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Saint Ananias of Damascus, Apostle of the Seventy, who baptized Paul
What the video says
Saint Ananias of Damascus was a first-century disciple counted among the seventy apostles sent by Christ. According to Acts 9, he received a vision telling him to find Saul of Tarsus, who had been blinded on the road to Damascus. Ananias went to the house of Judas on Straight Street, laid hands on Saul, restored his sight, and baptized him, after which Saul became the Apostle Paul.
Church tradition adds that Ananias became the first bishop of Damascus, preached the gospel with miracles, and was arrested by Lycian for refusing to sacrifice to idols. He was martyred by stoning outside the city walls in 60 AD.
Key moments
- 0:00 Saint Ananias, also known as Ananias of Damascus, was a first-century Christian disciple and one of the seventy apostles sent by Jesus Christ to spread the gospel.
- 0:37 Acts 9 records that Ananias, residing in Damascus, received a divine vision commanding him to seek out Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor blinded on the road to Damascus.
- 1:07 Ananias obeyed, went to the house of Judas on Straight Street, laid hands on Saul, restored his sight, declared God had chosen him to bear his name before Gentiles and kings, and baptized him.
- 1:07 Saul subsequently became the Apostle Paul, one of the most influential figures in Christian history.
- 1:43 Church tradition holds that Ananias became the first bishop of Damascus, preached the gospel, performed miracles, and converted many.
- 1:43 Lycian ordered Ananias arrested and tortured for refusing to sacrifice to pagan idols.
- 1:43 Ananias was martyred by stoning outside the city walls in 60 AD.
Saint Ananias is commemorated on October 1st. He was numbered among the Seventy Apostles sent by Christ and served as the first Bishop of Damascus, where he led the nascent Christian community during a period of intense hostility and persecution. His name means "God is gracious." According to Acts 9, after Saul of Tarsus was blinded on the road to Damascus, the Lord appeared to Ananias in a vision and commanded him to find Saul at the house of Judas on Straight Street.
Despite his initial hesitation and fear of Saul's reputation as a notorious persecutor, Ananias obeyed the divine command, laid hands on Saul, and restored his physical and spiritual sight. Ananias declared that God had chosen Saul to bear Christ's name before Gentiles and kings, and baptized him, establishing the foundational step for the man who would become the Apostle Paul.
Following this event, Ananias continued to boldly and openly preach the faith to both the local Jewish populations and pagans in Damascus, refusing to let imminent dangers silence his testimony. Church tradition holds that he preached the gospel with miracles and converted many. The prefect Lycian ordered Ananias arrested and tortured for refusing to sacrifice to pagan idols.
Ananias completed his earthly journey through martyrdom when torturers dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death in 60 AD at Eleutheropolis. Echoing the forgiveness of Christ, the saint prayed for his executioners as he died. His sacred relics were later returned to Damascus and eventually transferred to Constantinople.
Main points
- Ananias was one of the Seventy Apostles and first Bishop of Damascus
- He restored Saul's sight and baptized him after a divine vision (Acts 9)
- He preached openly in Damascus to Jews and pagans despite persecution
- He was martyred by stoning in 60 AD after refusing to sacrifice to idols
- His relics were moved from Eleutheropolis to Damascus and then Constantinople