After telling the Romans, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13), Paul proceeded to tell them of the critical role of preaching in salvation.
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
When Paul, the apostle who authored these words by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, needed to be saved, it was a preacher – Ananias – who was sent to tell him, “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). Jesus, despite appearing to Paul (then called Saul) on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6), did not grant salvation to him there, nor did He speak from heaven to tell him what was required of him. Rather, Jesus said, “Get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do” (Acts 9:6). Ananias was then sent to speak the Lord’s plan of salvation to Paul (Acts 9:10-12).
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