John Calvin Commentary Acts 9:15

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

Go; because he is an elect instrument. The commandment, repeated the second time, and also the promise of success added, takes away all doubt. Therefore, sloth will lack an excuse if it is never corrected after many goads are used. We see this with many who, however much the Lord cries out to them continually, not only loiter throughout their lives but also cherish their sloth by all means possible. If anyone objects that the Lord does not speak today in a vision, I answer that since the Scripture is abundantly confirmed to us, we must hear God from it.

A vessel of election, or, as Erasmus translates it, an elect instrument, is understood as an excellent minister. The word instrument shows that people can do nothing, except insofar as God uses their labor at His pleasure. For if we are instruments, He alone is the author; the force and power to act resides in His power alone.

And what Christ says here about Paul applies to all people, every one of them. Therefore, however diligently everyone labors, and however carefully he conducts himself in his duty, yet there is no reason why he should claim for himself any part of the praise.

Those who dispute subtly about the word vessel are foolish due to ignorance of the Hebrew language. Luke puts the genitive case for the dative, and that is according to the common custom of the Hebrew language. And he meant to express a certain excellence, as if he were saying that this man would be no common minister of Christ, but would be endowed with singular excellence above others.

Nevertheless, we must note that if anything is excellent, it depends upon the favor of God, as Paul himself teaches elsewhere: Who is he that separates you? (1 Corinthians 4:7), namely, that you should excel others. To conclude, Christ pronounces that Paul was chosen for great and excellent things.

To bear my name among the Gentiles. To him who previously sought to suppress the name of Christ, this same name is now entrusted to be carried. If we choose to interpret שנם (schenos) as a vessel, this would be a continuous metaphor, because a minister of the gospel serves as a vessel to publish the name of Christ. But because among the Hebrews it rather signifies any instrument generally, I interpret these words, to carry my name, as meaning to extol that name to its due honor. For Christ is, in a way, placed on His princely throne when the world is brought under His power by the preaching of the gospel.