Saul and Luther Chosen Vessels
K. Gerok. Acts 9:15 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… I. HOW HE PREPARED THEM. 1. He selected the right materials — a Pharisee for the destruction of Pharisaism, a monk for the overthrow of Popery, yet in both cases the 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, forged at Damascus, and Luther in the cloister cell at Erfurt. II. HOW HE USED THEM. 1. To the confusion of His enemies; Paul and Luther both warriors of the Lord, cutting swords, different from a John and Melancthon. 2. To the protection of 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.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: WEB: 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.