The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Ananias of Damascus
d. mid-1st c. (trad. martyred at Eleutheropolis) · Disciple of Damascus · Baptizer of Paul · Damascus
The Apostolic Age
Who Ananias of Damascus was
“A certain disciple at Damascus,” devout by the law and well reported of by the city’s Jews, to whom the Lord spoke in a vision the words that overcame his fear of the persecutor: “he is a chosen vessel unto me.” Laying hands on the blinded Saul he called him “Brother,” restored his sight, and baptized him. Later tradition makes him first bishop of Damascus, martyred at Eleutheropolis; the church commemorating his house-chapel still stands in the old city.
Common questions
When did Ananias die?
Ananias of Damascus is dated d. mid-1st c. (trad. martyred at Eleutheropolis) in the archive, which places Ananias in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Ananias?
Ananias of Damascus is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Luke and John Chrysostom. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Ananias from?
The archive associates Ananias of Damascus with Damascus.
Who were Ananias’ contemporaries?
The archive links Ananias of Damascus to 1 other figure, including Paul of Tarsus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Acts 9:15
c. AD 85But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.Luke · read ↗
Homilies on Acts XIX–XX
c. AD 400“And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias.” [Homily XX is the homily on Acts 9:10–12, where Ananias appears. The archive previously cited Homily XIX, which is on Acts 8:26–27 — the Ethiopian eunuch — and does not mention him. Corrected against the table of contents of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1st series, vol. 11.]John Chrysostom · Homilies on Acts XX · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Ananias.