Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 9:15
Verse 15. Go thy way] He was thus prevented from going farther in his reasoning on this subject. He is a chosen vessel unto me] The word skeuov in Greek, and ylk Keley in Hebrew, though they literally signify a vessel, yet they are both used to signify any kind of instrument, or the means by which an act is done. In the Tract. Sohar Exod. fol. 87, on these words of Boaz to Ruth, Ruth ii. 9, When thou art athirst, go unto the vessels and drink, &c., there are these remarkable words . " ylk keley, vessels; that is, the righteous, who are called the vessels or instruments of Jehovah; for it is decreed that the whole world shall bring gifts to the King Messiah; and these are the vessels of the Lord: vessels, I say, which the holy and blessed God uses, although they be brittle; but they are brittle only in this world, that they may establish the law and the worship with which the holy and blessed God is worshipped in this world; neither can this ministry be exercised but by vessels or instruments." This mode of speech was common also among the Greek and Roman writers. So POLYBIUS, speaking of Damocles, Excerpta, vol. iii. lib. 13, [Edit. Ernesti,] says, hn uphretikon skeuov, kai pollav ecwn eformav eiv pragmatwn oikonomian. "He was a useful instrument, and fit for the management of affairs." We find Paul, in 1 Thess. iv. 4, using the same word, skeuov, for the body, agreeable to the expression of Lucretius, iii. 441, Corpus, quod VAS quasi constitit ejus. "The BODY, which is the VESSEL or instrument of the soul." See Bp. Pearce on this passage.
Chosen vessel.-skeuov ekloghv is properly a Hebraism, for an excellent or well-adapted instrument. Every reader of the Bible must have noticed how often the word chosen is used there to signify excelling or eminent: so we use the word choice, "choice men," eminent persons; "choice things," excellent articles. So in Jer. xxii. 7: They shall cut down the choice cedars, yzra rjbm wtrkw vecaretu MIBCHAR arazeyca; kai ekkoyousi tav eklekatav kedrouv sou, SEPT. They shall cut the most EXCELLENT of thy cedars; or thy cedar trees, which are the most excellent of their kind, they will cut down. Whoever considers the character of St. Paul, his education, attainments in natural knowledge, the distinguished part he took-first against Christianity, and afterwards, on the fullest conviction, the part he took in its favour-will at once perceive how well he was every way qualified for the great work to which God had called him.
To bear my name before the Gentiles] To carry the ensign of the cross among the Greeks and Romans; and, by the demonstration of the Spirit, to confound their wisdom and learning, and prove that neither salvation nor happiness could be found in any other. Hence he was emphatically called, the apostle of the Gentiles, 1 Tim. ii. 7; 2 Tim. i. 11. See also Gal. ii. 7, 8, and Eph. iii. 8.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. But the Lord said unto him, go thy way , etc.] The Syriac version reads, arise, go thy way; make no delay, nor any excuse, there is no reason for it; nothing is to be feared from him: for he is a chosen vessel unto me ; a choice and excellent one, full of the heavenly treasure of the Gospel, full of the gifts and graces of the Spirit, and so very fit and richly qualified for the use and service of Christ; and was htdmj ylk , a vessel of desire, or a desirable one, as the Jews speak f469 : or he was, to render the words literally, a vessel of election; both an instrument gathering in the election, or the elect of God, through the preaching of the Gospel; and was himself chosen of God, both to grace and glory, a vessel of mercy, and of honour prepared for glory; and was separated, predestinated, and appointed to the Gospel of God, to preach it among the Gentiles; which sense is confirmed by what follows: to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel ; by the name of Christ is meant his Gospel, which is a declaration of his person, perfections, glories, and excellencies, of his offices, grace, righteousness, and salvation; and to bear it, is to preach it, to carry it about, spread abroad, and propagate it; in allusion either to the prophets of old, whose prophecies are often called a burden, which they bore and carried to the several nations to whom they were sent; or to the Levites bearing the tabernacle of the Lord, and its vessels, be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord, ( Isaiah 52:11). Upon which Aben Ezra has this note, they are the Israelites, hrwth yawn , that bear the law; but Saul was a chosen vessel to bear the Gospel; or to the sower of seed, ( <19C606> Psalm 126:6) before the Gentiles, or nations of the world; and he was an apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity; the Gospel of the uncircumcision was particularly committed to him: and before kings, as he did before Agrippa, king of the Jews, and before Nero, emperor of Rome; and his bonds for the Gospel, and so the Gospel through his bonds became manifest in all the palace, or court of Caesar. And before the children of Israel ; the Jews, to whom he first preached it; but when they put it away he turned to the Gentiles, and afterwards, before the Jews, he bore a testimony for it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-22 - A good work was begun in Saul, when he was brought to Christ's fee with those words, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And never di 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 blessing 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 living man without breath, as a living Christian without prayer. Ye even eminent disciples, like Ananias, sometimes stagger at the command of the Lord. But it is the Lord's glory to surpass our scant expectations, and show that those are vessels of his mercy whom we ar 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 endeavour to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his forme companions.
Greek Textus Receptus
ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ προς 4314 PREP αυτον 846 P-ASM ο 3588 T-NSM κυριος 2962 N-NSM πορευου 4198 5737 V-PNM-2S οτι 3754 CONJ σκευος 4632 N-NSN εκλογης 1589 N-GSF μοι 3427 P-1DS εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ουτος 3778 D-NSM του 3588 T-GSM βαστασαι 941 5658 V-AAN το 3588 T-ASN ονομα 3686 N-ASN μου 3450 P-1GS ενωπιον 1799 ADV εθνων 1484 N-GPN και 2532 CONJ βασιλεων 935 N-GPM υιων 5207 N-GPM τε 5037 PRT ισραηλ 2474 N-PRI
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. Chosen vessel (skeuov ekloghv). Lit., an instrument of choice. On vessel, see on Matt. xii. 29; and on the figure, compare 2 Corinthians iv. 7.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:15 {A chosen vessel} (skeuos ekloges). A vessel of choice or selection. The genitive of quality is common in the Hebrew, as in the vernacular _Koin_. Jesus chose Saul before Saul chose Jesus. He felt of himself that he was an earthen vessel (#2Co 4:7) unworthy of so great a treasure. It was a great message that Ananias had to bear to Saul. He told it in his own way (#9:17; 22:14f.) and in #26:16f. Paul blends the message of Jesus to Ananias with that to him as one. {Before the Gentiles} (enwpion twn eqnwn). this was the chief element in the call of Saul. He was to be an apostle to the Gentiles (#Eph 3:6-12).
