Paul answered, “Who are you, Lord?” Some note that at this point Paul did not recognize Jesus as the one speaking to him and that his reference to “Lord” need not mean more than a polite “sir,” a meaning the Greek word kyrie often has. But Paul did recognize the voice of a heavenly messenger and probably intended “Lord” in that sense (cf. Exod 3:13). In any event, he quickly learned who the “Lord” was: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” It would be hard to imagine how these words must have struck Paul. They were a complete refutation of all he had been. He had persecuted Christians for their “blasphemous lie” that Jesus was risen, that he was the Lord reigning in glory. Now Paul himself beheld that same Jesus and the undeniable proof that he both lived and reigned in glory

From this point on, Paul said nothing. He was completely broken. How could he respond? He had not persecuted a band of miscreant messianists. In persecuting the church, he had persecuted the risen Lord himself. It is unlikely that the concept of the body of Christ is behind the expression here, but surely the germ of Paul’s later theology of the church is. Christ is identified with his disciples. When they suffer, he suffers

So powerful was that revelation that Paul was totally blind when he rose to his feet and opened his eyes. The miracle was not a punitive one, as with Elymas the magician (Acts 13:11). Rather, the picture is of Paul in his brokenness and helplessness. The radiance of his vision had blinded him. Reduced to total powerlessness, he had to be led by others into the city. That he neither ate nor drank for three days could be an expression of penitence on Paul’s part17 but is more likely the result of his shock, confusion, and utter brokenness of will. The raging persecutor had been reduced to a shambles.

Jesus instructed Ananias to seek out Paul. His instructions were precise, giving the exact location Paul was to be found. He was staying with a man named Judas who lived on “Straight Street.” This street can still be seen today, though somewhat farther to the north from the ancient street, and is now known as the Darb-el-Mostakim. It runs in an east-west direction, and in Paul’s day it had colonnades on both sides and large gates at both ends. One is intrigued by Jesus’ informing Ananias of Paul’s vision—a vision within a vision! The information was necessary for Ananias to know that Paul was prepared for him. Further, it emphasized the centrality of the divine leading in the entire episode

Verses 15–16 comprise the heart of Ananias’s vision, as the Lord outlined Paul’s future role. He was the Lord’s “chosen instrument.” The expression is an unusual one and finds its closest New Testament parallels in Paul’s own writings. The emphasis on Paul’s being “chosen” recalls his own strong sense of the divine call, which set him apart from birth (Gal 1:15). His call was described here in terms of his bearing Jesus’ name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel

Ananias fulfilled his commission, going to Paul and laying his hands upon him as he had been instructed. Ananias’s greeting is striking: “Brother Saul.” He could have said this as a fellow Jew, but it was surely as a brother in Christ that Ananias greeted Paul. Something of a “conversion” had taken place in his own heart through his vision of the Lord, so that now he could receive as a fellow disciple the one whom he so shortly before had feared and distrusted

Ananias told Paul that the Lord had sent him with a dual purpose, the recovery of his sight and his receipt of the Spirit. The first occurs immediately as Ananias performed the healing gesture of laying his hands upon Paul. Something “like flakes” fell from his eyes.25 Paul’s receipt of the Spirit is not narrated. It did not seem to have come with Ananias’s laying his hands on Paul. Recovery of his sight followed that. Perhaps it accompanied his baptism, since the two generally are closely connected in Acts.