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;Acts 9:15 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleGo thy way - He was thus prevented from going farther in his reasoning on this subject.
He is a chosen vessel unto me - The word σκευος in Greek, and כלי 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 2:9, When thou art athirst, go unto the vessels and drink, etc., there are these remarkable words. "כלי 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, Ην ὑπηρετικον σκευος, και πολλας εχων εφορμας εις πραγματων οικονομιαν. "He was a useful instrument, and fit for the management of affairs." We find Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 4:4, using the same word, σκευος, 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. - Σκευος εκλογης 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 Jeremiah 22:7 : They shall cut down the choice cedars, וכרתו מבחר ארזיך vecaretu Mibchar arazeyca; και εκκοψουσι τας εκλεκτας κεδρους σου, 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 favor - 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 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11. See also Galatians 2:7, Galatians 2:8, and Ephesians 3:8.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Go.
Exodus 4:12-14 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall say...
Jeremiah 1:7 But the LORD said to me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you...
Jonah 3:1,2 And the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying...
a chosen.
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said...
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you...
John 15:16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit...
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God,
Romans 9:21-24 Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor...
Galatians 1:1,15,16 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)...
2 Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
2 Timothy 2:4,20,21 No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier...
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings...
to bear.
Acts 21:19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had worked among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Acts 22:21 And he said to me, Depart: for I will send you far hence to the Gentiles.
Acts 26:17-20 Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send you...
Romans 1:5,13-15 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name...
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office:
Romans 15:15-21 Nevertheless, brothers, I have written the more boldly to you in some sort, as putting you in mind...
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain...
Galatians 2:7,8 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me...
Ephesians 3:7,8 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of his power...
Colossians 1:25-29 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God...
1 Timothy 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ...
and kings.
Acts 25:22-27 Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, you shall hear him...
Acts 26:1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
*etc:
Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar: and, see, God has given you all them that sail with you.
Matthew 10:18 And you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
2 Timothy 4:16,17 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge...
the children.
Acts 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said to them...
*etc:
Acts 9:15 Parallel Commentaries
Ananias Bear Carry Children Choice Chosen Descendants Elect Fear Gentiles Instrument Israel Kings Mine Nations Special Vessel WayAnanias Bear Carry Children Choice Chosen Descendants Elect Fear Gentiles Instrument Israel Kings Mine Nations Special Vessel WayTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.Acts 9:15 Mobile Bible
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