The Lord did not need to use Ananias for Saul to receive the Holy Spirit. What happens here is unusual (v17), and as with the case of the Samaritan believers (Acts 8 v14-17), this is done so that the new convert would not be isolated. This would have been a particular danger for Saul given his past record of persecuting the church.

When people are converted there is an important role for all believers to work to see these new believers integrated into the life of the church.

In Saul receiving the Spirit we are reminded of what the Christian life is, a life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Being a Christian is about God living in us and transforming us day by day.

One of the results of conversion is a new sight. The scales falling off Saul’s eyes (v18) speak of how Saul was now also receiving new spiritual sight. Sin and Satan blind unbelievers, the Spirit and God’s truth give real vision.

Saul’s new spiritual sight was particularly about Jesus as he began to preach about Jesus being the Son of God and the promised Messiah (v20-22).

Have you a fresh knowledge of Jesus that causes you to want to tell others about Him? Pray for a fresh filling of the Spirit to enable this to happen in your life (Ephesians 5 v18).