Acts 9:11-12

‘And the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he is praying. And he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

He is told to go to a street name ‘Straight' (Straight Street) where in the house of Judas he would find Saul of Tarsus. He was informed that Saul was praying and was awaiting his coming so that he may lay hands on Saul so that he could receive his sight. Normally Ananias would have obeyed unquestioningly, but at the name of Saul of Tarsus he stiffened. That name was too well known among Christians for any other response. He probably at first only half considered the remainder of what had been said. He belonged to a church on the alert.

‘Behold he is praying.' In Luke's writings prayer is emphasised (Acts 16:25; Acts 20:36; Acts 22:17). Compare also of Jesus - Luke 3:21; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18; Luke 9:28; Luke 11:1; Luke 22:41. One who prays rightly is close to God.

We know nothing about who this Judas was but he would clearly be no friend of the Christians, and it may be assumed that the temple police were also staying in his house. It was in the main thoroughfare through the city, a street with great porches and gates at each end and colonnades for commerce running along each side. And Judas was probably a very important man. His house was not a place that Christians in general would want to approach. But it could well be that Ananias was a man of prestige and had some kind of access, and he was held in high favour among the Jews. However, when he heard the name Saul of Tarsus even his blood curdled.