For the meaning of the name see on ch. 5:1. Ananias was a common name among the Jews. There is no other mention of this particular disciple in Scripture, except in ch. 22:12, where Paul describes him as “a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt” in Damascus. It is possible that these qualities made him the leader of the Christian community and prepared him to be the Lord’s messenger to Saul. How he became a Christian is not known. He may have followed the Saviour during the earthly life of Christ, or have been among the Jewish converts on the day of Pentecost or at some subsequent time. He then may have been forced to flee from Jerusalem by the persecution that followed the death of Stephen. These, however, are only conjectures. But it is clear from the words that Ananias employed in expressing his reluctance to visit Saul (ch. 9:13, 14) that he still had trustworthy communication with Jerusalem, for he knew of the havoc the persecutor had caused, and of the purpose of his mission to Damascus.

 As Ananias was prepared by a vision to visit Saul, so Saul was prepared for a visit from Ananias (v. 12). On this preparation through vision, and its similarity to the preparation of Peter and Cornelius (ch. 10:1-8), Conybeare and Howson remark: “The simultaneous preparation of the hearts of Ananias and Saul, and the simultaneous preparation of those of Peter and Cornelius—the questioning and hesitation of Peter, and the questioning and hesitation of Ananias,—the one doubting whether he might make friendship with the Gentiles, the other doubting whether he might approach the enemy of the Church,—the unhesitating obedience of each, when the divine will was made clearly known,—the state of mind in which both the Pharisee and the centurion were found, each waiting to see what the Lord would say unto them—this close analogy will not be forgotten by those who reverently read the two consecutive chapters [9 and 10], in which the baptism of Saul and the baptism of Cornelius are narrated in the Acts of the Apostles” (The Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul, p. 94).

 These words express Ananias’ readiness to execute the Lord’s instructions. Compare the examples of Samuel (1 Sam. 3:1-10) and Isaiah (Isa. 6:8).