What did God tell Ananias was Saul's purpose after his conversion?

Les explains that when the Lord spoke to Ananias, Ananias already knew Saul's reputation: he had heard by many how much evil Saul had done to the saints, the believers at Jerusalem, and that Saul had authority from the chief priests to bind or arrest all that call on Jesus' name. But the Lord overruled Ananias's objection, saying, 'Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles.' Les points out this was a sudden change in format. Jesus earlier had said, 'Go not into the way of the Gentiles,' and throughout His earthly ministry He ignored the Gentiles, even when Greeks wanted to see Him near the Passover feast. He did not bring them in; He told Andrew and Philip to tell those Greeks that the hour had come, speaking of His death, burial, and resurrection, that unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abideth alone, but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit.