Acts 9:15

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Κύριος, Πορεύου: ὅτι σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς μοι ἐστίν οὗτος, τοῦ βαστάσαι τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐνώπιον Ἐθνῶν, καὶ βασιλέων, υἱῶν τε Ἰσραήλ:

Transliteration

But eipen pros him the Kyrios, Poreuou: for skeuos eklogēs to me estin houtos, tou bastasai the onoma of me enōpion Ethnōn, and basileōn, huiōn both of Israēl:

Grammar Details

• *eipen*: aorist, active, 3rd singular - said/spoke
• *pros*: preposition + accusative - to/toward
• *Kyrios*: nominative, masculine, singular - Lord
• *Poreuou*: present imperative, middle, 2nd singular - go/proceed
• *skeuos*: nominative, neuter, singular - vessel/instrument
• *eklogēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of choice/election
• *estin*: present, active, 3rd singular - is
• *houtos*: nominative, masculine, singular - this one
• *tou bastasai*: genitive article + aorist infinitive, active - to bear/carry
• *onoma*: accusative, neuter, singular - name
• *enōpion*: preposition + genitive - before/in the presence of
• *Ethnōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - Gentiles/nations
• *basileōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - kings
• *huiōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - sons
• *Israēl*: genitive, masculine, singular - Israel

Word Meanings

• *eipen*: said/spoke/told
• *Poreuou*: go/proceed/journey
• *skeuos*: vessel/instrument/container
• *eklogēs*: of choice/election/selection
• *bastasai*: to bear/carry/support
• *onoma*: name/title/reputation
• *enōpion*: before/in the presence of/in front of
• *Ethnōn*: Gentiles/nations/peoples
• *basileōn*: kings/rulers/monarchs
• *huiōn*: sons/descendants/children

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

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

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  The LORde sayde vnto him: Goo thy wayes: for he is a chosen vessell vnto me to beare my name before the gentyls and kynges and the chyldren of Israel.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  The LORDE sayde vnto him: Go thy waye, for this man is a chosen vessell vnto me, that he maye beare my name before the Heythen, and before kynges, and before the children of Israel.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then the Lord said vnto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessell vnto me, to beare my Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  The Lord sayde vnto hym: Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessell vnto me, to beare my name before the gentiles, & kynges, and the chyldren of Israel.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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:›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But the Lord said to him, "Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the Lord said unto him, `Be going on, because a choice vessel to Me is this one, to bear My name before nations and kings -- the sons also of Israel;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But the Lord said, Go without fear: for he is a special vessel for me, to give to the Gentiles and kings and to the children of Israel the knowledge of my name:

• World English Bible (2000)

  But the Lord said to him, "Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But the Lord said to him,“Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.

Referenced Verses

• Eph 3:7-8 : 7 Of this gospel I became a servant, according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me through the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
• Gal 1:15-16 : 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
• Acts 13:2 : 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'
• Rom 1:5 : 5 Through Him, we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations,
• Rom 11:13 : 13 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry.
• 1 Tim 2:7 : 7 For this purpose, I was appointed as a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
• 2 Tim 4:16-17 : 16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully made and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
• Acts 22:21 : 21 Then He said to me, 'Go, because I am sending you far away to the Gentiles.'
• Acts 25:22-26:11 : 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I would also like to hear this man myself.' 'You will hear him tomorrow,' Festus replied. 23 So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall with the military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said, 'King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish population has petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.' 25 However, I found that he had done nothing deserving of death. But since he himself has appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after conducting an investigation, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without also specifying the charges against him. 1 Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense. 2 I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am able to make my defense before you concerning all the accusations brought against me by the Jews. 3 Especially because you are so familiar with all the customs and controversies among the Jews. I therefore ask you to listen to me patiently. 4 The way of life I have lived since my youth, from the very beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem, is well known to all the Jews. 5 They have known me for a long time, and if they are willing, they can testify that I lived according to the strictest sect of our religion as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of the hope in the promise God made to our ancestors. 7 This is the promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day. It is for this hope, King Agrippa, that I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why is it considered unbelievable by you that God raises the dead? 9 Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 I punished them often in all the synagogues, trying to force them to blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
• Acts 26:17-20 : 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and then to all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
• Acts 26:32 : 32 Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.'
• Acts 27:24 : 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar. And God has graciously given you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'
• Acts 28:17-Rom 1:1 : 17 After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, 'Brothers, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.' 18 They examined me and wanted to release me because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. 19 But when the Jews objected, I felt compelled to appeal to Caesar—not because I had any accusation to bring against my own people. 20 For this reason, I have asked to see you and to speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. 21 They replied, 'We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers who came here reported or said anything bad about you.' 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect. 23 They arranged to meet with him on a certain day, and many came to the place where he was staying. From morning until evening, Paul was explaining and testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others did not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: 'The Holy Spirit was right in speaking to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah:' 26 'Go to this people and say, "You will indeed hear but never understand; you will indeed see but never perceive."' 27 For this people's heart has grown calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.' 28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen! 29 After he said these words, the Jews departed, having a great debate among themselves. 30 For two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance. 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
• Exod 4:12-14 : 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' 13 But Moses said, 'Pardon me, Lord. Please send someone else.' 14 Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses, and He said, 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. Even now he is on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.'
• Jer 1:5 : 5 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
• Jer 1:7 : 7 But the LORD said to me, 'Do not say, “I am too young.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.'
• Jonah 3:1-2 : 1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 “Get up, go to the great city of Nineveh, and proclaim the message that I tell you.”
• Matt 10:18 : 18 You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.
• John 15:16 : 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
• Rom 15:15-21 : 15 Yet I have written to you quite boldly on some points, to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me. 16 To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore, I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done. 19 By the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: 'Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.'
• 1 Cor 15:10 : 10 But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
• Gal 1:1 : 1 Paul, an apostle—not sent from men or by human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—
• Rom 1:13-15 : 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now), in order that I might have some fruit among you, just as I have among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to non-Greeks, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
• Rom 9:21-24 : 21 Does not the potter have the right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, wishing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And what if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of mercy, whom he prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom he has also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
• Acts 21:19 : 19 After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of everything God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
• Rev 17:14 : 14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.
• 2 Tim 1:11 : 11 For this purpose, I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
• 2 Tim 2:4 : 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of civilian life; instead, they strive to please the one who enlisted them.
• 2 Tim 2:20-21 : 20 In a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay; some are for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 If anyone cleanses themselves from the latter, they will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
• Gal 2:7-9 : 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter was to the circumcised— 8 (For He who worked through Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised also worked through me for mine to the Gentiles)— 9 And recognizing the grace given to me, James, Cephas, and John, who were esteemed as pillars, gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
• Col 1:25-29 : 25 I have become its servant according to the commission God gave me for you, to fully proclaim the word of God, 26 the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end, I labor and struggle with all His energy, which so powerfully works within me.