Acts 9:15-16

God revealed His purpose for Saul to bolster Ananias’ courage. The inquisitor was to become Jesus’ chosen instrument, the proud Pharisee His apostle to Gentiles and kings, and the poster boy of Judaism a persecuted Christian. "To bear my name" means to bear witness of Jesus. In the Greek text of Acts 9:16 "I" is emphatic. Jesus meant that Ananias need not fear going to Saul because Jesus Himself would show Saul how much he would suffer; Ananias would not need to do that. This assurance would have encouraged Ananias further to go to Judas’ house in search of Saul.

"In highlighting these features of being a ’chosen instrument,’ sent to ’the Gentiles,’ and to ’suffer for my [Jesus’] name,’ Luke has, in effect, given a theological précis of all he will portray historically in chapters 13-28-a précis that also summarizes the self-consciousness of Paul himself as reflected in his own letters." [Note: Longenecker, p. 373.]