Acts 9:12 kjv
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Acts 9:12 nkjv
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."
Acts 9:12 niv
In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
Acts 9:12 esv
and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
Acts 9:12 nlt
I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again."
Acts 9 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 42:7 | to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. | Prophecy of sight restoration, both literal and spiritual. |
| Lk 4:18 | “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me… to proclaim recovery of sight to the blind…” | Jesus's mission includes physical and spiritual sight. |
| Jn 9:6-7 | …he made mud with the saliva and anointed the man’s eyes… “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” …he went and washed and came back seeing. | Jesus healing the blind, using a tangible medium. |
| Mk 6:5 | …he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. | Jesus's practice of healing by laying on hands. |
| Mk 16:18 | they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. | Post-resurrection promise of healing by believers. |
| Lk 4:40 | Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. | Jesus healing many by laying on hands. |
| Acts 8:17 | Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. | Laying on of hands for imparting the Holy Spirit. |
| Acts 19:6 | And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them… | Paul's own ministry involved laying on hands for the Spirit. |
| Jas 5:14-15 | Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil… | Community healing through prayer and anointing. |
| Acts 9:3-9 | And as he traveled, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light… he could not see. | Immediate context of Saul's blinding. |
| Acts 9:10-11 | Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” … “Rise and go to the street called Straight…” | Parallel vision to Ananias for instruction. |
| Acts 9:17 | So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus… has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” | Fulfillment of the vision and healing. |
| Acts 22:12-13 | “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews… came to me… said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very hour I received my sight.” | Paul's personal testimony confirming the vision. |
| Gal 1:15-16 | But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me… | God's pre-appointment and call of Paul for ministry. |
| Jer 1:5 | “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” | Divine pre-knowledge and calling of prophets. |
| Acts 10:3-4 | About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” | Similar vision for Cornelius, preparing for Peter's arrival. |
| Acts 16:9-10 | And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him… | Vision guiding Paul's missionary journeys. |
| Acts 13:2-3 | While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. | Laying on hands for commissioning in ministry. |
| Gen 15:1 | After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision… | Vision as a foundational mode of divine communication. |
| Isa 6:1 | In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up… | Example of a prophet receiving a direct vision. |
| Lk 1:22 | And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple… | Zechariah's vision confirming divine revelation. |
Acts 9 verses
Acts 9 12 Meaning
Acts 9:12 reveals Saul, post-Damascus Road encounter and in a state of blindness and fasting, receiving a divine vision. In this supernatural perception, Saul clearly saw a specific individual named Ananias approaching him. The vision further revealed Ananias's action of laying his hands upon Saul, indicating that this physical act would be the precise means by which Saul would recover his lost physical sight. This revelation, given concurrently with Ananias receiving divine instructions (Acts 9:10), underscores God's meticulous orchestration of events for Saul's spiritual conversion and physical healing.
Acts 9 12 Context
Acts chapter 9 details the radical transformation of Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christ's followers. His journey to Damascus to apprehend believers is interrupted by a blinding light and an encounter with the risen Jesus (Acts 9:1-9). This divine confrontation renders Saul physically blind for three days, during which he fasts and prays, signifying a period of profound reflection and repentance (Acts 9:9). While Saul is in this vulnerable state, God meticulously plans his next steps, using parallel, synchronized visions. Just as God commands Ananias through a vision to go to Saul (Acts 9:10-16), so too does God grant Saul this specific vision in verse 12. This verse serves as Saul's divinely given preview, preparing him for the arrival of the specific person, Ananias, and confirming that this man will be God's instrument for his healing, thereby ensuring Saul's trust and receptiveness to the encounter.
Acts 9 12 Word analysis
- And (καὶ - kai): A simple coordinating conjunction that logically connects Saul's previous three days of blindness and fasting to this immediate, divinely sent revelation, signifying a continuous flow of God's active work in his life.
- has seen (εἶδεν - eiden): From the Greek verb horaō, "to see, perceive." In the aorist tense, it denotes a completed, direct, and decisive act of seeing. Critically, as Saul was physically blind, this "seeing" implies a perception not by natural sight but through divine, supernatural revelation.
- in a vision (ἐν ὁράματι - en horamati): Greek horama (derived from horaō), signifying a divine appearance, a supernaturally given sight or revelation. It distinguishes this perception from ordinary sight or dreams, indicating a direct message from God to Saul's inner being or consciousness while he was awake.
- a man named Ananias (ἄνδρα ὀνόματι Ἀνανίαν - andra onomati Ananian): This precise identification is profoundly significant. It eliminates any doubt for Saul about who is coming. God provides the exact name and role of His chosen instrument. The name "Ananias" (from Hebrew Hananiah) means "the Lord has been gracious," which fittingly describes his role in God's grace to Saul.
- coming in (εἰσελθόντα - eiselthonta): A participle of the Greek eiserchomai, meaning "to come in" or "enter." This foretells Ananias's physical entrance into the house where Saul was residing. It emphasizes the immediacy and tangible fulfillment of the vision, assuring Saul of Ananias's precise location and action.
- and laying his hand on him (καὶ ἐπιθέντα τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῷ - kai epithenta tas cheiras autō): From Greek epitithēmi ("to place upon") and cheir ("hand"). This describes a specific, deliberate physical act with profound biblical precedent. Laying on of hands signifies authority, blessing, healing, consecration, or the impartation of the Holy Spirit, often serving as a visible conduit for God's power and grace. Here, it explicitly defines the action through which Saul would receive his healing.
- so that he might receive his sight (ὅπως ἀναβλέψῃ - hopōs anablepsē): Greek hopōs introduces a purpose clause. Anablepō literally means "to look up" or "to regain sight." This clause clearly states the explicit divine purpose for Ananias's action. It signifies not just any healing, but the precise restoration of Saul's lost vision, essential for his future life and ministry.
Acts 9 12 Bonus section
The synchronized nature of the visions granted to Ananias (Acts 9:10-16) and Saul (Acts 9:12) highlights God's sovereignty and His methodical approach to revealing His will. Ananias initially expressed reluctance and fear given Saul's notorious reputation as a persecutor. However, the Lord's instruction to Ananias included the detail that Saul himself had already received a vision about Ananias's arrival and the purpose of his visit. This specific information (not directly stated in Ananias's account but implicit through Saul's later recounting in Acts 22:12-16) would have been key in overcoming Ananias's apprehension and affirming the divine source of his unusual and dangerous mission. Thus, Acts 9:12 serves not only as Saul's preparation but also as a crucial piece of validation for Ananias, ensuring the fulfillment of God's precise plan for Saul's physical healing and spiritual calling.
Acts 9 12 Commentary
Acts 9:12 is a testament to the compassionate and meticulous nature of God's redemptive work. Following Saul's encounter with the risen Christ, which left him physically blind but spiritually awakened, this verse reveals God's tender and precise care for His new servant. God graciously sends a preparatory vision to Saul, not leaving him in confusion or despair. This vision identifies the specific individual, Ananias, who would come to him, describes the action he would perform (laying on of hands), and states the precise outcome (restoration of sight). This level of detail in the vision served to validate Ananias's unexpected arrival and unusual mission for Saul, reinforcing that his forthcoming healing was genuinely from God and not a random occurrence.
The symbolic act of "laying on of hands" connects Saul's physical healing to a larger biblical tradition of divine blessing and empowerment. Through Ananias, a mere disciple, God would restore Saul's physical vision, setting the stage for the opening of his spiritual eyes to his apostolic calling to the Gentiles. This carefully orchestrated divine plan ensured that Saul, who had spent his life persecuting followers of Christ, would now be divinely ministered to and incorporated into the very community he sought to destroy, marking the profound depth of God's grace and transformative power.