Nederlands

FaithonMaps › All places › Straight Street, Damascus

Straight Street, Damascus

Saul becomes Paul · Syria

Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus when a light from heaven blinded him and a voice asked: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' For three days he could not see. Then Ananias, though afraid of him, came to a house on Straight Street, laid his hands on him and called him 'brother'. Today the long street still crosses the old city from the Roman East Gate, and a chapel nearby is honoured as the house of Ananias.

Did you know?

Straight Street is still there, more than 2,000 years after it was laid out by the Romans as the Via Recta.

View on the mapOpen in Google Maps

An inspiring story

'Brother Saul'

Could you call your enemy 'brother'?

Saul had come to Damascus to arrest Christians. Now he sat blind in a house on Straight Street, and had not eaten or drunk for three days. God told a believer named Ananias to go to him. Ananias protested: this man has done so much harm to your people. Why did he go anyway? Because God said: 'This man is my chosen instrument.' Ananias walked in, laid his hands on the man who had come for people like him, and his first words were: 'Brother Saul.' Something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he was baptised.

The greatest missionary of the church was welcomed with one word. Sometimes 'brother' is the bravest thing you can say.

Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may see again.Acts 9:17

Sources

Journeys through this place

Also on the map