What does Acts 9:16 mean?

Saul has committed atrocities against the members of the young church. He arrested, imprisoned, and beat them. He chased them into their homes and hounded them to far-off countries, trying to force them to deny their faith. When they were on trial, he voted for their execution (Acts 8:1–3; 26:9–11). He is on such a mission to Damascus when Jesus meets him, convicts him, and blinds him (Acts 9:1–9). Then, Jesus tells His follower Ananias to find Saul and heal his sight (Acts 9:10–15). Ananias is understandably skeptical.

Jesus assures Ananias He is not mistaken and explains that Saul will be one of His greatest missionaries (Acts 9:15). As Jesus reveals that Saul will suffer, as a deeply committed Christian, Ananias agrees to go.

Saul, who will later adopt the Greek version of his name—Paul—describes his suffering in 2 Corinthians 11:23–29. He will be imprisoned, beaten, lashed, stoned, and even shipwrecked three separate times. Eventually, church tradition says, he will be martyred. But he puts it into perspective, writing to a different church: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your [the church in Colossae] sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church" (Colossians 1:24). Jesus' suffering and sacrifice provided the way of salvation; Paul's will ensure the offer of salvation reaches the people.