Acts 22 13

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.

Acts 22:13 nkjv

came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him.

Acts 22:13 niv

He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.

Acts 22:13 esv

came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.

Acts 22:13 nlt

He came and stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And that very moment I could see him!

Acts 22 verses

Acts 22 13 Meaning

Acts 22:13 describes the moment Ananias, following divine instruction, approached Saul (Paul) in Damascus. Ananias commanded Saul to receive his sight, and instantly, Saul's physical blindness, which had afflicted him since his encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, was supernaturally healed. This immediate restoration of vision marked a pivotal transition for Saul, preparing him for his new commission.

Acts 22 13 Context

This verse is part of Paul's defense speech to the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, recounted in Acts 22. It follows his arrest in the Temple and an attempted lynching. Paul uses this moment to narrate his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, presenting it for the second time in the Book of Acts (the first being Acts 9, the third in Acts 26). In this specific account, Paul strategically emphasizes Ananias's identity as "a devout man according to the law" (v.12), and "well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there" (v.12) to appeal to his Jewish audience. The healing of his physical blindness by this respected Jewish figure served not only as a dramatic miracle but also as a validation of the divine origin of Paul's calling in terms understandable to those steeped in the Law. This event directly leads into Paul's commission to preach to the Gentiles, a message that ultimately triggers the crowd's violent rejection of him.

Acts 22 13 Word analysis

• came to me: Greek: proselthon (προσῆλθέν) – A direct approach. Emphasizes intentional action, indicating a purposeful encounter initiated by Ananias.
• and standing by me: Greek: stas (στὰς) – A position of immediate presence, often implying authority, care, or intimate proximity. Not just a casual encounter, but a deliberate stance.
• said: Greek: eipen (εἶπεν) – A direct spoken command. The act of speaking carries authority, conveying a divine message or action through human utterance.
• 'Brother Saul,': Greek: adelphe Saoul (ἀδελφὲ Σαούλ) – "Brother" (adelphos) signifies a new relationship and spiritual kinship in Christ. It's a striking salutation given Saul's history of persecuting believers, but it immediately welcomes him into the new community of faith. This term highlights the unifying power of the gospel. It also might subtly indicate that Ananias recognizes Saul's Jewish heritage and yet places him into a new family of belief in Christ.
• 'receive your sight.': Greek: anablepson (ἀνάβλεψον) – An imperative command. This word means "look up," or "regain sight." It signifies not just seeing, but regaining lost vision, emphasizing the miraculous restoration. It carries a sense of authority from the one giving the command, here, acting as God's agent.
• And at that very moment: Greek: parachrēma (παραχρῆμα) – Immediately, instantly, forthwith. This adverb strongly emphasizes the instantaneous and supernatural nature of the healing, leaving no room for doubt or gradual recovery.
• I received my sight: Greek: aneblepsa (ἀνέβλεψα) – Saul's personal experience of the restoration. This confirms the efficacy of Ananias's command and God's power through him.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• came to me, and standing by me: Describes Ananias's posture and direct interaction. It shows deliberate, close contact, often interpreted as an act of intimate pastoral care or prophetic pronouncement. The physical proximity enhances the spiritual impact of the words to follow.
• 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.': This entire phrase combines compassionate acknowledgment with authoritative command. "Brother Saul" breaks down the barriers between the persecutor and the persecuted, establishing a bond in the new family of faith even before the physical healing. The command to "receive your sight" is a declaration of divine will, not an inquiry or a suggestion, demonstrating Ananias's confident exercise of delegated spiritual authority.
• And at that very moment I received my sight: This emphasizes the immediate, undeniable, and complete nature of the miracle. It's not a gradual process but an instantaneous restoration, showcasing God's power and confirming the truthfulness of the preceding divine encounter and Ananias's words. This immediacy reinforces the divine origin of Paul's new path.

Acts 22 13 Bonus section

The instantaneous healing not only restored Paul's physical vision but also symbolized the removal of his spiritual blindness. Prior to this, Saul, despite his extensive knowledge of the Law, was blind to the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah. His physical blindness served as a direct consequence and a mirroring of his spiritual state. The restoration by Ananias, who initially feared Saul, highlights God's grace not only to Saul but also to Ananias, confirming God's ability to use unexpected instruments for His will. This healing also underscored the personal and direct nature of God's interaction with individuals, bypassing typical human channels of authority to prepare a persecutor for unparalleled gospel work. The "receive your sight" not only implies regaining physical vision but also potentially foreshadows the spiritual mandate Paul would receive to open the eyes of the Gentiles to the truth of Christ.

Acts 22 13 Commentary

Acts 22:13 provides a critical juncture in Paul's conversion narrative, focusing on the supernatural healing of his physical blindness. The intervention of Ananias, a "devout man according to the law," is crucial as it grounds Paul's experience within a recognizable Jewish framework for his audience, presenting the miracle not as an outside anomaly but as God's action within their shared heritage. Ananias's greeting, "Brother Saul," signals a radical transformation: the persecutor is now embraced as kin. His command to "receive your sight," immediately followed by the restoration of vision, serves as an outward sign of an inward spiritual healing. The physical blinding on the Damascus road had already represented Saul's spiritual darkness, and his physical sight's restoration prefigures the opening of the Gentiles' eyes through his ministry, effectively transitioning him from persecutor to Apostle.