13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. (Acts 9:13-16 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. Ananias’s reluctancy and fear to go to Saul, because of his former violent persecution, and present commission: Lord, I have heard of this man &c.
Learn, That such as are very ready and forward for Christ’s service, may, upon appearing difficulties, hang back, till they be helped over those difficulties by the helping hand of Christ. Thus it was with Ananias; Behold, says he, here I am, Lord, Ac 9:10 to shew his readiness to run on any errand that Christ would send him: But when he came to understand his message, he was affrighted, and began to draw back; Therefore the Lord graciously condescends to remove the stumbling block that lay in the way of the servant’s obedience. Fear not; as if Christ had said, “ Go thy way, he is not what he was, he is another man; yea, he is a new man.”
Observe, 2. The honourable title which Christ puts upon Saul, He is a chosen vessel, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings.
Where, note, 1. The term of usefulness; he is a vessel. Now a vessel is not a natural but an artificial instrument. No man is born, but made a minister of the gospel.
Vessels are not of equal capacity, some are greater, others less; all ministers have not like endowments, nor are they equally fitted for the sacred employment.
Again, vessels are receptive instruments; they must take in before they can give out. What the ministers of the gospel have received of the Lord, that they deliver to their people; they give out what God gives in.
Finally, vessels are for effusion, as well as for reception: they let out as well as take in; yea, therefore take in, that they may let out; therefore have the ministers of Christ a treasure of divine knowledge in themselves, that they may communicate and impart it to others. And it is not impaired by imparting, but, like the oil in the widow’s vessel, increased by pouring out. A minister, by communicating the treasure of his knowledge, enriches others without impoverishing himself.
Note, 2. The term of excellency, He is a chosen vessel, chosen to preach Christ, chosen to suffer for Christ: a vessel chosen to bear the divine treasure of the gospel both to Jews and Gentiles.
Lord! what honour dost thou put upon thy ministers in making them vessels of honour fit for the master’s use and the family’s service!
If I may not be a vessel of gold or silver, let me be a vessel of wood or stone, so I may be a vessel unto honour, a successful instrument in thy hand, for thy glory, and the church’s good.