When Paul rose from the ground after his vision, he found he was blind. He had to be guided by his companions the rest of the way to Damascus, where he remained, fasting and in darkness, for three days. There a man named Ananias, one described as a disciple, "a devout man according to the law" and well thought of among the Jews, had a vision in which he was told to go to the aid of Paul. This Ananias is not to be confused with that other one, of a very different character, who was the husband of Sapphira (see Acts 9:8-10; 22:10-12; cf. 5:1-10).
Ananias was told to go to the house of a certain Judas in the street called "Straight" (a street still to be seen in Damascus) that he might place his hands on Paul, who was lodging there, and heal him of his blindness. Ananias, not unnaturally, thought there must be some mistake, for he had heard reports of what Saul had done to the Christians in Jerusalem, and that he had authority from the Jewish leaders to carry out the same activities in Damascus.
But the objection of Ananias was overruled by the instruction he received from "the Lord, even Jesus," as the writer of Acts puts it: "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." Ananias obeyed; he visited Paul, and placing his hands on him, told him how he had been sent, "that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." The healing was instantaneous, and Paul was at once baptized. From that day forth a new and very different life opened before him (see 9:11-22; 22:13-16).
