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Ananias

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Early Christian disciple in Acts who healed Paul’s blindness and baptized him, symbolizing divine restoration and faith.

Detailed Definition
Ananias, a devout follower in Damascus, obeyed Christ’s vision to heal Saul (Paul), despite fear of his past persecution. His act initiated Paul’s transformation into Christianity’s greatest apostle. In poetry, Ananias represents humble obedience, divine trust in the face of danger, and the quiet courage that enables spiritual rebirth—often invoked as a model of faithful service without recognition.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Ananias (Acts 9) is part of the apostolic restoration of sight and faith; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Ananias’s obedience models humble service; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Ananias’s courage in visiting Saul prefigures grace; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Ananias symbolizes the risk of faithful obedience; In Christina Rossetti’s "Advent," Ananias’s role in Paul’s conversion illustrates divine reversal; In W.H. Auden’s "For the Time Being," Ananias embodies the ordinary saint.
Additional Notes
Ananias: Several figures, most notably the Damascus disciple who baptized Paul (Acts 9) and the high priest who presided over Paul’s trial (Acts 23). The former represents obedient faith in risky circumstances (“Lord, I have heard…”); the latter, institutional opposition. In poetry, distinguish between the two: one as humble instrument of grace, the other as embodiment of legalistic power. Both offer dramatic potential in conversion or conflict narratives.
Also Known As
Ananias of Damascus Ananias the Disciple
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