22:9-11
Paul then recounts how he was led to Damascus. The key point is that all this is at the direction of the Lord, it is not an idea that Paul dreamed up. God intervened in the first place, and then directed Paul. We see something important here about the role of miracles. There are times when God intervenes directly in a situation, or in someone’s life. The key point is that it is God taking the initiative, and we need to respond to it.
22:12-16
Then Ananias played his part. He was a “devout observer of the law”. Paul is stressing that the gospel is not some reaction against the Law, nor an antinomian thing. Ananias was a respected Jew. Again there was miraculous intervention, this time in Paul receiving back his sight. Paul was God’s chosen instrument and he needed to obey the Lord.
22:17-21
Jesus then directed Paul. Paul was concerned about how the believers would react to him, given his past. Paul accepted full responsibility for persecuting Christians and for giving approval to Stephen's stoning. God tells him that he will send him away to the Gentiles. Ironically it was the Jews who gave Paul most problems, while the Gentiles welcomed him.
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