Acts 9:27 (NASBStr)
But Barnabas took hold of him (Paul) and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:17 (NASBStr)
So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “ Brother Saul (Paul), the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
It is amazing how The Lord works in the lives of His people, especially in the lives of those He has called to be ministers for Him to the lost. Paul, who was formerly the persecutor of the church, was converted. The Church, however, didn't see the glory of God in His salvation and they were afraid of him and did not trust him. To assist Paul in understanding his personal conversion, God sent Ananias to open his eyes. However, to assist the Church in their understanding about the conversion of Paul he sent Barnabas. It was Barnabas who put his arms around the alienated Saul, who was renamed Paul, and introduced them to him. In the Christian life we need others to convey God's work to those being saved and those they are joining in their salvation. The skeptic nature of the Church failed to see the amazing change that can take place in people by the powerful grace of God. That is why God not only sends an Ananias to remove the scales from the eyes of the convert, but a Barnabas to remove the scars form the hearts of the people of God. When God gives grace to the non-believer and converts him or her, He also has to give grace to the church to forgive. Barnabas took that role and was God's instrument of grace. We all need an Ananias to point us to Christ. We all need a Barnabas to point the Church to Christ's amazing work of grace.
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