's conversion when Ananias, a devout disciple, approached him in Damascus. Ananias, acting under divine instruction, addressed Saul as "Brother Saul" and commanded him to regain his sight. The verse concludes by emphasizing the instantaneous nature of this miracle, as Saul's vision was immediately restored, marking a profound physical and spiritual transformation that prepared him for his apostolic calling.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Paul's impassioned defense speech before a hostile Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, as recorded in [Acts 22](/acts/22 "Acts 22 - Paul's Defense Before the Jews"). Paul, having been arrested, seizes the opportunity to testify to his dramatic conversion experience, which he presents as evidence of God's sovereign hand in his life and the legitimacy of his Gentile mission. The narrative in [Acts 22:6-16](/acts/22-6-16 "Acts 22:6-16 - Paul's Conversion Account") largely parallels Luke's earlier account in [Acts 9:1-19](/acts/9-1-19 "Acts 9:1-19 - Saul's Conversion"), but here, Paul emphasizes specific details relevant to his Jewish audience, such as Ananias's reputation as a devout Jew who kept the Law ([Acts 22:12](/acts/22-12 "Acts 22:12 - Ananias's Character")). This repetition underscores the importance of the event and allows Paul to frame his transformation within a context his listeners might understand, even if they disagreed with his conclusions. The restoration of sight is the climactic moment of his physical healing, immediately preceding his baptism and commissioning.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Damascus, a significant city outside Judea but with a substantial Jewish population. Saul, a zealous Pharisee, was traveling there with authority from the high priest to persecute followers of "the Way" ([Acts 9:1-2](/acts/9-1-2 "Acts 9:1-2 - Saul's Mission to Damascus")). His blindness for three days, a period of intense spiritual introspection and fasting, aligns with Jewish practices of mourning and repentance. Ananias, described as "a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there" ([Acts 22:12](/acts/22-12 "Acts 22:12 - Ananias's Reputation")), was a Jewish Christian. His willingness to obey God and approach Saul, despite Saul's notorious reputation as a persecutor ([Acts 9:13-14](/acts/9-13-14 "Acts 9:13-14 - Ananias's Apprehension")), speaks volumes about the early Christian community's radical obedience to divine instruction and their understanding of God's transformative power. The address "Brother Saul" would have been profoundly counter-cultural and shocking, signifying immediate acceptance into a community he had sought to destroy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several overarching themes. Firstly, **Divine Sovereignty and Transformation** are paramount, as God orchestrates Ananias's visit and the miraculous healing, demonstrating His absolute power to humble the proud and radically transform an enemy into an apostle. Saul's physical blindness and subsequent restoration symbolize his spiritual blindness and the new spiritual vision granted by God, a theme echoed in passages like [2 Corinthians 4:6](/2_corinthians/4-6 "2 Corinthians 4:6 - God's Light in Our Hearts"). Secondly, the theme of **Reconciliation and Brotherhood in Christ** is profoundly evident in Ananias's greeting, "Brother Saul." This immediate spiritual kinship transcends Saul's violent past and highlights the unifying power of the gospel, where former enemies are brought together as family ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - Unity in Christ")). Finally, **Obedience and Faith** are central, as Ananias's courageous obedience to God's command, despite his fears, facilitates God's work, and Saul's immediate recovery underscores the efficacy of faith in response to divine intervention. This moment sets the stage for Saul's subsequent call to ministry, demonstrating God's specific purpose for his life, as foretold by Ananias in [Acts 22:14-16](/acts/22-14-16 "Acts 22:14-16 - Ananias's Prophecy to Paul").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Came (Greek, _érchomai'_):** This verb signifies a coming or going, often with a sense of purpose or divine initiative. In this context, it highlights Ananias's deliberate, divinely directed movement towards Saul, emphasizing that his arrival was not coincidental but part of God's sovereign plan to intervene in Saul's life. It conveys the active step taken by Ananias in obedience to God's command.
* **said (Greek, _épō'_):** This primary verb means "to speak or say," often implying a direct and authoritative utterance. Here, it underscores the directness and clarity of Ananias's message to Saul. It's not merely a greeting but a pronouncement, a command, and a declaration of Saul's new status and the impending miracle.
* **receive thy sight (Greek, _anablépō'_):** This compound verb, formed from "ana" (up, again) and "blepō" (to see), literally means "to look up" or "to recover sight." Its use here is crucial, as it directly addresses Saul's physical blindness and simultaneously carries a symbolic weight of spiritual enlightenment. Ananias's imperative command, acting as God's instrument, directly effects the reversal of Saul's physical condition, signifying the dawn of his new spiritual vision.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Came unto me, and stood":** This phrase describes Ananias's approach to Saul. "Came unto me" indicates a direct, personal encounter, emphasizing the intimacy and specificity of God's intervention through Ananias. "And stood" suggests a deliberate posture, perhaps one of authority or readiness to minister, signifying Ananias's presence and availability to fulfill his divine commission.
* **"and said unto me, Brother Saul,":** This is a profoundly significant greeting. The address "Brother Saul" immediately establishes a new relationship, one of spiritual kinship and acceptance within the community of believers. It shatters the previous dynamic of persecutor and persecuted, demonstrating the radical reconciling power of Christ that transcends past enmity. It's an affirmation of Saul's new identity, even before his baptism.
* **"receive thy sight.":** This is a direct, imperative command from Ananias, acting as God's agent. It is the core of the miraculous intervention, a verbal act of healing that directly addresses Saul's three-day blindness. The command implies both a physical restoration and, symbolically, the opening of Saul's spiritual eyes to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah.
* **"And the same hour I looked up upon him.":** This concluding clause emphasizes the instantaneous and undeniable nature of the miracle. "The same hour" highlights the immediate efficacy of Ananias's command and God's power. "I looked up upon him" signifies Saul's immediate physical response, confirming the restoration of his vision and marking the end of his period of darkness and the beginning of his new life and ministry.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 22:13 is rich with **Symbolism**, primarily through the motif of sight. Saul's physical blindness following his encounter with Christ on the Damascus road ([Acts 9:3-9](/acts/9-3-9 "Acts 9:3-9 - Saul's Blinding")) symbolizes his spiritual blindness and opposition to God's truth. The restoration of his physical sight by Ananias is a powerful symbol of his spiritual awakening and the new spiritual vision God was imparting to him, enabling him to "see" Jesus as the Messiah and understand His divine purpose. There is also profound **Irony** in Ananias, a follower of "the Way," addressing Saul, the notorious persecutor of Christians, as "Brother Saul." This unexpected greeting underscores the radical transformative power of the gospel, which turns enemies into family. The narrative also employs **Immediacy**, conveyed by the phrase "the same hour," which emphasizes the swift and undeniable nature of the divine miracle, leaving no room for doubt about God's direct intervention in Saul's life.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 22:13 stands as a powerful testament to God's transformative grace and His sovereign initiation of salvation. It illustrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's redemptive power, even the most zealous opponent of the gospel. The miraculous restoration of Saul's sight is not merely a physical healing but a profound theological statement about God's ability to grant spiritual vision, turning darkness into light. This event underscores the radical nature of conversion, where old identities and animosities are shed, and a new identity in Christ, marked by brotherhood and divine purpose, is embraced. It also highlights the crucial role of human instruments, like Ananias, in God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that obedience to God's call, even when it involves personal risk, can lead to monumental spiritual breakthroughs.

* [Acts 9:17-18](/acts/9-17-18 "Ananias's Mission and Paul's Healing")
* [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "New Creation in Christ")
* [Ephesians 1:17-18](/ephesians/1-17-18 "Prayer for Spiritual Enlightenment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Ananias's visit to Saul and the restoration of his sight in Acts 22:13 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us of God's boundless capacity for transformation, demonstrating that no individual, regardless of their past actions or current opposition, is beyond the reach of His redemptive love. This should cultivate within us a deep sense of hope and compassion for others, particularly those we might deem "unreachable." Furthermore, Ananias's courageous obedience, despite his initial apprehension, challenges us to step out in faith when God calls us to minister to unexpected people or in uncomfortable situations. We are called to be instruments of God's grace, extending the hand of fellowship and healing, even to those who may have once been our adversaries. Finally, the physical healing of Saul's eyes serves as a potent metaphor for spiritual clarity. We are invited to reflect on areas of our own lives where we might be spiritually blind or resistant to God's truth, praying for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to His will and purposes, just as Saul's eyes were opened to a new reality in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might God be calling me to extend grace or fellowship to someone I perceive as an "enemy" or "outsider"?**
* **Are there areas in my life where I might be spiritually blind or resistant to God's truth, and how can I seek greater clarity?**
* **What past experiences or current challenges might God be using to transform my perspective or prepare me for a new purpose, much like Saul's three days of blindness?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater sense of immediate obedience to God's promptings, even when they seem daunting or counter-intuitive?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Ananias calling Saul "Brother Saul" given Saul's history as a persecutor?**

Answer: The address "Brother Saul" ([Acts 22:13](/acts/22-13 "Acts 22:13 - Ananias's Greeting to Saul")) is profoundly significant and revolutionary. Historically, Saul was a zealous persecutor of Christians, actively seeking to imprison and even execute them ([Acts 8:3](/acts/8-3 "Acts 8:3 - Saul's Persecution")). For Ananias, a Christian, to call him "brother" immediately signifies a radical shift in identity and relationship. It demonstrates the immediate and complete acceptance of Saul into the family of believers, not based on his past deeds but on God's transformative grace and Saul's repentance. This greeting underscores the unifying and reconciling power of the gospel, which breaks down barriers and creates a new spiritual kinship in Christ, where former enemies become family ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - Unity in Christ")). It also highlights Ananias's remarkable obedience and faith, trusting God's radical plan for Saul despite his own understandable fears ([Acts 9:13-14](/acts/9-13-14 "Acts 9:13-14 - Ananias's Apprehension")).

**Was Saul's blindness and its restoration purely physical, or did it have a deeper meaning?**

Answer: While Saul's blindness was undeniably a physical affliction, resulting from the intense light of Christ's appearance on the Damascus road ([Acts 9:3-9](/acts/9-3-9 "Acts 9:3-9 - Saul's Blinding")), its restoration in [Acts 22:13](/acts/22-13 "Acts 22:13 - Paul's Sight Restored") carries profound spiritual and symbolic meaning. The physical blindness represented Saul's spiritual blindness to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah. He was zealous for God but lacked true understanding, persecuting the very Son of God. His three days of darkness were a period of intense introspection, repentance, and preparation. The restoration of his sight, therefore, symbolized the opening of his spiritual eyes to the truth of the gospel and his new spiritual vision in Christ. It marked his transition from a state of spiritual ignorance and opposition to one of enlightenment and divine purpose. This dual physical and spiritual dimension is a common biblical motif, where physical healing often points to deeper spiritual restoration, as seen in Jesus's healing miracles, such as the blind man in [John 9](/john/9 "John 9 - Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 22:13, though focused on Paul's conversion, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who is the true source of all spiritual and physical restoration. Saul's encounter with the resurrected Christ on the Damascus road was the direct cause of his blindness, a blinding revelation of divine glory that humbled him and prepared him for a new life. The command "receive thy sight" and its instantaneous fulfillment point to Jesus as the "Light of the World" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")), who not only restores physical vision but, more importantly, grants spiritual sight to those who are blind to God's truth. Just as Jesus opened the eyes of the physically blind ([Mark 8:22-25](/mark/8-22-25 "Mark 8:22-25 - Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida")), He also comes to open the eyes of those spiritually darkened by sin and unbelief, bringing them into His marvelous light ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - Called Out of Darkness into Light")). Ananias, in calling Saul "Brother Saul," embodies Christ's reconciling power, demonstrating that through Jesus, former enemies are brought into God's family, united as one in Him ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")). Thus, this pivotal moment in Paul's life is a powerful testimony to Christ's ability to transform the most ardent opponent into a devoted follower, granting new life and purpose through His redemptive grace.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 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.

Acts 9:18

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

Philemon 1:16

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?