Rather, “heard from many.” Ananias recoils from the implied command. His obedient but human spirit balks at the thought of ministering to one with Saul’s dreadful reputation. He respectfully remonstrates with the Lord. The words show that Ananias had been living in Damascus, and had not just arrived from Jerusalem (cf. on v. 10). They also indicate how widespread among the Christians was the knowledge of the fury of Saul’s attacks upon the church. The reports were sadly confirmed by the refugees who had come to the city from Jerusalem.
For the Hebrew background of the term see on Ps. 16:3. For its significance among Christians see on Rom. 1:7. It is interesting that this early use of the word in the NT (cf. Matt. 27:52) should be by Ananias, sent to be Saul’s instructor, and that it should afterward have been employed so frequently by the apostle himself (Rom. 1:7; 15:25; 16:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; etc.).