Acts 9 · Verse 15

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Acts 9:15, King James Version

Acts 9:15 in other translations

BSB“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
WEBBut the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
ASVBut the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
YLTAnd 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;
DARBYAnd the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and the sons of Israel:
BBEBut the Lord said, Go without fear: for he is a special vessel for me, to give to the Gentiles and kings and to the children of Israel the knowledge of my name:
WebsterBut the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

What does Acts 9:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 9:10-16

10-16. a certain disciple ... named Ananias--See on Ac 22:12. to him said the Lord--that is, Jesus. (See Ac 9:13, 14, 17).

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Go thy way. This is often the only answer that we obtain to the suggestion of our doubts and hesitations about duty. God tells us still to do what he requires, with an assurance only that his commands are just, and that there are good reasons for them.

A chosen vessel. The usual meaning of the word vessel is well known. It usually denotes a cup or basin, such as is used in a house. It then denotes any instrument which may be used to accomplish a purpose, perhaps particularly with the notion of conveying or communicating. In the Scriptures it is used to denote the instrument or agent which God employs to convey his favours to mankind; and is thus employed to represent the ministers of the gospel, or the body of the minister, 2Cor 4:7, 1Thes 4:4; comp. Isa 13:5. Paul is called chosen because Christ had selected him, as he did his other apostles, for this service. Jn 15:16.

To bear my name. To communicate the knowledge of me.

Before the Gentiles. The nations; all who were not Jews. This was the principal employment of Paul. He spent his life in this, and regarded himself as peculiarly called to be the apostle of the Gentiles, Rom 11.13, 15:16, Gal 2:8.

And kings. This was fulfilled, Acts 25:23, 26:1-32, 27:24.

And the children of Israel. The Jews. This was done. He immediately began to preach to them, @Ac 9:20-22. Wherever he went, he preached the gospel first to them, and then to the Gentiles, Acts 13:46, 28:17.

(e) "he is a chosen vessel" Acts 13:2, Rom 1:1, 1Cor 15:10, Gal 1:15 Eph 3:7,8 (f) "before the gentiles" Rom 11:13, Gal; 2:7,8 (g) "kings" Acts 25:23 (h) "the children of Israel" Acts 20:23

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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 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, Rut 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 1Thes 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 Jer 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, 1Tim 2:7; 2Tim 1:11. See also Gal 2:7, Gal 2:8, and Eph 3:8.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 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…

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Acts 9:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΕἶπενEipenSaidG2036
δὲdehoweverG1161
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ὁhotheG3588
κύριος·kuriosLord;G2962
πορεύου,poreuoudo go,G4198
ὅτιhotiforG3754
σκεῦοςskeuosa vesselG4632
ἐκλογῆςeklogēsof choiceG1589
ἐστίνestinisG1510
μοιmoito MeG3165
οὗτοςhoutosthis [man]G3778
τοῦtou<the>G3588
βαστάσαιbastasaito carryG941
τὸtotheG3588
ὄνομάonomanameG3686
μουmouof MeG3165
ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799
ἐθνῶνethnōnGentilesG1484
καὶkaialsoG2532
βασιλέωνbasileōnkingsG935
υἱῶνhuiōn[the] sonsG5207
τεtethenG5037
Ἰσραήλ.Israēlof Israel.G2474

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 9:15

  • Galatians 1:15-16

    But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

  • Ephesians 3:7-8

    Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

  • 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. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

  • Romans 11:13

    For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

  • Acts 26:17-20

    Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

  • Acts 22:21

    And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

  • Jeremiah 1:5

    Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

  • Romans 1:5

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • 1 Timothy 2:7

    Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

  • 2 Timothy 1:11

    Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

  • Galatians 1:1

    Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

  • John 15:16

    Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Go.
Ex 4:12-14; Jer 1:7; Jon 3:1,2
a chosen.
13:2; Jer 1:5; Joh 15:16; Ro 1:1; 9:21-24; Ga 1:1,15,16; 2Ti 1:11
2Ti 2:4,20,21; Re 17:14
to bear.
21:19; 22:21; 26:17-20; Ro 1:5,13-15; 11:13; 15:15-21; 1Co 15:10
Ga 2:7,8; Eph 3:7,8; Col 1:25-29; 1Ti 2:7
and kings.
25:22-27; 26:1-11; 27:24; Mt 10:18; 2Ti 4:16,17
the children.
28:17-31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 9:14

    And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

  • Acts 9:15

    But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

  • Acts 9:16

    For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Read all of Acts 9

Acts 9:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y le dijo el Señor: Ve: porque instrumento escogido me es éste, para que lleve mi nombre en presencia de los Gentiles, y de reyes, y de los hijos de Israel:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais le Seigneur lui dit: Va; car cet homme m’est un vase d’élection pour porter mon nom devant les nations et les rois, et les fils d’Israël;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Herr aber sprach zu ihm: Gehe hin; denn dieser ist mir ein auserwähltes Gefäß, meinen Namen zu tragen sowohl vor Nationen als Könige und Söhne Israels.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit autem ad eum Dominus: Vade, quoniam vas electionis est mihi iste, ut portet nomen meum coram gentibus, et regibus, et filiis Israël.