11 and the Lord 'saith' unto him, 'Having risen, go on unto the street that is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas, 'one' by name Saul of Tarsus, for, lo, he doth pray, 12 and he saw in a vision a man, by name Ananias, coming in, and putting a hand on him, that he may see again.' 13 And Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evils he did to Thy saints in Jerusalem, 14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests, to bind all those calling on Thy name.' 15 And the Lord said unto him, 'Be going on, because a choice vessel to Me is this one, to bear My name before nations and kings—the sons also of Israel; 16 for I will shew him how many things it behoveth him for My name to suffer.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 9:11-16
Commentary on Acts 9:10-22
(Read Acts 9:10-22)
A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's feet with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never did Christ leave any who were brought to that. Behold, the proud Pharisee, the unmerciful oppressor, the daring blasphemer, prayeth! And thus it is even now, and with the proud infidel, or the abandoned sinner. What happy tidings are these to all who understand the nature and power of prayer, of such prayer as the humbled sinner presents for the blessings of free salvation! Now he began to pray after another manner than he had done; before, he said his prayers, now, he prayed them. Regenerating grace sets people on praying; you may as well find a living man without breath, as a living Christian without prayer. Yet even eminent disciples, like Ananias, sometimes stagger at the commands of the Lord. But it is the Lord's glory to surpass our scanty expectations, and show that those are vessels of his mercy whom we are apt to consider as objects of his vengeance. The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes away the scales of ignorance and pride from the understanding; then the sinner becomes a new creature, and endeavours to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former companions.