Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 9:12-16

"and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. But 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: for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name`s sake." — Acts 9:12-16 (ASV)

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But 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: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Ananias said to the Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and now the Lord says to Ananias, in response to that, I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. As he had made others suffer for Christ's name's sake, he must himself suffer in the same way; yet in this he was greatly favored, for it is one of the highest honours that the Lord Jesus Christ can put upon his chosen ones that they should be called to suffer for his name's sake.

And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem: And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And it seemed a gracious retribution for him, did it not? I do not say a penal infliction. I do not know how to put it better than "a gracious retribution"—that he who made saints suffer should now have the high privilege to take the front rank in suffering himself. Often, I do not doubt, when he was bearing and enduring with such matchless fortitude, he thought of those saints whom he had harried and worried in the days of his carnal estate; and how he must have prized them, and with what wonder must he have said, To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.