The Power of an Ordinary Yes

Some of the most powerful moments in Scripture hinge on just a few words. Words that change identities, futures, and entire stories.

Acts 9 tells the dramatic conversion of Saul, the man who would later become the apostle Paul. But tucked inside this life-altering chapter is a moment that could easily be overlooked: when Ananias, an ordinary disciple, looks at the former persecutor of Christians and calls him “Brother Saul.”

Two simple words. Yet those words show us how completely God transforms a person and how deeply grace reshapes relationships.

This chapter shows three beautiful snapshots of transformation: who Saul was, who he became, and the ordinary servant God used in the middle of the story.

Focus Scripture: Acts 9:10–19

Paul: The Hate-Filled Enemy of Christ (Acts 9:1–9)

The chapter opens with Saul at his worst. Scripture says he was breathing out threats and murder against the followers of Jesus. His mission was clear: find Christians, arrest them, and crush the growing movement.

He wasn’t confused. He wasn’t neutral. He was actively opposed to Christ.

And yet, on the road to Damascus, everything changes. Jesus confronts him directly, stopping him in his tracks and revealing the truth Saul had been fighting against.

This reminds us that no one is too far gone for God to reach. The person who seems most resistant, most hostile, or most unlikely may be closer to transformation than we think.

God’s grace can interrupt even the hardest hearts.

Paul: The Humble New Believer (Acts 9:18–19)

By the end of the story, Saul is unrecognizable from the man we met at the beginning. The persecutor is now a follower of Christ.

His sight is restored. He is baptized. He begins his new life as a believer.

The enemy of the church becomes one of its greatest missionaries.

This transformation reminds us that salvation is not behavior modification, it is total life change. Only Jesus can take someone moving in one direction and completely redirect their future.

And sometimes the beginning of that new life starts with someone willing to welcome them as family.

Ananias: The Ordinary Servant (Acts 9:10–17)

Right in the middle of Saul’s story, we meet Ananias, not a famous apostle, not a church leader we often talk about, just a faithful disciple willing to obey.

God tells Ananias to go pray for Saul, a man known for persecuting believers. Naturally, Ananias hesitates, but ultimately he obeys.

And when he arrives, the first words he speaks are stunning: “Brother Saul.”

In that moment, Saul is no longer an enemy. He is family. Grace has already rewritten his identity.

Ananias shows us that ordinary believers play extraordinary roles in God’s plans. Without his obedience, Saul’s next steps might have looked very different.

God often uses everyday servants to carry out life-changing moments.

Our Call to Action

Acts 9 invites us to see ourselves somewhere in this story.

Some of us need the kind of transformation Saul experienced, where we choose to surrender our lives to Jesus. Others are being called to step into Ananias’ role, obeying God even when it feels uncomfortable or risky.

Who is God asking you to welcome?
Where is He calling you to step out in obedience?

Your willingness, like Ananias’, could help launch someone else’s new beginning.

And maybe the most powerful words we can speak this week are the same ones Ananias spoke: “Brother.” “Sister.”

Because in Christ, grace changes everything.