A Chosen Vessel — TDW Kids

A Chosen Vessel of Mine

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When Ananias was worried about Saul, the Lord told him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

A vessel. A vessel is a container, like a jar or a cup. It holds something and carries it from place to place.

What Saul would carry. Saul would carry the name of Jesus. To bear His name means to carry the message of who Jesus is.

Where he would carry it. He would take it to Gentiles, people who were not Jewish, to kings and to the people of Israel. Later in the book of Acts, Paul did all three.

Chosen. God chose Saul. Saul did not choose himself, and he did not earn it. He was hurting God’s people when God chose him.

Ready to listen. Ananias had said, “Here I am, Lord” (9:10). God’s servants begin by listening to Him.

By grace. Paul later wrote that God “called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles” (Galatians 1:15-16). Grace means God’s kindness that we do not deserve.

Not by works. God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9).

A new job. Paul began one letter, “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle” (Romans 1:1). A bondservant is a servant who belongs to his master.

Clay jars. Paul also wrote, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Earthen vessels are clay jars. The treasure is the good news, and the power belongs to God.

Ananias helped. God used Ananias, an ordinary disciple, to help His chosen vessel get started. God uses every believer in His work.

For you too. God does not choose only famous people. Every person who trusts Jesus is forgiven and can carry the name of Jesus to others.

The good news we carry. We have all sinned. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who believes in Him is forgiven.

What we learn. God chooses people by His grace and gives them a job to do for Him.

What to do. Ask God how you can carry the name of Jesus at home or at school this week.

When Ananias raised his objection, the Lord gave the reason Saul had been stopped: “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

Skeuos. The Greek skeuos (say: SKYOO-oss) means a vessel, jar or tool, any container made for use. A vessel exists for what it holds and for the work it is used for.

Ekloge. “Chosen vessel” is literally a vessel of choice; ekloge (say: ek-loh-GAY) means a choosing or selection. Saul was God’s selected instrument.

To bear My name. To bear a name is to carry it before others, like a banner. Saul would carry the name of Jesus before three audiences: Gentiles, kings and Israel. The book of Acts later shows him before all three.

Galatians 1:15-16. Paul later wrote that God “called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.” The call came by grace.

2 Timothy 1:9. God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” The calling rests on grace, not on a record.

Romans 1:1, 5. Paul introduced himself as “a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,” who had received “grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Grace came first; the task followed.

Earthen vessels. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). The vessel is ordinary; the treasure and the power are God’s.

Ananias’ part. The Lord told His purpose for Saul to Ananias first. God used one ordinary disciple to welcome and confirm the man He had chosen.

The treasure. The name Saul carried was the good news: Christ died on the cross for sinners, was buried and rose again, and forgives everyone who trusts Him. No one is saved by earning it.

Application. If you belong to Jesus, you are a vessel made for His use. Keep turning from sin, stay ready, and carry His name wherever He sends you.

How Many Things He Must Suffer

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The Lord told Ananias one more thing about Saul: “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16).

An honest promise. Jesus did not tell Saul that following Him would be easy. He told the truth from the start.

For My name’s sake. That means because of Jesus. Saul would face trouble because he belonged to Jesus and told others about Him.

Was God paying him back? Was this a punishment for the bad things Saul had done? No. Jesus had forgiven Saul completely. The hard things were part of serving Jesus, not payment for sin.

A gift? Paul later wrote, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29). Granted means given as a gift.

Not ashamed. From prison Paul wrote, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed” (2 Timothy 1:12).

Why he was not ashamed. “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12). Paul knew Jesus, and he trusted Him.

Kept safe. Persuaded means sure. Paul was sure that Jesus would keep what he had trusted to Him.

The Lord delivered him. Paul remembered the hard places he had been and wrote, “And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Timothy 3:11). Delivered means rescued.

Paul kept going. Even after many hard days, Paul kept telling people about Jesus. Jesus gave him strength to keep going.

Worth it. Paul wrote, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Heaven with Jesus is far greater than any trouble.

What changed. Saul once made others suffer for the name of Jesus. Now he was willing to suffer for that same name. That is how much Jesus had changed his heart.

Jesus suffered first. Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins, and then He rose again. Because He did, everyone who trusts Him is forgiven and will live with Him forever.

What we learn. Following Jesus is not always easy, but Jesus never leaves His people. He keeps them to the end.

What to do. When following Jesus is hard, say Paul’s words: “I know whom I have believed.” Then ask Jesus to help you.

The second half of the Lord’s answer to Ananias was just as honest as the first: “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16).

Told in advance. Jesus called Saul with no false promises. The cost of following was named on the first day.

For My name’s sake. Saul’s sufferings would come because he carried Jesus’ name. The man who had made others suffer for that name would now share it.

Not payback. Was this God evening the score? No. Saul was fully forgiven; Christ had carried his sin. His sufferings would be part of his service, not payment for his past.

Philippians 1:29. “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Paul used a word of gift: believing and suffering were both given to him for Christ’s sake.

2 Timothy 1:11-12. Paul was appointed “a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

Whom, not what. Paul did not say he knew what he believed. He said he knew “whom.” His strength under pressure was a Person he knew.

2 Timothy 3:11. Looking back on his “persecutions, afflictions,” Paul wrote, “And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” God did not always keep him from trouble, but He carried him through it.

Endurance, not escape. The promise of 9:16 was not that Saul would avoid hardship. It was that his hardships would be for Jesus’ name and under Jesus’ care.

Romans 8:18. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Paul measured his troubles against eternity.

The suffering Savior. Jesus suffered first, on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because of His cross, no one who trusts Him has to pay for his own sin; that debt is fully paid.

Application. Count the cost honestly, and trust the One who keeps you. When obeying Jesus costs you something, remember whom you have believed.

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