“And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.”
My Notes
What Does Acts 9:14 Mean?
"Here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name." Ananias is warning God about Saul: this man has official authorization to arrest Christians. He's not a random persecutor — he has paperwork. The chief priests gave him authority. He's coming to Damascus specifically to bind believers. And You want me to go to him?
Ananias's objection is reasonable: he's being asked to visit the most dangerous person in the city. The man with authority to arrest people who call on Jesus' name is the person God sends a Christian to visit. The risk is life-or-death real.
The phrase "all that call on thy name" identifies the believers by their defining practice: they call on Jesus' name. That's the criterion for arrest. Not their behavior, not their theology, not their politics — their invocation of a name. The name of Jesus is both the identification badge and the target.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What terrifying assignment has God given you that you're legitimately afraid of?
- 2.Why does God let Ananias voice his objection rather than overriding it?
- 3.How does God's response to institutional persecution — sending one ordinary person — challenge your expectations?
- 4.What 'Saul' in your life might God be asking you to approach?
Devotional
He has authority to arrest everyone who calls on Your name. And You want me to go visit him? Ananias's protest to God is the most reasonable objection in the book of Acts: You're sending me to the man who is authorized to kill people like me.
The irony is that God knows exactly who Saul is. He's not uninformed. He doesn't need Ananias's briefing. But He lets Ananias voice the objection anyway. Sometimes God lets you protest because the protesting itself is part of the process. Ananias needs to say it out loud: this is dangerous. And God needs Ananias to hear Himself say: go anyway.
The authority Saul carries — official paperwork from the chief priests — represents the full institutional power of organized religion directed against the church. The persecution isn't mob violence. It's authorized, documented, state-sponsored religious persecution. Saul has letters. He has legal backing. The machinery of religion is weaponized against the people of Jesus.
And God's response is to send one ordinary believer to lay hands on the persecutor and restore his sight. The answer to institutional persecution isn't a counter-institution. It's one person, obedient despite legitimate fear, walking into the most dangerous house in Damascus.
What terrifying assignment is God giving you that makes perfect sense to resist? What 'Saul' — what dangerous, authorized, powerful person — is God asking you to approach?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And here he hath authority from the chief priests,.... His fury and madness against the saints did not stop at…
I have heard by many ... - This was in the vision, Act 9:10. The passage of such a train of thoughts through the mind…
And here he hath authority, etc. - Ananias had undoubtedly heard of Saul's coming, and the commission he had received…
As for God, his work is perfect; if he begin, he will make an end: a good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to…
all that call on thy name To call on Christ is the same as to be a believer in Him. The expression is used as an…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture