This is a study of Jesus being chosen for a mission to the gentiles; Jesus died for all and needed a missionary who would go to all the world.

1. JESUS WAS CHOOSING PAUL FOR THE GENTILES
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Acts 9:15 15
But the LORD said to Ananias, "Go! This
man is my chosen instrumentto proclaimmy name to
the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The Choice Of PerfectForgivingness
Acts 9:15
P.C. BarkerAnanias demurs to the errand assigned. It was not altogether
unnatural that he should do so. His hesitation, however, does not resemble
that of Moses. And, in expressing the grounds of it, he was only occupying by
anticipation the position which it would become necessaryto occupy when any
and all actual interposition of the greatHead of the Church should be
withdrawn. Then, as it is to this day, it became among the most critical cares
and the most solemn responsibilities of the Church and of its leaders, its
"pastors and elders," to considerwhat prudence may permit, and act as much
with the wisdomof the serpent as with the innocuousness ofthe dove. The
hesitationof Ananias does not appear to be reproved, but is plainly overruled;
and we are therein reminded still how -
I. AN ILL REPUTATION AMONG MEN WILL NOT DETER THE
CHOICE OF JESUS. The "things that are highly esteemedamong men" are
not only sometimes "heldin abomination in the sight of God," but the things
that are with justice lightly "esteemedamong men" are takenup sometimes
by God, that he may in them magnify his transforming power.

2. 1. Reputation is an uncertain guide. It is even particularly so, perhaps it may
be said, when it is a goodreputation; for how "many that are first, shall be
last"!
2. The tyranny of reputation is not for a moment recognizedby Jesus. As
peremptorily as he would bid the worstsinner depart from the error of his
way, as lovingly as he would persuade the most disreputable to "sin no more,"
so graciouslydoes he receive such also;and let the censorious worldsaywhat
it will, he discountenances the censoriousnessby word, and here emphatically
discountenances by deed, what might contain the germ of the principle. It is a
thing to be much thought upon by the true disciples of Christ. The world and
a worldly Church aggravate the difficulty of the returning sinner. This is the
opposite of the way of Jesus. Jesushelps a man to recoverhis character;he
helps his struggles while he does so;he shows him sympathy, and," though he
fall many a time in the struggle, graciouslywatcheshim and upholds him
againand againthat he be not "utterly castdown." It is a proverb that the
world keeps the man down who is down. And when the Church approaches
anything of the like kind, it means to say that it is only in name the Church,
and is drained miserably dry of the Spirit.
II. THE UNLIKELIEST ANTECEDENTSDO NOT FRIGHTEN JESUS
FROM HIS CHOICE. Ananias did not misstate anything, did not exaggerate
the case againstSaul, was not overridden by strange tales untrue. But he did
fear; he had a nervous apprehension; he had not up to that moment learned,
what probably he did at that moment learn, and from that moment never
forgot, the proud reachof the power of Christ. How long it is before any of us
attain to the right conceptionof Jesus and his heart and his hand! We still
think him such as ourself, only something greater, greatlygreater;something
better, and very much better. We need to see that he is divinely greater,
divinely better, and all that divine means.
1. The antecedents of a man's life may largelybetokenits realbent.
2. They will largelyhave made his habits.
3. They will almostinevitably colorall his future way of viewing things. But to
these three things the answerfor Jesus is that he, ay, he alone, can reverse
bent, canundo habit, and can give to see light in God's light (Psalm 36:9).
III. NONE OF THAT RESENTMENT THAT BORROWS SO MUCH
VITALITY FROM LIVELY MEMORYOF PAST INJURY BELONGS TO
JESUS. Genuinely to forgive is acknowledgedto be one of the highest moral
achievements of human nature. Nevertheless, there are ascending degrees
even to this virtue; and when some men are satisfiedthat they have done their

3. most and their best, all that nature admits of or that God demands, it must be
allowedthat these men are but beginning their higher flight. To forgive the
bitterest opponent in these senses -that you love him again or for the first
time, as the case may be; that you sympathize with him and accepthis
sympathy; work with him and accepthis work and devotion - nay, selecthim
as your chief man, and sethim forth and forward as your champion; - is a
type of forgiveness rarelyreproduced. With sublimity of ease Jesusdoes all
this now. Not Peter, not John, not James, but this wild enemy, Saul, is the man
he called and honored "to bear his Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and
the children of Israel." His sins shall not be remembered againsthim forever.
They are, then, really blotted out. He is not forgiven, but put rather low down;
forgiven, but kept rather down, lesthe should not be fit to be quite trusted;
forgiven, but in deepesttruth left still a marked man. No; if he is marked it is
for honor, for renown, for grace, and for the unfading crown of glory. In sight
of this proof of the perfection of forgiveness thatis with Jesus, we may well
sing-
"Mighty Lord, so high above us,
Loving Brother, all our own,
Who will help us, who will love us,
Like to thee, who all hast known?
Who so gentle to the sinners
As the soul that never fell?
Who so strong to make us winners
Of the height he won so well?"
IV. IN THE CHOICE OF JESUS WE STAND IN THE PRESENCEOF ONE
OF THE ULTIMATE MYSTERIES OF HUMAN EXISTENCE AND
HUMAN RELATION TO GOD. When we ponder this subject, if we side with
the infidel, we ridicule and at the same time we are putting ourselves nowhere.
If we side with the reverent, we are in the depths too deep for this. The
choosing ofJesus is mystery, unfathomable mystery for us.
1. It is mystery because he gives no accountof it nor will be arraignednor
questioned concerning it.
2. It is mystery, because notall our reason, nor all our reverent study of the
oracles, norall our diligent searchof history, nor all our scrutiny of human
will and character, cantrace the law of that choosing. It baffles us in reason
and in fact. Its startling anomalies presentedto our view in closest
juxtaposition, its sudden appearance in the most unexpected place, and its

4. equally conspicuous and impressive absence, speak the mystery of
sovereignty.
3. It is mystery in the wonders which it reveals of surpassing condescension,
grace, and clinging love. While reasonstill stands afar off in cold repulsion
and haughty distance, hearts draw near. And for its lastachievement it works
out this harmony for all those, without one exception, who have become the
objects of it; they adore the free grace that has drawn and brought them; they
condemn in the same breath the perverseness andfolly and guilt in
themselves, which left them so long outside. - B.
Biblical Illustrator
He is a chosenvesselunto Me.
Acts 9:15
A chosenvessel
J. Wells, M. A.I. ITS MATERIAL. All the vessels in your house — the strong
bowls, the fine vases, and the china tea cups — are made of earth, though
some soils suit the potter better than others. And so the whole world is the
GreatPotter's field, and Christ's "chosenvessels" were allat first of the
earth, earthy. The apostle tells us that he was the chief of sinners, and that he
owes allto the grace of God. What hope for all! Splendid vessels are now
made from mere rubbish, broken glass, andold bones, and so the Divine
Potter's art can triumph over the rudeness of the most unpromising materials.
II. ITS MAKER.
1. That beautiful cup is not self-made. The potter took the clay, tempered,
moulded, baked, painted, and fired it, and then put his mark upon it. And
Christians "are His workmanship, createdin Christ Jesus." Ihave known a
boy saying to his minister, "Pleasewillyou convert me too." "I am one of
your converts," a man smelling of whisky once said to RowlandHill. "I can
believe it," replied Mr. Hill, "you look very like my bungling work."

5. 2. In making chosenvessels, the potter attends to the chief parts of the work
himself; for all depends on the skill of the workman. With his own hand he
mixes the materials, and trims the fire.
3. The potter must also have complete powerover the clay, and travellers in
the Eastnotice how thoroughly it is in his hands. Many vessels are made
partly of flint or granite, but these rocks have first been ground into the
softestpowder. And Christ's chosenvesselsare all fashioned in contrite
hearts. Contrite means rubbed togetherand made soft, exactly as stones are
ground into the softestclayin our potteries. And youth is the yielding and
moulding time in life. The world has a strange powerof hardening the soul
into an unbending frame.
III. ITS USE.
1. None of Christ's vessels are for ornament only, they are all "meetfor the
Master's use." A greathouse has some choice vessels,preferredfor their size,
strength, or beauty. Such a vesselwas the apostle. Christ's name was the
waterfor the thirsty and balm for the wounded, and Paul was the vesselin
which that heavenly treasure was carried round and offered to all. But the
humblest vesselhas its use. A poor broken cup may hold the waterthat saves
the life of a dying man, and the humblest Christian may carry Christ's name
to a perishing sinner.
2. The vesselof the heart is already full, and must be emptied ere it can be
filled with this heavenly treasure. The Rev. NarayanSheshadri tells us that as
a young Brahmin he was full of pride and self-righteousness.But as he began
to think for himself he was emptied of one thing after another, till he was left
with nothing in which he could trust. Then the name of Christ filled his soul,
and he longed to bear it to the heathen around him (comp. Philippians 3:4-9).
3. Again, an emptied vesselcannotbe filled unless it be rightly setand open a-
top. It is a Chinese saying that "the light of heaven cannotshine into an
inverted bowl." Let your soul be opened heavenwards widely and hopefully,
and then the abundance of grace will fill and warm your whole being.
IV. ITS BEAUTY.
1. Our makers of vesselsstrive to unite the useful and the beautiful. Our text
may mean that Christ's name was to be carriedon as well as in the vessel, just
as the costlyvases in palaces bear the name and fame of the makerbefore
kings. Bernard Palissyonce saw a white enamelledcup, and resolvedto
discoverthe secretofso beautifying vessels. He spent all his money and
sixteen years of his life in making the discovery. He was often at death's door,
had burnt all his furniture for fuel, and his body was leanand dried up from

6. hard work. At last he made some of the chosenvessels, andthese have borne
his name among nations and kings even to this day. Thus Paul bore his
Creator's name far and wide, and multitudes "glorified God in him."
2. Christ's vessels are notall made in one mould. Every Christian should have
a beauty of his own, and the charm of that beauty lies in its individuality.
Some of the most beautiful of Christ's vesselsare found among day labourers
and cottagers. Manya face deformed by lifelong hardship and disease has
been brightened outwardly from inward joy and goodness. The coarsest
features have often been adorned by the beauty of the soulwithin. Such was
the case ofJoanof Arc, who, the historian says, grew beautiful when the great
idea entered her.
3. You canhardly believe what efforts greatpotters have made to add beauty
to their vessels. A Duke of Florence spentten years in discovering the way to
make porcelain. Louis XIV was so interestedin this work that, greatest
monarch in Europe as he was, he seriouslyproposedbecoming a potter
himself. Many have reachedperfectionin this field, and have ennobled clay as
if by miracle. Their masterpieces have an incorruptible beauty; no liquid can
stain them, no fire can blackenthem, no knife can scratchthem. Yet they are
as smooth to the touch as an infant's flesh. Place a candle behind them and
they resemble a fine face lighted up with the best emotions. If potters have
done so much for clay, shall they not condemn us if we do not earnestly seek to
have the beauty of the Lord our God upon us? If a heathen philosopher
reproacheda rich man with having silver plate and earthenware principles,
should we not reproachourselves that we are so eagerto possesseverysort of
beauty, except the beauty of the soul? When shall the "beauty of holiness"
find as passionate admirers as the beauty of art has in all our cities? Piety is
the finest art under heaven. Many there be who say, "A thing of beauty is a
joy forever," yes, this chosenvesselis a joy forever to its possessorandto all
beholders who know its worth.
4. The secretof making some choice vesselshas been lostbecause it died with
the man who had it; but the secretofspiritual beauty is open to all. God is the
GreatBeautifier, and He will perfectwhat He begins. He will give the
finishing touch to His chosenvessel — perhaps in the sacredfires of affliction
— and, having thus perfected its comeliness, He will place it in His mansions
above.
(J. Wells, M. A.)
Vessels chosen, charged, andused
W. Arnot, D. D.I. A VESSEL.

7. 1. The world is full of the instruments which God employs. Every flower, leaf,
tendril is designedand fitted for carrying on some process in the vegetable
economy.
2. In animals every member of the body is a tool with which Creatorand
creature alike work. The eye, ear, tongue, foothang at hand in the workshop
ready for the worker's use.
3. Eachseparate part of creation, again, is an instrument of God. The internal
fires of the globe are His instruments for heaving up the mountains and
making the valleys. The clouds are vessels carrying waterfrom the oceanto
every portion of the thirsty land. The rivers are waste pipes for carrying back
the soiledwaterthat it may be purified for subsequent use. The sun is an
instrument for lighting and warming a troop of revolving worlds, and the
earth's huge bulk a curtain for screening off the sunlight at statedintervals,
and so affording to wearyworkers a grateful night of rest.
4. Chief of all implements is man — made last, made best for his Author's
service;broken, disfigured, and defiled by sin, but, capable of working
wondrously yet, when redeemed. God has not castawaythe best of all His
instruments because it was marred and polluted. A soul won is the best
instrument for winning souls.
II. A CHOSEN vessel. Godcanemploy the evil as His unconscious
instruments, or make them willing in the day of His power. When He had
chastisedIsraelby the King of Babylon, he broke the rod and threw it away.
In other casesHe turns the king's heart as a river of water, and then accepts
the willing homage of a converted man. It was a polished and capacious vessel
that the Great King wrenchedfrom the graspof the arch-enemy near the gate
of Damascus. He was Christ's chief enemy in the world. God looks downfrom
heaven on this man, not as an adversarywhose assaults are formidable, but as
an instrument which may be turned to another use. Arrested at the crisis of its
course by a hand unseen, it is turned upside down, emptied, and then filled
from heaven's pure treasures, and used to water the world with the Word of
life. Saul of Tarsus, calledto be an apostle, is a conspicuous example of Divine
sovereignty. He did not first choose Christ, but Christ chose him.
III. A vesselUNTO ME. Two things lie in every conversion;the man gets an
Almighty Saviour, and God gets a willing servant. The true instinct of the new
creature burst forth from Paul's breast — "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to
do?" The answer, sentthrough Ananias, indicated what he should be, rather
than what he should do: "He is a chosenvesselunto Me." We geta glimpse
here of the two tendencies, the human and the Divine. I shall do, says the

8. disciple in the ardour of a first love; thou shalt be, answers thatwise and kind
Master, who knows that the spirit is willing, but the flesh weak. I shall bear
the vesselsofthe Lord, volunteers the ransomedsinner; the reply is, Thou
shalt be the vesselof the Lord. It is a greatthing that I should take up
instruments and do a work for Christ in the world, but it is a greaterthat
Christ should work out His purposes with me. This is our security alike for
safetyand usefulness. The star that is in His right hand is held up so that it
cannot fall, and held out so that it shines afar.
IV. A vesselto BEAR MY NAME. Paul was a vesselfirmly put together, and
filled to overflowing, before Jesus met him. At that meeting he was emptied of
his miscellaneousvanities, and filled with the name of Christ. See an account
of the whole process by his own pen (Philippians 3:4-8). Nature abhors a
vacuum; and in nature, whether its material or spiritual department, a
vacuum is never found. Each man is full either of his own things, or of
Christ's. The name of Christ is the precious thing wherewith the vesselis
charged. So full was Paulof this treasure that he determined to know none
other.
V. To bear My name BEFORE GENTILES, AND KINGS, AND THE
PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. This bread of life, like the manna which fell in the
wilderness, is given to be used, not to be hoarded. To be ever getting, ever
giving, is the only way of keeping both the vesseland its treasure sweet.
1. The form of the expressionindicates that in this ministry self-denying
courage is required. Perhaps the series, in this respect, constitutes a climax. It
is easierto speak ofChrist to the Gentiles than to kings, and to kings than to
His own chosenpeople. In our day, too, there are various classeswho need the
testimony of Jesus. Thosewho possessit should be prepared to bear it about
in every place, and hold it forth in any company. If we quail where the
majority profess to be on our side, what would have become of us if our lot
had been castwhen its disciples were obliged to comfort an adverse world?
But perhaps we should not speak of more courage being required to maintain
a goodconfessionin one place, and less in another: for with God it is as easy
to keepthe oceanwithin its bed, as to balance a dewdrop on a blade of grass;
and the same principle rules in the distribution of grace to disciples of Christ.
Without it the strongestis not sufficient for anything, with it the feeblestis
sufficient for all. Our martyr forefathers who were enabled to make good
confessionatthe stake would, if left to themselves, have denied their Lord
under the blandishments of a godless drawing room. Not before Gentiles and
kings, etc., are we summoned to bear witness for Christ; but in a place and
presence where the temptation to deny Him is equally strong. A Christian

9. young man in a greatworkshop, a Christian young lady in a gay and
fashionable family, is either carriedaway like chaff before the wind, or stands
fast by a modern miracle of grace.
2. We are so many vessels labelledon the outside with the name of Christ,
what we are really charged with may not be seenat a distance, or discovered
in a day. Those, however, who stand near these vessels willby degrees find out
what they contain. By its occasionaloverflowings,especiallywhen violently
shaken, the secretwill be revealed. Some are looking on who do not believe
that the Spirit which fills us is the Spirit of Christ; and they lie in wait for
evidence to prove their opinion true. For their own sakesletthem find it false.
3. But an indolent, earthly selfishness, under pretence of humility, cunningly
suggeststhe distinction betweena common ungifted man and the greatapostle
of the Gentiles. He was a worthy witness, but what could we do, although we
did our best? If you are a sinner forgiven through the blood of Christ, in the
greatestthings Paul and you are equal, unequal only in the least. In the
economyof grace a shallowervesselservesnearlyevery purpose as well as a
deeper, if both are full of Christ. In nature the shallowestlake, provided it be
full, sends up as many clouds as the deepest, for the same sunlight beams
equally on both their bosoms. Nay, more; as a lake within the tropics, though
shallow, gives more incense to the sky than a polar oceanof unfathomable
depth, so a Christian of few gifts, whose heart lies open fair and long to the
Sun of Righteousness, is a more effectualwitness than a man of greater
capacitywho lies not so near, and looks not so constantly to Jesus. Conclusion:
In the coarserwork ofbreaking up His own way at first, God freely uses the
powers of nature and the passions ofwickedmen; but for the nicer touches
near the finishing, He employs more sensitive instruments. A work of
righteousness is about to be done upon a jailer at Philippi. Mark the method
of the omniscient Worker. The earthquake rent the outer searing of the
jailer's conscience,and made an open path into his soul. But what an
earthquake could not do, God did by a renewedhuman heart and loving
human lips. From the same chosenvesselthat Ananias had visited at
Damascus, the ointment was poured forth which healed the jailer's wound.
Thus God works today both in individual conversions and in widespread
revivals. Bankruptcies, storms, diseases, wars, are chargedto batter down the
defences, and then living disciples go in by the breach to convert a kingdom or
win a soul.
(W. Arnot, D. D.)
Saul and Luther chosenvessels

10. K. Gerok.I. HOW HE PREPARED THEM.
1. He selectedthe right materials — a Pharisee for the destruction of
Pharisaism, a monk for the overthrow of Popery, yet in both casesthe right
man.
2. He laid hold of them at the right time —
(1)When the enemies of the faith were at their strongest.
(2)When the need of the Church was deepest.
3. He forged them in the right fire. The fire was the flame of repentance
kindled by the Holy Ghost, the hammer was God's Word. By these means was
Paul, as the noblest Damascus blade, forgedat Damascus, and Luther in the
cloistercellat Erfurt.
II. HOW HE USED THEM.
1. To the confusionof His enemies;Paul and Luther both warriors of the
Lord, cutting swords, different from a John and Melancthon.
2. To the protectionof His friends: the faithful pastorate of Paul, the loving
zeal of Luther.
3. To the use of all: not by attaching ourselves to human means and swearing
to human words, but by being directed to Him, whose servants and
instruments Paul and Luther were.
(K. Gerok.)
The characterofSt. Paul
J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.I. He is a VESSEL. The word means either an
"instrument" in the hands of the Divine Agent to carry out His purposes, or a
"vessel"into which the Lord Jesus poured abundantly of His mind and His
love. We are not fountains which give forth. "All our springs are in Thee."
God is an infinite Spring giving inexhaustibly forth; men are empty vessels
receiving everlastingly of His fulness. The difference betweenmen is not in
their power to originate, but in their powerto take in.
II. A vesselUNTO ME, i.e., Paul was now the actualpossessionofChrist.
Heretofore he was in the service of the greatenemy, and was the ablestand
the most dangerous opponent the young Church had yet encountered. But the
vesselwas wrestedfrom the enemy, and henceforthis a vesselseparatedunto
and honoured in the service of Christ.
III. A CHOSEN vessel.

11. 1. A choice vessel;"earthen," it is true; but there is a greatdifference in the
quality of even earthen vessels.Chemicalanalysis, it is said, discovers
considerable difference in the quality of human brains. The brain of the rustic
is coarse andgritty, whereas that of the man of genius is fine, smooth, silky,
and sensitive. Be that as it may, Paul was a vesselmanufactured with the
greatestcare outof the finest materials. He was "separatedunto Godfrom his
mother's womb." God even then thought of the purpose to Which he was to be
devoted, and proceededto fashion him accordingly. The same law runs
through grace as through nature — the perfect adaptationof means to ends.
If God has any specialdesign to accomplish, He always seeksto bring it about
by the most suitable means. Saul would have been a public man if he had
never been an apostle. He would have been an orator if he had never been a
preacher. The raw material of an apostle was wrought into his original make.
2. He was chosenor ordained of God unto the work of the apostleship. "He is
a vesselof electionunto Me." The doctrine of electionhas been wrongly
taught and falsely apprehended. The Scriptural doctrine is that God chooses
man before man chooses God, and the latter is only the faint echo of the
former. The Divine electionshould be viewed in much the same light as the
Divine love. "We love Him because He first loved us." "Ye have not chosen
Me, but I have chosenyou." The fundamental principle of all false religions is
that man chooseshis God.
IV. TO BEAR MY NAME. Paul bore the name of Jesus —
1. In his intellect. His capacious mind had no room for anything else. "Icount
all things but loss for the excellencyof the knowledge," etc. The glorified
Form appearing unto him on the wayto Damascus photographeditselfso
deeply upon his mind that it could never afterwards be effaced. "To me to live
is Christ." Sir David Brewstersays that Sir Isaac Newtononce gazedso
steadfastlyon the sun that for days after, turn which way he would, he
constantly beheld the image of the sun. And Jesus impressedHimself so
deeply in the "greatlight" on the mind of Paul that ever afterwards,
whichever waythe apostle looked, he always perceivedthe reflectionof
Christ.
2. In his heart. Paul may be comparedto an "alabasterboxof precious
ointment" — the box is valuable, but the ointment is more precious. "The
name of Christ is like ointment poured forth." Paul was possessedofmuch
genius. But only when he receivedthe unction from the Holy One did he fill
the world with his perfume. You can quote other ancient authors of
surpassing beauty, but I defy you to quote any where the fragrance is so sweet
and so abundant. Carry the rose about you and you will scatterscent

12. whereveryou go. And Paul's writings are sweetlyscentedwith leaves from the
Rose ofSharon. Christ is an "offering of sweetsmelling savour" to men as
well as to God. A lump of clay has been made fragrant by being thrown into
the midst of a bed of flowers. And although Christians in their original state
are not a whir better than other men, yet by holding fellowship with Him
whose "garments smellof myrrh and aloes and cassia,"they catchthe
fragrance.
3. In his ministry. He "shallbear My name before Gentiles," etc. And in ver.
28 we see him beginning to fulfil the prediction. What then prompted him so
powerfully to bear the name of Christ to perishing millions? To return an
adequate answer, two factors must be taken into consideration. The first was
a vivid, heartfelt conviction of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Where the sense
of sin is weak the sense ofministerial responsibility is shallow. But the second
and more powerful element was his intense love to the Saviour (2 Corinthians
5:11, 14). The terror moved, the love constrained. The mill wheelmay be
turned either by a current of water flowing underneath or else by a stream
falling upon it from above. But of the two the latter is the more efficient. In
Paul the two currents workedtogether — the terror from beneath and the
love from above;and as a consequenceimparted unusual impetuosity and
rapidity to his revolutions.
V. BEFORE GENTILES,AND KINGS, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
The wide scope ofhis ministry required —
1. Certain socialqualifications which the other apostles did not possess. Paul
enjoyed all the privileges and exemptions of a Roman citizen. Born at Tarsus,
he became master of the Greek tongue and sensible to all that was refined in
classic life. A pupil of Gamaliel, he was deeply versedin Scriptural and
rabbinical lore. Thus in him all that was bestin the three dominant types of
civilisation met — the freedom of the Roman, the language of the Greek, and
the theologyof the Jew.
2. Greatintellectual culture. The sphere of his labour embracedall classes and
ranks of men. Moses, the founder of Judaism, was "learnedin all the learning
of Egypt." Paul, too, the foremostapostle of Gentile Christianity, was learned
in all the learning of his own and other nations. We are here introduced to a
grand evangelistic principle — the Saviour ordained the most accomplishedof
the apostles to be His missionary among the heathen. The greatestknowledge
is always the best instructor of ignorance.
3. Much moral courage. Before, literallyin the face of, Gentiles and kings.
Paul would have to encounterinnumerable obstacleswhichonly the greatest

13. courage couldsurmount. And perhaps true courage nevertoweredmore
sublimely than in his life. Conscience waskeenand strong in him, and
scrupulous fidelity to its voice marks his whole career. Indomitable strength
of his will is nowhere seento better advantage than in the presence of
difficulties. The eagle never soars so high as he does on the day of tempest —
the wilder the gale the loftier his flight. Lord Chatham, it is said, made his
crutches add to the grandeur of his oratory; and Paul, dangling his chains in
the face of his judge, made the most impressive perorationin the literature of
eloquence.
(J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.)
COMMENTARIES
EXPOSITORY(ENGLISHBIBLE)
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(15)He if a chosenvesselunto
me.—Literally, a vesselof election. The term has nothing directly analogous to
it in the Old Testament, but it is Hebrew in its form; the secondnoun being
used as a genitive of the characteristic attribute, and so equivalent to an
intensified adjective. So in Isaiah 22:7, we have in the LXX. “valleys of
election” for the “choicestvalleys” ofthe English version. The term “vessel” is
used in the Old Testamentofarms (Genesis 27:3), of garments (Deuteronomy
22:5), of household goods (Genesis31:36-37).In the New Testamentits range
of meaning is yet wider, as in Matthew 12:29;Luke 8:16; John 19:29;Romans
9:22; 2Corinthians 4:7. Here our word “instrument” or “implement” comes,
perhaps, nearestto its meaning. The persecutorhad been chosenby the Lord
as the “tool” with which He would work out His gracious will for him and for
the Gentiles. In this sense it was usedby classicalwriters of useful and trusty
slaves, just as we speak ofone man being the “tool” ofanother. Possibly,
however, the words may be interpreted as containing the germ of the parable
of the potter’s vesselonwhich St. Paul dwells in Romans 9:21-23, and implied
that the convert was not only chosen, but moulded, for his future work. The
word “election,” whichoccurs here for the first time in the New Testament,
and is afterwards so prominent in the teaching of St. Paul (Romans 9:11;
Romans 11:5; Romans 11:7-8; 1Thessalonians1:4), affords yet another
instance of the influence exercisedon the Apostle by the thoughts and
language ofthe instructor through whom alone he could have learnt what is
here recorded.

14. To bear my name before the Gentiles.—The missionof the Apostle was thus
revealedto Ananias in the first instance. He is one who welcomes that
expansion of the kingdom on which even the chief of the Apostles would have
entered, but for the voice from heaven, with doubt and hesitation(Acts 10:13;
Acts 10:28). He is taught to see in the man of whom he had only heard as the
persecutor, one who had been trained and chosenas fitter than all others for
the work of that expansion.
And kings.—The words find their fulfilment in the speechbefore Agrippa
(Acts 26:12); possibly in one before Nero (2Timothy 1:16).
BensonCommentaryHYPERLINK "/context/acts/9-15.htm"Acts 9:15-16. But
the Lord said, Go thy way — Do not tell me how bad he has been; I know it
well; but go with all speed, and execute that messageofmercy with which I
have chargedthee; for — How greatand aggravatedsoeverhis former
transgressions may have been, I assure thee he is a chosenvessel — Or
instrument; unto me, to bear my name — That is, to testify of me, and bear
witness of my truth; before the Gentiles — Ενωπιον εθνων, before nations,
namely, heathen nations; and kings — King Agrippa and Cesarhimself; and
the children of Israel — To thousands of whom, as well in the Gentile
countries as in Judea, he shall testify the gospelof my grace. Beza justly
observes, that an instrument of building, agriculture, &c., is often, in Greek,
calledοκευος, here rendered vessel, because in him the gospeltreasure was to
be lodged, in order to the conveyance ofit to many; and a chosenvessel,
because he was destined for eminent services,for which, doubtless, some
persons are chosenand setapart from their mother’s womb, as Paul says he
was, Galatians 1:15. ForI will show him how greatthings he must suffer —
He that hath been a persecutor, shall be himself persecuted. Christ’s saying he
would show him this, was intended to signify his giving him notice of these
sufferings beforehand, that they might be no surprise to him. Observe, reader,
those that bear Christ’s name must expect to bear the cross forhis name; and
those that do most for Christ are often called to suffer most for him. Saul, that
was designedfor eminent services, was also designedforeminent sufferings.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary9:10-22 A goodwork 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 abandonedsinner. 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 blessings of free salvation! Now he began to pray after another manner

15. than he had done; before, he said his prayers, now, he prayed them.
Regenerating gracesets people onpraying; you may as well find a living man
without breath, as a living Christian without prayer. Yet even eminent
disciples, like Ananias, sometimes staggeratthe commands of the Lord. But it
is the Lord's glory to surpass our scanty expectations, andshow that those are
vessels ofhis mercy whom we are apt to consideras objects of his vengeance.
The teaching of the Holy Spirit takes awaythe scales ofignorance and pride
from the understanding; then the sinner becomes a new creature, and
endeavours to recommend the anointed Saviour, the Son of God, to his former
companions.
Barnes'Notes on the BibleGo thy way - This is often the only answerthat we
obtain to the suggestionofour doubts and hesitations about duty. God tells us
still to do what he requires, with an assurance onlythat his commands are
just, and that there are goodreasons forthem.
A chosenvessel - The usual meaning of the word "vessel" is wellknown. It
commonly denotes a "cup or basin," such as is used in a house. It then denotes
"any instrument which may be used to accomplisha 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 favors to mankind, and is thus employed to represent
the ministers of the gospel, 2 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:4. Compare
Isaiah10:5-7. Paul is called"chosen" because Christhad "selected" him, as
he did his other apostles, forthis service. See the notes on John 15:16.
To bear my name - To communicate the knowledge ofme.
Before the Gentiles - The nations; all who were not Jews. This was the
principal employment of Paul. He spent his life in this, and regardedhimself
as especiallycalledto be the apostle of the Gentiles, Romans 11:13;Romans
15:16;Galatians 2:8.
And kings - This was fulfilled, Acts 25:23, etc.; Acts 26:32;Acts 27:24.
And the children of Israel - The Jews. This was done. He immediately began
to preach to them, Acts 9:20-22. Whereverhe went, he preached the gospel
first to them, and then to the Gentiles, Acts 13:46;Acts 28:17.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary15. Go thy way—Do as thou art
bidden, without gainsaying.
he is a chosenvessel—a wordoften used by Paul in illustrating God's
sovereigntyin election(Ro 9:21-23;2Co 4:7; 2Ti 2:20, 21 [Alford]. Compare
Zec 3:2).

16. Matthew Poole's CommentaryHe is a chosenvessel:the whole world is God’s
fabric, and the church especiallyis his house: not only in the whole world, but
in the visible church, there are all sorts of utensils, some for higher, others for
meaner uses;Saul was to be a vesselunto honour, Romans 9:21, into which
the treasures ofGod’s word were to be put, 2 Corinthians 4:7, though he was
but an earthen vessel:Such was indeed chosenby God to preach the gospel,
Galatians 1:15,16, to suffer for Christ’s name’s sake, 1 Thessalonians 3:3.
To bear my name before the Gentiles: this mystery of the calling of the
Gentiles begannow to spreadabroad, and to be made more known, which was
hid in those promises, Isaiah49:6 Jeremiah 1:10.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBut the Lord said unto him, go thy way,....
The Syriac version reads, "arise, go thy way"; make no delay, nor any excuse,
there is no reasonfor it; nothing is to be fearedfrom him:
for he is a chosenvesselunto me; a choice and excellentone, full of the
heavenly treasure of the Gospel, full of the gifts and gracesofthe Spirit, and
so very fit and richly qualified for the use and service of Christ; and was , "a
vesselof desire", ora desirable one, as the Jews speak(n): or he was, to
render the words literally, "a vesselofelection";both an instrument
gathering in the election, or the electof God, through the preaching of the
Gospel;and was himself chosenof God, both to grace and glory, a vesselof
mercy, and of honour prepared for glory; and was separated, predestinated,
and appointed to the Gospelof 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 declarationof his person,
perfections, glories, and excellencies,ofhis 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 calleda "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 cleanthat bear the vessels ofthe Lord",
Isaiah52:11. Upon which Aben Ezra has this note,
"they are the Israelites, , "that bear the law";''
but Saul was a chosenvesselto bear the Gospel;or to the sowerof seed, Psalm
126:6 "before the Gentiles", ornations of the world; and he was an apostle,
and teacherof the Gentiles in faith and verity; the Gospelofthe
uncircumcision was particularly committed to him: and before "kings", as he

17. did before Agrippa, king of the Jews, andbefore Nero, emperorof Rome;and
his bonds for the Gospel, and so the Gospelthrough his bonds became
manifest in all the palace, or court of Caesar. And before
the children of Israel;the Jews, to whom he first preachedit; but when they
put it awayhe turned to the Gentiles, and afterwards, before the Jews, he bore
a testimony for it.
(n) T. Bab. Megilla, fol. 6. 1.
Geneva Study BibleBut the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a {g}
chosenvesselunto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and
the children of Israel:
(g) To bear my name in.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Expositor's Greek TestamentHYPERLINK"/acts/9-15.htm"Acts 9:15. σκεῦος
ἐκλογῆς, cf. St. Paul’s own language in Galatians 1:15, genitive of quality;
common Hebraistic mode of expression(cf. Acts 8:23) = ἐκλεκτόν, see Blass,
Gram., p. 96; cf. Luke 16:8; Luke 18:6, etc. For σκεῦος similarly used see
Jeremiah22:28, Hosea 8:8, and Schöttgen, Horæ Hebraicæ, in loco;and in
N.T. Romans 9:22-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:4. Grimm and Blass both compare
σκ. de homine in Polyb., xiii., 5, 7; xv., 25, 1. Vas electionis:the words are
written over what is said to be St. Paul’s tomb in the church dedicated to him
near the city of Rome.—τοῦ βαστάσαι,genitive of purpose; verb as used here
continues the metaphor of σκεῦος;may mean simply to bear, to carry, or it
may denote to bear as a burden; cf. 2 Kings 18:14, Sir 6:25; cf. Luke 14:27,
Acts 15:10, Romans 15:1, etc.—ἐθνῶνκαὶ βασιλέων—ἐθν., placedfirst
because Saul’s specialmissionis thus indicated.—βασιλ., cf. Acts 26:12, 2
Timothy 1:16; also before the governors of Cyprus, Achaia, Judæa.—υἱῶντε
Ἰ., see criticalnotes above, againthe closelyconnecting τε, all three nouns
being comprehended under the one article τῶν—the Apostle’s work was to
include, not to exclude, his brethren according to the flesh, whilst mission to
the Gentiles is always emphasised;cf. Acts 22:15; Acts 22:21, Acts 26:17;cf.
Romans 1:13-14.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges15. he is a chosenvesselunto me]
Literally, “a vesselof election.” This is a Hebrew form of expression, cp.
Jeremiah22:28, where King Coniah is called“a vesselwherein is no
pleasure.” So Jeremiah51:34, “He hath made me [to be] an empty vessel,”
literally, “vesselofemptiness.”
to bear my name] i.e. this shall be the load or duty which I will lay upon this

18. my choseninstrument.
before the Gentiles]This was doubtless a revelation to Ananias, who as a
devout Jew would not yet have contemplated the inclusion of the whole world
in the Church of Christ. The Gentiles are placedfirst in the enumeration,
because among them speciallywas Saul’s field of labour to be. For the wide
spirit in which the Apostle embraced his commission, see Romans 1:13-14, &c.
and kings]As before Agrippa (Acts 26:1; Acts 26:32) and at Rome, in
consequence ofthe appeal to be heard before Cæsar.
Bengel's GnomenHYPERLINK"/acts/9-15.htm"Acts 9:15. Ἐκλογῆς—παθεῖν,
a vesselof election[a chosenvessel]—suffer)These words are connected. The
mention of electiondispels every doubt of Ananias. The προορισμὸς, fore-
ordination or predestination (Romans 8:29, “Whom He did foreknow, He also
did predestinate;” with which comp. Acts 9:28), converts things unfavourable
unto things favourable.—τοῦ βαστάσαι, thathe may bear) An arduous,
splendid, and blessedoffice.—τὸὄνομά μου, Myname) To this refer, for My
name’s sake, Acts 9:16.—ἐνώπιον, before)in public.—ἐθνῶν, Gentiles) The
Gentiles are put first; for Paul was an apostle of the Gentiles. Paul bore the
name of Christ before the people in narrating his own conversion, ch. 22, and
before the Gentiles and kings, ch. 26.
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 15. - A chosenvessel(comp. Galatians 2:15;
Romans 9:21, 22). To bear my name before the Gentiles (see Acts 22:21;Acts
26:17, 18;Romans 15:16;Galatians 2:7-9, etc.) and kings (Acts 25;Acts 26; 2
Timothy 4:16, 17, with reference to Nero), and the children of Israel. The
Gentiles are named before the children of Israel, because St. Paul's specialcall
was to be the apostle of the Gentiles. But we know that even St. Paul's practice
was to preach Christ to the Jews first, in every city where there were Jews.
Vincent's Word StudiesChosenvessel (σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς)
Lit., an instrument of choice. On vessel, see on Matthew 12:29; and on the
figure, compare 2 Corinthians 4:7.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES

19. An Encouraging Lesson From Paul’s
Conversion BY SPURGEON
“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how
much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem:and here he has
authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Your name. But
the Lord said unto him, Go your way: for he is a chosenvesselunto Me,
to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Israel: for I will show him how greatthings he must suffer for My
name’s sake.”
Acts 9:13-16
THE conversionof Saul of Tarsus was one of the most remarkable facts in
Christian history. Perhaps there has never happened an event of equal
importance since the days of Pentecost. It was important as a testimony to the
powerand Truth of the Gospel. When such a man, so violently opposed, so
intelligent and well-instructed, could be convertedto the faith of the Nazarene
by the appearance ofthe Lord from Heaven, it was a testimony alike to the
fact of our Lord’s Resurrection, and to the powerof His Word.
Paul also occupieda high place among the defenders of the faith when the
Gospelhad to struggle for a footing againstJudaism and philosophy. Being
well-versedin the Scriptures of the Old Testamentand in the traditions of the
Jews, andpossessinggreatargumentative powers, he became a leading
apologistfor the faith. In the synagoguesand the schools he overthrew those
who opposedthe doctrines of Jesus. In addition to this, the conversionof the
Apostle Paul gave a greatimpetus to the missionary spirit of the Christian
Church. Here he shone preeminently.
Into what lands did he not carry the Gospel? Ordainedto be the Apostle of
the uncircumcision, he proclaimed in the utmost ends of the earth the name of
Jesus Christ. The Apostle, moreover, as a writer takes the highest place in the
Christian canon. It pleasedGodto selectthis most remarkable man to be the
medium of Inspiration by whose writings we should receive the most thorough
and complete exhibition of the Gospelof the Grace ofGod. Turn to the New
Testamentand see with astonishmenthow large a space is occupiedby the
letters of one first called Saul of Tarsus, but afterwards Paul, the servant of
Jesus Christ.

20. It is a matter of fact that Paul not only directed the energyof the Christian
Church of his own day, but he shaped its mode of action. In addition he so
toned the thought of the Christian world that to this moment I suppose he
exercises,under God, a greaterinfluence over the theologyof Christendom
than any other man. We claim him as the greatApostle of the Doctrines of
Grace. Heading a line of teachers, among whom Augustine and Calvin stand
conspicuous, he remains unrivalled as “a wise master-builder.” Even the
things hard to be understood which he was not afraid to grapple with have
continued to have their effectupon Christian theology.
The Pauline mark will never be erasedfrom the page of Church history. That,
however, is not my business this morning. I would rather remind you that the
conversionof the Apostle Paul was, in itself, instructive. It was not only
operative upon the Church, but as a narrative it is instructive to us. We are
not to look upon it as a strange phenomenon to be only gazedupon, and
wondered at–itis a lessonbook for all time. It contains a world of teaching
within it, and principally teaching upon this point–the fact of the Divine
interposition in the Church of God.
God has been pleasedby the foolishness ofpreaching to save them that
believe. This is the era of instrumentality–Christ bids His disciples go into all
the world and preachthe Gospelto every creature. And it is by the
communication of one earnestheart to another that men are usually
converted. Such, however, was not the wayby which Paul was converted. He
was calledinto the Church by an interposition of the living Christ out of
Heaven, speaking directly to his soul. And we doubt not that the same Jesus
has still His own ways of reaching human hearts when human instrumentality
is not available.
Paul’s conversionis a type, or as our version reads it, a pattern, and it is
natural to believe that the pattern has been copied. I shall look upon his
conversionas being typical of some others that have occurred, and that will
occurtill the last hour of the Christian dispensation. Certain men will be
brought to God not by manifest instrumentality, but more secretmeans. The
Church has reasonto believe that while she industriously uses all the power
committed to her, there will be interpositions of a power far higher than her
own which will work for her greatsuccessesand bring to her greatadditions
of strength.
While Barak fights below, the stars in Heaven shall also fight againstSisera.
That is the point I want to speak upon, this morning, for the glory of God, and
the encouragement of any desponding spirits among us.

21. 1. Our first thought shall be, this morning, THERE ARE OTHER
PRODUCTIVE FORCESAT WORK FOR THE CHURCH BESIDES
HER TEACHING. Her teaching is her main source of growth. She is to
look to the instruction that she can give through her members, and her
ministers, for the birth of most of her sons and daughters. But she is
also to remember that there are other forces at work over and above
these appointed agencies. The mountain is full of horses offire and
chariots of fire round about the Gospel.
And, first, let me remind you of what may be expectedfrom the work of the
Holy Spirit in the Church of Christ. All the success ofthe Church comes
through Him. That blessedPersonofthe Divine Trinity in Unity is pleasedto
give powerto the Truth of God whereby it operates upon the hearts and
consciencesofmen. It is not to that point, however, that I draw your attention.
I would ask you a question: Have we not reasonto expect that the Holy Spirit
will occasionallydisplay His power, by working apart from the ordinary
agenciesofthe Church?
It is certain that the Holy Spirit canact directly upon the minds of men apart
from human agency, for He has often done so in past ages. He can, if it so
pleases Him, melt the stubborn heart, subdue the obdurate will, and purify
the depraved affections. And though I believe He never works apart from the
Truth and the things of Christ, yet He cando all this while acting altogether
apart from any human teaching. There have been many cases ofthe kind. We
have heard of persons at their labor who have not been accustomedto attend
the house of God, nor of reading religious books–andyet in the middle of their
work they have been filled with penitent and devout thoughts–andhave
suddenly commencedan altogethernew life.
We have knowncases ofpersons not engagedin lawful pursuits, but intending
to perpetrate vice, who have, nevertheless, found the powerof God to be
greaterover them than the power of their corrupt affections. Theyhave been
struck with certain reflections which they had never recognizedbefore, have
paused, and have been led to turn altogetherin another direction. They have,
in fact, become believers in Christ and men of holy and ardent lives.
Why should not the Holy Spirit do so still? If He pleases to employ us, it is to
His honor to work by such poor instruments, but if He shall please
occasionallyto do without us, it is also to His honor, and I may add it is
equally to our satisfaction. Forwe delight that He should display His power.
We have reasonto expect that He will so work sometimes, and this is one of
the forces whichmay work apart from instrumentality.

22. Think again, my Brethren, of the intercessionofour Lord and SaviorJesus
Christ. Mostpotent in Heaven is the plea of Him who here on earth offered
Atonement for the sins of His people. ForZion’s sake He does not hold His
peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake He does not rest. Nor will He till His Glory
shall fill all the earth, and His electbride shall share there. Now our Lord
Jesus Christ not only prays for those whom we pray for, but He prays for
those we never thought of praying for.
There are some whom He mentions before the Eternal Throne whom we have
never mentioned. They have never yet been observedby any interceding
Christian, whose caseshave never impressed a single godly heart. Yet Jesus
knows them–and He does cry to God for them, and shall there not come to
them Grace in due season? Yes, my Brethren, I rejoice in this, that where
through ignorance or through the narrowness of my charity, my prayer has
never stretched itself, the prayer of the greatHigh Priest who wears the Urim
and Thummim canyet reach, and the salvationof Godshall come to such.
I doubt not Jesus might wellhave said to Paul, “I have prayed for you, and
therefore you shall be Mine,” and in many other cases the same is true. The
intercessionofour Lord is a mighty power, and as it wins gifts for men, yes,
for the rebellious also, Apostles, and preachers, and teachers, are calledforth
by Divine Grace. Notour colleges,our councils, our societies, orour
conferences, but the intercessionofJesus is the mainstay of our strength–the
secretcause ofthe calling of men into the mystery of the Gospel.
Think, too, of another force, the result of which is not altogetherexpended in
connectionwith manifest instrumentality. I mean the daily and incessant
intercessionofthe faithful in all places. Of course, this intercessionbrings
successto instrumentality, the work of the Church would be nothing without
it–true prayer is true power. But there are prayers, I doubt not, which go up
to Heaven but are not offered in connectionwith any particular agency, and
are not answeredthrough any manifest instrumentality.
There are groanings which cannot be uttered for the generalcause, forthe
regenerationof the elect, for the Glory of the Redeemerin which we appeal
directly to God, and look for Him to rend the heavens and arise in His might–
such prayers most probably have a reply after their own likeness. The prayers
of the Church come down in a greatmeasure, as I have said, upon
instrumentality, but they also drop, I doubt not, on solitary and uncultivated
places. The prayers of God’s Church are like the clouds which ascendfrom
the sea, as the sun shines on the waves–theyfallon the fields which have been
sownby man, but they also drop upon the pastures of the wilderness–andthe
little hills rejoice on every side.

23. Who shall say that Saul’s conversionwas not traceable to the prayer of
Stephen, when, as he expired, he said, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”?
Yet there was no distinct connectionbetweenthe two such as could be defined
and described. Who shall say that the gatherings in Jerusalemfor earnest
prayer may not have had about them power with God for the conversionof
the persecutors, the dread of whom may have made them more earnestin
supplication? Yet we do not see the same connecting link as betweenthe
famous PrayerMeeting in the house of John Mark’s mother, and the escape
of Peterfrom prison.
Pray on, BelovedBrethren, for though there should seemto be no connection
betweenyour prayers and the salvation of the sons of men, yet this shall be
one of the forces in operation which shall not spend itself in vain. God will be
pleased, in answerto humble and unknown pleaders, to bring out His own
hidden ones.
Then remember there is another impalpable, but very potent force–the aroma
of the Truth of God in the world. The Truth is mainly spread by plain earnest
statements of it, but there is also a savor in Truth, an inherent perfume,
whereby even in our silence it spreads itself. Paul declaredthat where he had
preachedthe Gospelhe was a sweetsavorofGod, both in them that were
savedand in them that perished. The Gospelis like myrrh, and cassia, and
aloes. It will make itself felt evenwhere it is not soughtafter. Place some
Oriental perfume in a room and all the air will be loadedwith its sweetness.
Where the Gospelof Jesus Christ comes, it impregnates the social
atmosphere, it permeates society, it has an effectfar beyond its local
habitation. I do not doubt that many men who have not yet bowedbefore the
Deity of Christ have unconsciouslylearned much from Him, and what they
perhaps think to be their own is but a blessedplagiarismfrom the Jesus of
Nazareth. Even the philosophies of men have been all the more sober, and the
laws of men all the gentler, because of the existence of the Gospel.
Men cannot live in the midst of Christians, and yet altogethershut out the
influence of Christianity. There is a lavender field over yonder, and though a
man may hate the smell of it, and block up his windows and keephis doors
closed, somehow orother, he may count on it, when the wind blows in the
right direction, the perfume will reach him. And so it is here–ifa man will not
listen to the preaching of the Gospel, if he constantly neglects attendance upon
the means of Grace–yetforall that, the kingdom of Heaven has come near to
him. And in some form or other the angelof mercy will frequently cross his
path.

24. May we not hope for results from these influences? May not these things be
the thin end of the wedge which shall be driven home by Divine force until the
sinner is divided from his sins? I feel sure it is so in cases numberless. Forwe
may say of the Gospelas David did of the sun, “His going forth is from the
end of the Heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid
from the heat thereof.”
Further, remember there is at work in the world, whereverthere are
Believers, the influence of Christian life and of Christian death. Christian life
wields a mighty power. Wherever the Christian acts up to his profession, and
the Grace within him shines forth in holiness, those who observe him take
knowledge ofhim that he has been with Jesus. And as example speaks more
loudly than precept, we may look for very marked results. The eloquence of
Christian holiness is more potent for conversionthan all the speaking of
Christian orators–maywe not therefore hope for converts by it?
So, too, there are secretforces in every real Christian’s death. When the
ungodly man stands at the bedside and sees a Christian die singing in holy
triumph, there may not be a word addressedto him–the dying Christian may
be so absorbedin Heaven that he may scarcelyhave a thought of the sinner
who is looking on–but that happy death will be a potent agencyto arouse, to
attract, to win the heart for Christ Jesus. Besidesthat, my Brethren, we ought
never to forget that all the work of God in Providence is on the side of those
who fight for the Gospelof Jesus.
I might truly say of the Church that the stones of the field are in league with
her, and the beasts ofthe field are at peace with her, for all things work her
good. Sickness, whenit stalks through the land, is a powerful preacherto the
unthinking masses. We have seenmen impressed, in years of cholera, who
despisedreligion before. We have marked them listening to us with attention
when a disease has humbled them. When death has come into the house, and
the dear babe has died, it has frequently happened that ears were opened
which never heard the Gospelbefore. And hearts were impressedthat were
hard as iron until the fire of affliction melted them.
I believe Deathhimself to be an able ally of a faithful minister. The funerals
which break men’s hearts with natural sorrow are often overruled for the
breaking of their hearts in a spiritual sense, also, so that oftentimes there are
brought to Jesus, by the death of belovedones, men who, to all human
appearance, wouldotherwise have been lost. Have courage, youthat fight for
Christ–diseaseand death itself shall be overruled to help you. Physical
calamities and catastrophes shallsubdue the rebellious spirits of men, and
you, then, stepping in with consolation, shallfind a welcome forthe Gospel.

25. As God sent the hornet before his conquering Israel to overthrow the
Canaanites, so does He send Providences to work together, for our help, that
the Truth may prevail. Providence, like the angelat the sepulcher, rolls away
the stone for us. It makes straight in the deserta highway for God. It is the
Elijah which clears the way for the coming Savior.
In addition to this, I must not fail to remind you that every man has a
conscience. And though conscienceis sadly impaired, it still leans to the right
side. Conscience is not perfect, though some assertit to be so. In common with
all the faculties of man it was disarrangedby the Fall, and conscienceis
therefore no infallible judge of right and wrong. Still, for all that, half-blinded
as it is, it yet knows which is light and which is darkness. And though it puts
bitter for sweet, andsweetfor bitter, still in the violence which it puts upon
itself, it reveals an inner sense as yet undestroyed.
Still is it a fact that even those who have not the Law, “are a Law unto
themselves:which show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their
consciencealso bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or
else excusing one another.” The right awakens stillan echo in man’s bosom.
The pure, the good, the true still may count on recognitionfrom the
glimmering moral sense within. To the preacherthis is a fact full of hope, and
he ought not to forgetit.
See then, that over and above our work which ought to be constant, incessant,
intense, we have the Holy Spirit at work. We have Christ pleading. We have
the whole company of the faithful sending up their perpetual intercessions.
We have the blessedsavorof the Truth of God spreading itself abroad. We
have the evidence and power of holy living and triumphant dying. We have
the wheels ofProvidence revolving, and the consciencesofmen made to yield
an acquiescenceto the Truth of God. I have thus very hurriedly run over a
very extensive range of consideration.
II. Secondly, reflect, my Brethren, that FROM THESE SOURCES WE MAY
EXPECT REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS. We expectto see the major part
of conversionthrough the daily instruction given to the children of Christian
people, through the constantpreaching of the Gospel, the distribution of
religious literature, and the direct efforts of the followers of Christ. But over
and above all this, we have a right to expectremarkable conversions from the
less manifest sources ofwhich I have spoken.
As in the case ofSaul, these conversions will bring to us persons formerly
violently opposedto the Truth through prejudice. In Paul we see a man
opposedto Christ not because he was opposedto the Truth of God, but

26. because he thought that Jesus was not the Messiah. He worshipped God, the
God of his fathers, with a fervent heart–andbecause he conceivedthat Jesus
of Nazareth claimedto be what He was not–he hunted down His disciples to
the death.
Once convinced that he was wrong, he followedthe right at once. And we may
hope that interpositions will occur in which the Holy Spirit will enlighten the
darkness of men who are honestin their darkness, andthat they, seeing the
light, will embrace the Gospeland bow before our King. Be that a subjectof
your prayers. I doubt not there are to be found, this day, devoted to an evil
cause, men who nevertheless wouldnot willfully choose whatthey knew to be
error. They are devotedto it because in their ignorance they sincerely believe
it to be true.
Many a heretic has died for his heresy, believing it to be the very Truth of
God. Our prayers should be that these men who would do right if they but
knew it, may receive the blessedhelp of Him who is the light of the world, and
may be brought to see in His light the true light. In such cases Ishould hope
for their enlightenment. They are seeking goodlypearls, and I trust they will
find the Pearl of GreatPrice. He who has made them honest and goodground
will, we trust, sow them with goodseed.
We may expect, too, from these sources, the conversionof persons who have
been doing much mischief to the good cause, andwho are resolvedto do still
more. Does notAnanias put it so? “He has done great evil to the Church at
Jerusalem, and here he has authority to bind all who call on Your name.” Yes,
but do not despairof a man because he is industriously opposed. Do not
despair of him even because he is furious. Anything is better than to slumber
in indifference. Provoke a man by the Gospeltill he gnashes his teeth at you
and he is none the less likely to be converted.
Preachto him till he says, “He plays well upon a goodly instrument, he makes
sweetsounds to charm my ears,” and you will probably lull him into
everlasting destruction. I love to see men rather arousedto oppose, than made
to acquiesce, because theycare not whether the Gospelis true or false. We
may expectthe Lord to arrest the chief ones among His enemies, for it will
glorify Him.
These sourceswill probably produce converts from among those who are
beyond the reach of ordinary ministries. We sometimes regretthat the voice
of a thoroughly faithful ministry is seldom heard in the courts of kings, and
that there is little hope of the Gospel’s reaching the greatones of the earth.
No, but for all that, the Lord can reachthose whom we cannot reach. He can

27. in life or in the dying hour come to the hearts of men whose ears were never
reachedby any testifier to the Truth, and He can bring them yet to His feet.
He is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Paul would not have heard a preacher of Christ. He would have hurried him
to prison, but never have listened to him. There was no likelihood of Saul’s
conversionby ordinary means. He would not stop to examine any documents
had they been offeredto him. Apologists for Christ he would have rejected
with scorn–but the Lord has a way where we have none–andHe calls whom
He will by His own Sovereignpower.
We may expectpersons who shall be converted by these causes to become very
earnest. A man who feels that God has had singular mercy upon him feels that
being much loved, and having had much forgiven, he must render much
service. If I have been brought to Christ in the Sunday school, orafter
habitual listening to the Truth, I am a greatdebtor to the mercy of God. But
the probabilities are that I shall not be so much impressedwith my
indebtedness as I ought to be. But if I have been quite out of the way, as it
were, in the wilderness ofsin, and yet the voice of the Lord that breaks the
cedars of Lebanon has sounded in my ears–thenI shall glorify that voice–and
glorifying it consecrate myselfto the Godwho uttered it.
Such men, too, become profoundly evangelical. Itrace Paul’s exceeding
evangelismto the factthat he was so remarkably converted. He could not be
content with the surface of Truth–he dived into the depths of Grace and
Sovereignty. He saw in himself the boundless power, the infinite mercy, the
absolute Sovereigntyof God. And therefore he bare witness more clearly than
any other to these Divine attributes. He spoke of election, and predestination,
and the deep things of God. Who but he could have written the ninth of
Romans, or the Epistle to the Galatians?
Courage, then, my Brothers and Sisters–the noble minds will yet be engaged
in the service of our Master. They tell us that the power of Popery spreads in
the land, that everywhere men are going back to the old falsehoods from
which they once were delivered. We are told that we are to be ground down
againbeneath the iron wheels ofsuperstition. And on the other hand, we hear
that infidelity and skepticismspreadthemselves like a plague over the land.
Be not afraid. God will convert the priests and convince the infidel
demagogue. Youneed not fear. The leaders on the enemy’s side shall yet be
champions in our Master’s army.
Reckonnotyour feeble bands. Count not the timid soldiers already enlisted.
Say not, “How few we are and how weak!” You know not where the Lord’s

28. hidden warriors are, nor what chief among the mighties He has concealed.
They are not merely hidden among the stuff of worldliness, but they are there,
in open hostility to His Cross and Crown–the mightiest warriors against
Christ. Some of these shall, through conquering Grace, become the servants of
God. Canyou not believe it? Have you no faith in Jesus Christ? Believing it,
will you not pray for it? Praying for it, will you not expect it? All things are
possible to him that believes. Above all, everything is possible to the might of
the eternalGod and His ever-blessedSpirit. We must say no more on that, but
pass on to a third reflection.
III. THIS OCCASIONAL SINKING OF INSTRUMENTALITYANSWERS
ADMIRABLE ENDS. It might be thought to be a dangerous thing that
sometimes God should work in Grace apartfrom man. I mean dangerous to
the industry of the Church, for some are always ready enough to clutch at
excuses forleaving God’s work alone. And there are always certainindolent
spirits who would gladly say, “Let Goddo His own work, it can be
accomplishedwithout us, we therefore may be excused.”
These men know better. They know the falsehoodoftheir talk. It were not
worth the Master’s while to confute them, their own hearts condemn them.
There are admirable reasons forthe Lord’s sole working–for, first, these
interpositions disclose the Presence ofthe living Christ. We, too, often forget
the Personofthe Lord Jesus Christ, and yet the power of the Church lies in
Christ. He is the Wisdom of God, and the PowerofGod. Some may remember
Jesus, but not in His present PersonalCharacter.
In the Roman Catholic Church its powerover devout minds lies in no small
degree in the fact that the Personof Christ is much spokenof, loved, and
reverenced. But mark well that you seldom see the Christ of the Romish
Church in any but two attitudes. As a rule, either He is a babe in His mother’s
arms, or else He is dead–scarcelyeveris He setforth by them as the living
King, Head, and Lord. In both of those first aspects letHim be reverenced, let
the incarnate God and the dying Saviorhave your hearts. But there is another
fact to be borne in mind, and that is that He ever lives! That Church which,
not forgetting His birth, nor His sacrifice, yetmost clearly recognizes thatHe
still lives, is the Church that shall win the day.
We must have a living Head to the Church, we cannot do without one. Men
will assuredlyinvent a living head on their own account, if they overlook the
living Christ. They will find some priest or other whom they would gladly gird
with the attributes of Deity, and setup as the Vicar of Christ. But we have a
living Christ, and when He is pleasedto appear to any man by His Spirit–I
speak not of miraculous appearances,but of other direct operations of His

29. Spirit upon the spirits of men–when He reveals Himself apart from
instrumentality to man, then the Church discovers yet, again, that He is in her
midst fulfilling His promise–“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
world.” Still the Lord Jesus walks among the goldencandlesticks andexerts a
living force in the hearts and consciences ofmen–and He would have us
remember this.
Further, dear Friends, these interpositions tend to remind the Church of the
supernatural agencyof the Holy Spirit. The tendency nowadays is to expunge
the supernatural, to bring everything down to the rule of reason, and the
denial of faith. But for all that, there is a Holy Spirit. Restassuredthat that
doctrine of the creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” is a matter of reality. I am
as certain that there is a Holy Spirit as that I live, for unto my spirit He has
spoken, and I have come into contactwith Him. I know that there are men’s
minds, for those minds have affectedme. I know also that there is an Eternal
Spirit, for He has affectedmy spirit, and I speak concerning Him what I
know, and testify what I have seen. In proportion as that Truth is made clear
to the Church by her personalexperience, by the Spirit’s moving where He
wishes, and working Divine wonders, the Church will be girt with powerfrom
on High.
This, too, tends to unveil many of the Divine attributes. Men so remarkably
convertedare sure to display the Sovereigntyof God. “I will have mercy on
whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassiononwhom I will have
compassion,”is an utterance which rolls like thunder over the head of Paul
when he sinks amidst the blaze of the light from Heaven. God is saving whom
He wills, for He stops the persecutorin the fury of his rage. There, too, was
seenGod’s power.
There might have been heard as a thunderclap from Heaven, “Powerbelongs
unto God,” when down fell Saul, wounded beneath the arrows of the Prince of
Peace.There, too, was seenDivine Grace. Paul lookedupon himself as the
fairestpattern of God’s longsuffering, obtaining mercy, though he had
persecutedthe Church of God. The very chief of sinners, and yet made not a
whit behind the chief of the Apostles.
And so these remarkable conversions aid very much the faith of the Church.
When she is beginning to droop and to sink, when holy men fancy that at
least, for awhile, the cause must wither, and even the bravest spirits wait
rather than press forward–thenit is that these remarkable conversions come
in and inspirit the whole band–and they take courage and march to the
victory with willing footsteps!

30. And this also startles and impresses the world. What does the world know of
the conversionof those who have satin these pews eversince they were
children? What does the world care about the faith of those who, happily for
themselves, were led to Jesus from their youth? But let some gross blasphemer
weepthe tearof penitence. Let some bold persecutorpreachthe faith which
once he sought to destroy, and the whole city hears of it! The land is
astonishedand in proportion God is glorified, and the powerof His Grace is
manifested.
Thus, you see, there are good reasons forthe Lord thus working. He may do
as He wills. He will have us see that He does not need us. He may, if He
pleases, use us. It is His rule to do so, and we are to work knowing that to be
the rule. But we must adore, and admire, and bless Him that sometimes,
putting us aside, He puts His own bare arm to the work. Thus His glorious
right arm is exalted, for the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
IV. We shall now come to our fourth point, and draw towards a close. ALL
THIS BY NO MEANS LOWERS THE VALUE OF INSTRUMENTALITY.
It is not so intended, and only stupidity would so interpret it. For, first, such
casesare rare, very much rarer than conversions by the agencyof the Church.
One Saul is struck to the earth, only one. But Peterpreaches at Pentecost, and
three thousand are pricked in their hearts. See the difference in numbers!
The preaching of the Gospelis God’s way of converting–His usual and general
way. “Since allHis paths drop fatness,” it is especiallyso with this path of the
ministration of the Truth by an earnestheart to other hearts. One Paul, I say,
one Paul on the road to Damascus–butthree thousand saved by the preaching
of the word by Peter. I read of one ColonelGardner who, on the very night he
was about to commit a greatsin saw, or fanciedhe saw, the appearance ofour
Lord, and heard the words, “I have done all this for you, what have you done
for Me?” There is one such case–onlyone–Ibelieve most certainly a true case.
But there were fifty thousand, perhaps, in Scotlandand in England at that
time who were brought to a knowledge ofthe Truth by the ordinary methods
of mercy. So the exhibition of specialinterposing Grace now and then does not
interfere with the regularwork of the Church, or lower our esteemof it.
Riding along, I see in the hedgerow a tree with rich fruit upon it. I am
surprised, I do not know how it came there, it is a very unusual thing to see
our gardenfruit trees in public hedgerows. Butwhen I have seenit I do not
think any the less ofmy neighbor who over yonder is planting fruit trees in his
orchard.

31. That is the ordinary way to get fruit. If now and then a fruit tree springs up
upon the heath, if we are hungry we are glad to pluck the fruit–we do not
know how it got there, and it is of no consequence thatwe should know–there
is the fruit, and we are glad of it. But still we do not give up our orchard.
Becausesometimes a man finds a shilling, does he give up work?
Extraordinary events in nature are always treatedas such, and are not made
the rule of everyday action. Even thus wise men treat unusual displays of
Divine power. To forego regularagencythat we may wait for wonders were as
idle as to leave the regular pursuits of commerce to live upon the trash washed
up by the sea.
Remember, next, that these very casesinvolve human agencysomewhere. Saul
is on his way to Damascus, and, lo, he is struck down by the light, and by a
voice from Heaven is converted. But after the three days of blindness and
fasting, how does he get comfort? Does that come by another voice from
Heaven? It might have. But the Lord takes care that the very instrumentality
which is put aside in one place shall be honored in another, and so Ananias
must be sent forth to bless the penitent.
Ananias was a plain disciple. We do not know that he was either a preacheror
an Evangelist, but a disciple of good repute, living at Damascus. And he must
come and say, “BrotherSaul, the Lord, even Jesus that appearedunto you in
the way, has sent me.” So you shall always find in conversionthat there is
instrumentality somewhere orother. My dear Brother, if God is pleasedto
convert a soul without using you, He may honor you by employing you to
comfort him after conversion. Convictionmay be workedby the Holy Spirit
without means, but in the full decision, in the laying hold on Christ, He may
give you occupation. Somewhereorother Godwill use you–only be a vesselfit
for the Master’s use–andyou will not be long out of service.
Further, so far from dishonoring instrumentality, the conversionof Saul and
others of the kind is a provision of a most remarkable instrumentality. “I have
calledhim”–not to be a singular article for exhibition–but, “to be a chosen
vesselunto Me to bear My name among the Gentiles.” Remarkable converts
become themselves the most indefatigable servants of God. Paul put all the
wheels of the Church in more rapid motion than they everknew before, and
became himself one of the greatestwheels.
He goes everywhere preaching the Gospel, so that instrumentality is not
silenced, but God helps it to a higher position than before. Was it not through
Paul that men were calledinto the fellowship and afterwards into the work of
Jesus Christ? Should we ever have heard of such as Timothy and Titus and
others if Paul had not been their spiritual parent? So that here we have not

32. only a master workerbegottenby this non-instrumental work, but he also
begets other workers, andso the work of God to distant generations receives
an impetus from the conversionof one single man. No, God does not dishonor
instrumentality. If He puts it by for awhile to glorify Himself, He brings it
forward againin due seasonand makes it brighter and more fit for His
purpose.
Let us adore, dear Friends, in conclusion, the powerof the All-Working God.
Let us reverence and worship Him. In our gatherings as Christians, let us
worship Him with whom power still dwells. Let us not look to the earnestness
of that man, or to the wealthof this, to the judgment of a third, to the
eloquence of a fourth–but let us look to Him who has all power in Heaven and
in earth. “Whom having not seenwe love,” “in whom, though now we see Him
not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
Let us believe that the Father works up to now and Christ works. Let us think
of Him, who “works allthings according to the counselof His own will.” Let
us never be dispirited, but believe that the everlasting purpose of God will be
accomplished–thatthe success ofHis Church will never be in jeopardy–that
the onwardmarch of the armies of God canbe in no peril. All flesh shall see
the salvationof God. All the earth shall worship Him, and Christ shall be
acknowledgedto be God to the glory of God the Father.
The powerto accomplishthis is not containedin these poor vessels ofclay, nor
limited by the capacitiesofmanhood, nor bounded by the perceptions of
mortals! The arm which is on the side of the Church is Omnipotent. The mind
that works overall for the glorious cause is infinitely wise and prudent. “Be of
goodcourage, andHe shall strengthen your hearts. Wait, I say, on the Lord.”
Keep His way, delight also yourselves in Him, and He shall bring it to pass,
and you shall see that accomplishedwhich you would not have believed
though a man had spokenit unto you. Go on working, there is your sphere.
Pray much that God would work also, for prayer is another part of your
sphere.
Expect God to work, believe that He will surely conquer Satan. Be confident
that evil will not win the day, that error cannotbe permanent, that there will
occurDivine surprises which will make the Church to wonder at what her
Lord God can do! In one word, believe, and you shall be established. Wait
upon God and you shall be strong. Never give way to unbelief. Believe in the
unseen. Restin the invisible. Have confidence in the Infinite. And the Lord
send to us and to all Christendom a band of men whom He has chosenwhom
He shall callout as He did His Apostle–andwho shall become the leaders of

33. His Church, and the conquerors of the world. The Lord grant that some who
are here this morning may be among that electcompany. Amen.
BRUCE HURT MD
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a choseninstrument of
Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
(NASB: Lockman)
KJV Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a
chosenvesselunto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and Ki, and
the children of Israel:
• Go Exodus 4:12-14;Jer 1:7; Jonah3:1,2
• a chosenActs 13:2; Jer1:5; John 15:16; Ro 1:1; 9:21-24;Gal 1:1,15,16;
2 Ti 1:11; 2 Ti 2:4,20,21;Rev 17:14
• to bear Acts 21:19; 22:21;26:17-20;Ro 1:5,13-15;11:13;15:15-21;1
Cor 15:10;Gal 2:7,8; Eph 3:7,8;Col 1:25-29;1 Ti 2:7
• and Kings Acts 25:22-27;26:1-11;27:24; Mt 10:18; 2 Ti 4:16,17
• the sons of Israel Acts 28:17-31
• Acts 9 Resources-Multiple Sermons and Commentaries
ANANIAS CHARGE
TO GO
But - Term of contrast. In essencethe Lord "cutoff" Ananias in mid-sentence
and changeddirection. In other words the Lord changes the direction back to
Saul and in this contextthe contrastactually functions somewhatlike a term
of explanation. Note that Jesus shows greatpatience with Ananias and does
not rebuke him, but instead presents additional truth that precedes His
command to "Go." As Robertson says "Ananias in his ignorance saw in Saul
only the man with an evil reputation while Jesus saw in Saul the man
transformed by grace to be a messengerofmercy."
Jack Andrews - We canexpect God to use others to minister to us and expect
Him to use us to minister to others. How is God using you in ministry? Are
you obedient to Him even when His commands are hard? How has God used
other saints to minister to you? (Sermon)
Spurgeonon Jesus'response to Ananias' reservations. "The Lord reassured
His servantby reminding him — 1. Of the doctrine of election. "He is a

34. chosenvesselunto Me." Here was one whom Godhad chosento bless, though
Ananias knew it not. 2. That He had chosenthis man to a greatpurpose. "To
bear My name among the Gentiles." A greatsinner is to be made a great
saint. A greatopposeris to become a greatlabourer. Who knows how largely
God may use the sinner whom we seek to save? You teachers may be teaching
Luthers or Melancthons, holy men and women who shall serve the Lord
abundantly. 3. That He would go with him — "ForI will show him," etc. You
are bidden to teachan individual and you fear that you have no strength, and,
therefore, you cry, "Lord, I cannot show this man the truth." The Lord
replies, "I will show him." (The Good Man Ananias - A Lessonfor Believers)
The Lord said to him, "Go (present imperative) - Jesus is demonstrating great
patience with his demurring disciple for this is the secondtime He says "Go!
(actually "Getup and go" in Acts 9:11) So here Jesus gives Ananias a second
command (the first "go" was aoristimperative) to Ananias who clearly is
recoiling with reluctance. Ananias is to understand that Jesus is sovereign
over the situation, and because He is in control, when He say "Go" His
disciple should go. This same principle applies to all Jesus'disciples and is all
the rationale we need to obey His voice. Is there some "Go" (some command
or instruction in His Word) on which you are balking?
It is interesting how we all love Jesus'words "Come to Me, all who are weary
and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt 11:28) But once we arrive at
His restand He says "Now go..."this is where the Christian life becomes
difficult! Ananias had said "Here I am Lord," but then he heard the charge to
"Go" which initially causedhim to hesitate. Is there not a bit of "Ananias" in
all of us?
For is the coordinating conjunction hoti and in this context means because,
since, for this reason. What reason? Why is Ananias to go?
Kistemakersummarizes five reasons Saulwas Jesus'choseninstrument - (1)
Paul is a Jew who has been thoroughly trained in the Old Testament
Scriptures by Gamalielin Jerusalem;(2) he grew up in a Greek-speaking
environment; (3) he is familiar with Hellenistic culture; (4) he knows how to
interpret the Gospelin terms the Hellenistic world canunderstand; (5) and he
is a Roman citizen who realizes that the vastnetwork of roads in the Roman
empire facilitates travel, so that the Gospelcanreachthe ends of the world.
Writes E. M. Blaiklock, “No otherman known to history from that time
combined these qualities as did Paul of Tarsus. It is difficult to imagine any
other place [than Tarsus - see tarseus]whose whole atmosphere and history
could have so effectivelyproduced them in one person.” (Ibid)

35. He is a choseninstrument of Mine - Notice "ofMine" signifies that Saul now
belongs to Jesus.
In his letter to the Galatians Paulacknowledgesthe fact that he was chosen
writing that God "had setme apart (cf Ro 1:1HYPERLINK "/romans_11-
2#1:1"+)evenfrom my mother’s womb and calledme through His grace."
(Gal 1:15HYPERLINK "/galatians-1-commentary#1:15"+)Paul's choosing
recalls the words of Jeremiah"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecratedyou; I have appointed you a prophet
to the nations.” (Jer1:5) As an aside, do these passageshave an relevance to
the "legal" practice ofabortion in America? Just something to think about!
Fruchtenbaum says "he is a chosenvesselunto me" is "a Hebraism which
means that he is “a vesselof choice.”
John Piper - God wants us to see in this conversion…thatthe most unlikely
people canbe convertedand are converted.
Bob Utley exclaims "Oh, the greatness ofthe grace and electionof God! Paul
does not fit the evangelicalmodel of voluntary, volitional conversion. He was
dramatically drafted!"
Chosen(1589)(ekloge fromeklegomai[wordstudy] in turn from ek = out +
lego = select, choose, eklegomaimeaning to choose orselectfor oneself, but
not necessarilyimplying rejectionof what is not chosen. See eklektos= elect)
means literally a choosing out, a picking out, a selection. Forexample 2 Pe
1:10 = "His calling and choosing you" and 1Th 1:4 = God's "choice ofyou"
both refer to God's selectionofbelievers. In the passive sense eklogerefers to
God's selectionfor a purpose or task. In other words it represents a special
choice as in this passagewhenGod refers to Paul as "My choseninstrument"
(Acts 9:15). Jesus chose Saulbefore Saul chose Jesus.
Jesus describedthe mission in generalterms (to bear fruit that would remain)
to His original disciples
“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you
would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that
whateveryou ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (John
15:16)
ILLUSTRATION - There is an old story about a little boy in a Sunday School
class who was askedwhatpart he played in his salvation. The boy said that his
conversionwas partly God’s work and partly his work. The teacherwas
shockedby the strange answerand askedwhat part he played in his salvation.

36. He said “I opposedGod all I could, and God did the rest.” That is the same
doctrine of electionthat savedSaul.
In 1996, retiree and widowerReese Hurley from Cambridge, Maryland, got
up from his rocking chair and headed for Africa. He’d been pondering how
best to spend his remaining years, but at first had resistedGod’s call to
missions. When he answeredthe call, he went all-out! He has been on short-
term trips to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Guatemala, Albania, and other
destinations, working to help orphans and others in need. He has also used his
skills as an electricianon missions building projects. Reeseis obeying the
GreatCommission, doing what Jesus Himself commanded us to do (Acts 1:8).
To take the gospelto the world is to confront others with Christ’s reality,
grace, and glory, a lessonshownin unforgettable fashion in today’s reading.
Sometimes we omit the factthat imitating Christ means we can also imitate
His one recorded appearance afterHis Ascension–to Paulon the road to
Damascus.
Instrument (vessel)(4632)(skeuos)literallyrefers to a containerof any
material used for a specific purpose (2 Ti 2:20HYPERLINK "/2_timothy_220-
26#2:20"+). Figurativelyskeuos is used of the human body as formed of clay,
depicting it as frail and feeble. BDAG says skeuos canreferto "a human
being exercising a function." In this context the function of the frail human
vesselnamed Saul was to "pour out" the Gospel on the Gentiles. Paul uses this
same noun skeuos laterin a figurative descriptionof believers who now "have
this treasure (2 Cor 4:6 - "the Light of the knowledge ofthe glory of God in
the face of Christ") in earthen vessels (skeuos),so that the surpassing
greatness ofthe power (dunamis) ("the extraordinary power" = NET)will be
of God and not from ourselves;(2 Cor 4:7HYPERLINK "/2corinthians_47-
9_commentary#4:7"+)
To bear (bastazo) My Name before the Gentiles - Again His Name is
tantamount to His Person. The NLT is a paraphrase and thus is more
interpretative than the NAS, ESV, KJV and in this verse paraphrases "bear
My Name" as "to take My message"(Act 9:15NLT) This is not a bad
paraphrase because the Name "Jesus"means "Jehovahsaves" which is what
He does! This statementthat the Gospelwould go to the Gentiles must have
shockedAnanias a Jewishbeliever!
So basically what Jesus is telling Ananias is that Saul/Paulwould take the
goodnews of salvation in Jesus to the Gentiles. As the apostle Peterclearly
taught "there is salvationin no one else;for there is no other Name under
heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts
4:12HYPERLINK "/acts-4-commentary#4:12"+). The apostle Johnalso links

37. Jesus'Name with salvationwriting "as many as receivedHim, to them He
gave the right to become children of God (REGENERATED, BORN AGAIN),
even to those who believe in His Name". (John1:12HYPERLINK
"/john_112_commentary"+, contrastJn3:18). In fact the purpose statement
of the Gospelof John states "these have been written so that (Term of
purpose) you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (THE MESSIAH), the Son
of God; and that believing you may have (SPIRITUAL LIFE, ETERNAL) life
in His Name." (Jn 20:31)
As the passagesbelow demonstrate Saul/Paulacceptedand fulfilled the
ministry Jesus had assignedto him. What ministry has Jesus assignedto you
beloved? Restassured, He has some role for you to play in His grand plan of
redemption. Have you discoveredyour role? I know a man who was called to
be a preacher of the Word in his 20's or 30's and even though he felt this was
God's call, he ignored it and entered into his aerospace career. WhenI met
him in his 60's, both he and his wife expresseddeepregretthat he had not
surrendered to the call of Jesus. Only one life, twill soonpass, only what's
done for Jesus will last!
Here Jesus tells Ananias what His task is for Saul/Paul, but later in Acts as
Paul recalls his conversionexperience and Jesus'commissioning him as the
apostle to the Gentiles...
“And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far awayto the Gentiles.’”
(Acts 22:21)
Paul's bearing of Jesus'Name to the Gentiles is repeatedly expressedin his
epistles.
Romans 1:5HYPERLINK "https://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_15-
10#1:5"+ (JesusChrist our Lord) through Whom we have received
grace and apostleshipto bring about the obedience of faith (See
Obedience of faith) among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,
Romans 11:13HYPERLINK"/romans_1112-25#11:13"+ ButI am
speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of
Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
Galatians 2:7HYPERLINK "/galatians-2-commentary#2:7"+ Buton
the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the Gospel (GOOD
NEWS ABOUT THE NAME OF JESUS)to the uncircumcised
(GENTILES), just as Peterhad been to the circumcised(JEWS)
Ephesians 3:6-7HYPERLINK "/ephesians_36-7#3:6"+ to be specific,
that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and

38. fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, of
which (Eph 3:6 = "the Gentiles")I was made a minister, according to
the gift of God’s grace (cfPAUL'S "POWERSOURCE"IN 1 Cor
15:10HYPERLINK"/1_corinthians_1510_commentary"+)which was
given to me according to the working of His power.
2 Timothy 4:17HYPERLINK "/2_timothy_414-18#4:17"+But the Lord
stoodwith me and strengthened me, so that through me the
proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles
might hear; and I was rescuedout of the lion’s mouth.
Comment - This is a great testimony by Paulwhich should encourageall
of us who have been called into a particular ministry (and in some way
we have ALL been called), because here we see that what the Lord
commands, the Lord enables. God had given Paul a large charge to
reachthe Gentiles but here we see that the same One Who chargedhim,
now strengthens him to finish the course (2 Ti 4:7HYPERLINK
"/2_timothy_47#4:7"+)andfulfill his ministry (2 Ti 4:5HYPERLINK
"/2_timothy_45-13#4:5"+). Jesus is the same yesterday, today and
tomorrow, and He will stand by you through "thick and thin" and He
will enable you to accomplishthe work to which He has calledyou. You
can count on it, because in Him the word is "Yes and Amen!"
Stedman on bearing of Jesus'Name to the Gentiles - Is it not true that you
and I are here this morning because ofthe conversionof the Apostle Paul? We
have all been blessedthrough the conversionof this man. His life has made
greatimpact upon every one of us. Not one of us would even be here if it were
not for this mighty apostle to the Gentiles.(Acts 9:1-19 BelovedEnemy)
Thompson - One Bible expositorsaid that when a person has been called by
God to bear the name of Jesus Christ to the world, there is no higher calling.
He said that if someone askedhim to be Presidentof the United States he
would say “no”;because it is a demotion, because there is no higher calling
than to preach God’s Word to the world. That is Saul’s assignment.
And kings - King Agrippa and Caesar(kaisar)are mentioned in Acts.
Acts 26:1-2 Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for
yourself.” Then Paul stretchedout his hand and proceededto make his
defense:“In regardto all the things of which I am accusedby the Jews,
I considermyself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my
defense before you today;

39. Acts 27:24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before
Caesar;and behold, God has grantedyou all those who are sailing with
you.’
Steven Gercomments on Jesus'mention of these three groups (Gentiles,
Kings, Jews), is intended to conveyto Saul that he was "to possessa flexible,
"go anywhere" type of ministry." (Ibid) Paul himself expressedthe same
through when he wrote "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the
weak;I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save
some." (1 Cor 9:22) Do you have a "go anywhere" "by all means" mentality
toward souls who are standing on the edge of eternity, destined and doomed to
eternal punishment unless they hear and receive the Gospel?
Ray Stedman on the sons of Israel -- That was laston the list. Paul always
wanted to put it first. We shall see, as we trace the further story of Acts, that
there was a struggle in this young man's life. He longed to be the instrument
by which Israelwould be redeemed. He wantedto minister primarily to the
Jews and he felt he was equipped to do so. But he was not running the
program anymore; God was. Godhad a struggle with him to teachhim this,
but this was the order he followed. Although he had greatimpact upon his
own nation, the sons of Israel, he was primarily the minister to the Gentiles.
(Acts 9:1-19 BelovedEnemy)
And the sons of Israel - This refers to the Jews. So while Paul's primary
assignmentwould be to be an apostle to the Gentiles, this did not preclude
that he would also be a minister to his ownnation of Israel. As he later wrote
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel, forit is the power of God for salvation to
everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Ro
1:16HYPERLINK "/romans_116-19#1:16"+).In fact in the concluding
passagesofActs we see Paulproclaiming the Gospelto the Jews in Rome
“But we (JEWS)desire to hear from you what your views are; for
concerning this sect(REFERRING TO CHRISTIANITY, AKA "SECT
OF THE NAZARENES" - Acts 24:5), it is knownto us that it is spoken
againsteverywhere.” 23 Whenthey (THE JEWS)had set a day for
Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was
explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and
trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses
and from the Prophets (MESSIANIC PROPHECIES), frommorning
until evening (ALL DAY, NON-STOP,REDEEMINGTHE TIME!). 24
Some were being persuadedby the things spoken, but others would not
believe. 25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began
leaving after Paul had spokenone parting word, “The Holy Spirit