Finding Fr ie nd sh ip Issue No. 5
Katy Shevel | Friday, August 28 , 2026
One afternoon, a man named Ananias, a disciple of the growing Christian community in Damascus, warmly welcomed a new member into their ranks. This fresh recruit was unexpected. He was one named Saul of Tarsus, infamous throughout the region for persecuting Christians. If they were alive today in 2026, I wonder, how Ananias’ friends would react to Ananias’ astonishing reception of Saul? Oh, that’s such terrific news! #blessed We wouldn’t dream of saying anything negative about Ananias’ decision, especially not behind his back, at brunch, or on social media. Living in the first century Roman Empire, those in Ananias’ social circles would have had their fair share of doubts. Instead of eschewing a known threat, Ananias embraces him. Saul was dangerous. A Pharisee trained by Gamiliel, Saul had dedicated his life to eradicating the gospel—and accomplishing this by whatever means necessary. He was among those who actively participated in the early, itinerant, and brutal persecution of Christians. Everyone who followed the teachings of Jesus was a target and lived in terror. Instead of putting their vulnerable, oppressed community first, Ananias was taking the side of the enemy. Here’s the kicker: this wasn’t even Ananias’ choice.
In a vision, the Lord tells Ananias to seek out Saul. Inperson. Ananias isn’t too thrilled about this notion. After all, he knows who Saul is. In protest, Ananias makes his case: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” In response, the Lord says very clearly that Saul has been singled out to do sacred, important work for the gospel. Consequently, that Saul will also suffer for the cause. To find Saul, Ananias is told to go to a street called Straight. Interestingly enough, “Straight” is the only street name given in the entire Bible. At Straight Street, Ananias should look for a man at a fellow disciples’ place of residence. His sight and appetite have been taken away for three days. Ananias is told to then lay hands on this man, so that he can be healed and commissioned by the Holy Spirit. Seeing that arguing it futile, Ananias complies. He leaves at once and finds Saul kneeling, praying. As readers, we know precisely what has happened to Saul. He has just had his legendary conversion experience on the Road to Damascus. What may not be as obvious, however, is that Ananias has just had a significant change of heart himself. When he meets Saul, he uses a different greeting than the ones commonly used by his
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“Look, see how
they love each other…” peers in the Book of Acts. In his commentary on the Book of Acts, James D. G. Dunn points out that the disciples would normally address one another as “fellow believer” or “fellow Jew.”
Tertullian
Ananias goes above and beyond. He calls Saul, “Brother.” Immediately, scales fall from Saul’s eyes. He gets up; there is work to be done. That first day Saul showed up by Ananias side, there was undoubtedly considerable hesitation from the community. Yet to their credit, once Ananias received Saul as his brother, they did as well. Saul (later named Paul) joins the disciples and begins to preach in the synagogues. Outside of Damascus, however, the disciples in Jerusalem are still wary of Saul’s alleged transformation. That is, until another leader in their ranks, Barnabas speaks up. Once Barnabas vouches for Saul, the community in Jerusalem welcomes him, too. Can you imagine how difficult this would have been for all of them? In contentious times, turning inward is our natural inclination. When times get tough, we close ranks, protect our own, and retreat to the places and people most familiar. Our automatic tendency is to gravitate toward echo chambers of shared backgrounds and beliefs, to rally against a common enemy. Fictional sports psychologist Dr. Sharon Fieldstone from the comedy-drama series Ted Lasso has some salient insight to offer here. When asked why teams form factions in locker rooms, she thoughtfully observes: “Cliques are just a way to find community in a stressful environment.” In a recent Lasso episode, Dr. Sharon made this statement on a sports podcast in her delightful British accent while sipping a cup of tea. (I, for one, would love to get a cup of tea with Dr. Sharon.) Of course, we know cliques are just the beginning. Social scientist Arthur C. Brooks (author of one of my
favorite books The Happiness Files) notes that throughout history, humans often take our natural tendency to form cliques to harmful conclusions. In contentious, stressful times, we tend to lash out at those we disagree with, those we hate. This is what the non-Christians were doing when they perceived a threat from this growing new religious movement. Remarkably the early disciples, following Ananias’ example, acted the exact opposite way. Instead of turning inward, the early Christians turn outward and take an enormous risk by accepting an “outsider.” Why? Because for them, the teachings of the gospel weren’t mere platitudes; Jesus’ teachings were their honest way of life. And Jesus proclaimed: “But I say to you who are listening: love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.” At the time, some initially assumed the practice of the early Christians to love their enemies was weak. Outsiders didn’t understand it. It wasn’t the norm outside of Christian circles. North African theologian and apologist Tertullian of Carthage recorded his observations about the early Christians, namely how they were perceived by their neighbors.
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“See, they say, how they love one another…” Their neighbors make this observation of the Christians while remarking that “they themselves are animated by mutual hatred.” From the very beginning, Tertullian notes this distinction between Christians and non-Christians. It’s significant; it’s counter-cultural. The early Christians are known for their love; others are not. Notably, the burgeoning Christian community steps up and even protects Saul from the authorities who have now turned on him—and want him dead. Closing ourselves off from others is easy. It’s turning toward others that is truly difficult. Turning toward other people and adapting a posture of open minds, open hands, open hearts… this what requires a great deal of vulnerability and courage. After all, when we open ourselves up, that’s precisely when we risk getting hurt the most. But it was precisely this remarkable practice of love that secured the survival of the early Christian movement. Slowly over time, their shared practice of compassion over violence drew others to their cause. It helped the nascent Christian movement to grow and thrive, building an international community of followers who supported and helped one another despite vehement opposition. Eventually, Christianity would be institutionalized as the official religion of the Roman Empire. Arthur C. Brooks believed that their practice of love was the reason. “If those early Christians had been violent and hate-filled, the faith would probably have come and gone like any number of cults over the centuries.” The early Christians also formed a different kind of community, and as a result very different friendships. Their bonds of friendship weren’t simply formed with
those whom they agreed with. The early Christians outwardly extended their love of others to those well beyond the margins: social and cultural outcasts, the destitute, the poor, the enslaved, the stigmatized, the diseased, the sinful, and yes, even to their enemies. Love is what they were known for, even from the outside. Today, gossip so positive is hard to imagine! After all, we live in stressful times, too. To name a few major stressors, today we exist in an isolationist, lonely age of widespread religious decline, digital fatigue, global and economic instability, political polarization, and climate crisis. We’re angry and scared. Our instincts tell us to blame someone, to sow seeds of bitterness, and to stoke the flames of conflict all around us. Social media makes it all too easy. Again, I can’t resist another great Ted Lasso quote. This one is from the coach himself: “Be curious, not judgmental.” Just think: what would it be like, as Christians, if we embraced our radical, counter-cultural roots? Instead of hate, what if we chose love—and not in a trite Hallmark-card-kind-of-way? What if we sought to be leaders in our own communities and social circles, demonstrating love by reaching out to one each other and create spaces for fruitful conversation? What if we asked more questions and sought to really listen to those we disagree with? What if, like Ananias, we made a house call to a former enemy and addressed them as family? It would be something, if people started talking about you and me the same way they talked about the early Christians. See how they love each other…
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