Ananias of Damascus | |
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| Apostle, Disciple, Prophet, and Martyr | |
| Born | Unknown (perhapsDamascus) |
| Died | Eleutheropolis (tradition) |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodoxy Anglican Communion Lutheranism |
| Majorshrine | Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church inYerevan,Armenia |
| Feast |
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Ananias of Damascus (/ˌænəˈnaɪəs/AN-ə-NY-əs;Ancient Greek:Ἀνανίας,romanized:Ananíās;Aramaic: ܚܢܢܝܐ,romanized:Ḥananyō; "favoured of the LORD") was adisciple ofJesus inDamascus, mentioned in theActs of the Apostles in theBible, which describes how he was sent byJesus to restore the sight of Saul of Tarsus (who later was calledPaul the Apostle) and provide him with additional instruction in the way of the Lord.[2]
According toActs 9:10, Ananias was living in Damascus. In Paul's speech in Acts 22, he describes Ananias as "a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews" that dwelt in Damascus (Acts 22:12). According toF. F. Bruce, this indicates that he was not one of the refugees from the persecution in Jerusalem described inActs 8:1.[3]
During Paul'sconversion experience, Jesus had told Paul (who was then called Saul) to go into the city and wait. Jesus later spoke to Ananias in a vision, and told him to go to the "street which is called Straight", and ask "in the house of Judas forone called Saul, ofTarsus". (Acts 9:11) Ananias objected that Saul had been persecuting "thy saints", but the Lord told him that Saul was "a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel". (Acts 9:15). When Ananias went in to Saul andlaid his hands on him, the "scales" of dead tissue on the surface of his eyes fell off, and he looked up at Ananias. After additional instruction, Saul was baptized (Acts 9:18;Acts 22:16).
According to Roderick L. Evans, Ananias was a prophet despite being mentioned as a disciple. In his opinion on New Testament prophets, biblical figures who receive a message from God or reveal future events are considered prophets despite alternative titles such as apostle or disciple.[4]Anglican priest and theologianEdward Carus Selwyn recognized Ananias as a prophet as well as one of the seventy disciples and the apostles allocated with different tasks.[5]F. F. Bruce suggests that Ananias "has an honoured place in sacred history, and a special claim upon the gratitude of all who in one way or another have entered into the blessing that stems from the life and work of the great apostle."[6] Ananias is also listed byHippolytus of Rome and others as one of theseventy disciples whose mission is recorded inLuke10:1–20.[7]
Ananias is mentioned in late records as having beenmartyred in Damascus.[8] A tomb is located below theZoravor Church in Yerevan, Armenia.
In the 2004 edition ofRoman Martyrology, Ananias is listed under 25 January as a saint commemorated on the same day as the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul.[9]
TheEastern Orthodox Church commemorates Ananias on October 1.[10]
TheCoptic Orthodox Church commemorates Ananias onPaoni 27.[11]
Ananias of Damascus a prophet?.
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