Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 9:12
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting [his] hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
12. and hath seen in a vision ] The oldest MSS. omit “in a vision.” It could only have been in this wise that Saul had been informed, and the words are merely a gloss.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And he hath seen in a vision … – When this was shown to Saul, or how, is not recorded. The vision was shown to Saul to assure him when Ananias came that he was no impostor. He was thus prepared to receive consolation from this disciple. He was even apprised of his name, that he might be the more confirmed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Hath seen in a vision] While God prepares Ananias, by a vision, to go and minister to Saul, he at the same time prepares Saul, by another vision, to profit by this ministry.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
If this verse be the words of St. Luke, continuing the history, then they must be included in a parenthesis, the sense being entire without them; but they seem to be the words of the Lord continued to Ananias, telling him how he had provided for his welcome to Saul, contrary to his expectation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. And hath seen in a vision a mannamed Ananias, &c.Thus, as in the case of Cornelius andPeter afterwards, there was a mutual preparation of each for each.But we have no account of the vision which Saul had of Ananias comingunto him and putting his hands upon him for the restoration of hissight, save this interesting allusion to it in the vision whichAnanias himself had.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias,…. Some read this verse in a parenthesis, and take them to be the words of Luke the historian; but it is rather a continuation of the words of Christ, telling Ananias, for his greater encouragement to go to Saul, that he had seen him in a vision, and had knowledge both of his person, and of his name, and of what he was to do to him; for in the vision or dream, he had been represented to him as
coming in; to the house, and into the room where he was:
and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight; without which he had been three days, and which he did receive upon Ananias’s putting his hands on him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Coming in and laying ( ). Second aorist (ingressive) active participles picturing the punctiliar act as a sort of indirect discourse after verbs of sensation (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1040-2). Some ancient documents do not have “in a vision” here.
Receive his sight (). First aorist active subjunctive with (purpose). See again as in 9:17.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And hath seen in a vision a man,” (kai eiden andra en horamati) “And he has seen a man in a vision,” a responsible man, or man of responsibility and accountability. Before the Bible was completed God appeared and conversed with men in dreams and visions, but today He speaks thru a) His word, b) His Spirit, and c) His church, 2Ti 3:16-17; Joh 5:39; 2Ti 2:15; Rev 22:17; Heb 3:7; Heb 4:7; Eph 3:21; Act 1:8.
2) “Named Ananias, coming in,” (Ananian onomati eiselthonta) “By name (of) Ananias, entering in,” where he is or resides at the house of Judas, much as Peter did in going to Cornelius’ house and Paul in going later to Macedonia, Act 10:5-12; Act 16:9-10.
3) “And putting his hand on him,” (kai epithenta auto cheiras) “And placing, putting, or laying his hands on him,” on blind Saul, as one who could heal thru the manifestation of the gift of the Holy Spirit, Act 5:12-16; Heb 2:4.
4) “That he might receive his sight,” (hopos anablepse) “So that he may look up or see again;” By faith Saul the new convert had envisioned being healed by one of God’s men empowered with the gift of restoring sight to the blind, and he was. Jesus gave this message to Ananias regarding the condition, need and expectancy of Saul as surely as He did to Peter regarding the need of Cornelius and his household, Act 10:9-24; Act 11:1-18.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
12. He saw a man, named Ananias. It is uncertain whether Luke do yet repeat the words of Christ, or he add this of his own. Those which take it in the person of Luke are moved with some show of absurdity, because it is an unlikely thing that Christ used these words. Although this may be easily answered thus, to wit, that Christ confirmeth Ananias after this sort, There is no cause why thou shouldst fear but that he will receive thee willingly, forasmuch as he already knoweth thy shape by a vision. I have also told him thy name, and whatsoever thou shalt do with him. Yet may the reader choose whether he will.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias.The coincidence of the two visions has seemed to some critics, as afterwards in the history of Cornelius, to betray something like the skill of the artistic historian. To those who reject the supernatural altogether, this may, of course, seem a short and easy explanation. To those who have not brought themselves to that point of denial, it will not seem strange that there should be in the work of the highest Designer the same unity of purpose and convergence of varied means which rouse our admiration in works of human skill. For Ananias what he was now told was an implied command that he should fulfil the vision thus reported to him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Hath seen a vision Vision had answered to vision. Paul had been divinely assured upon his prayer what deliverer should come to relieve his spirit of its pressure and thereby his eyes of their blindness. He was assured that his comforter was no counterfeit; Ananias was assured that his patient was a genuine penitent. They met as strangers, yet as well known each to the other.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Ver. 12. And hath seen in a vision ] It is not certain whether these be Christ’s own words, or St Luke’s; neither is it much material.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
12. ] This word would set before Ananias more powerfully than any other, the state of Saul.
. . ] A man, whose name in the same vision he knew to be Ananias. The sight of the man and the knowledge of his name were both granted him in his vision.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 9:12 . , see critical notes. . .: the words would certainly indicate, as Wendt points out (seventh edition, not eighth), that Saul was previously unacquainted with Ananias. Jesus communicates the contents of the vision, and speaks as it were from the standpoint of Saul (see Felten’s note, p. 190). . . ., see above on Act 8:17 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
hath seen = saw. Greek. eidon. App-133.
receive his sight. Greek. anablepo. App-133.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
12. ] This word would set before Ananias more powerfully than any other, the state of Saul.
. .] A man, whose name in the same vision he knew to be Ananias. The sight of the man and the knowledge of his name were both granted him in his vision.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 9:12. [ , and hath seen) A pair of visions, the one of which corresponds to the other; as in this place the corresponding visions vouchsafed to Ananias and Saul respectively, set aside all suspicion of fallacious fantasy (phantasm). The same observation applies also in the case of Cornelius and Peter, ch. 10.-V. g.]-, Ananias) This name Saul caught up, either with his ear or his mind, during the vision.- , that he may recover his sight) The peculiar (extraordinary) effect of laying on the hands is expressed: the more ordinary one is to be understood: Act 9:17, that thou mightest be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Act 9:10, Act 9:17, Act 9:18
Reciprocal: Act 9:9 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Act 9:12. All inspired visions are one form of predictions. God had caused Saul to see this vision, now He was sending Ananias to fulfill it for him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 9:12. Hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias. The Lord, in relating to Ananias the purport of a vision which Saul had seen, especially mentioned, not that Saul had seen thee, but a man named Ananias. We may thus conclude positively that Saul and Ananias were previously unknown to each other.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 10