Acts 9:15

σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς, cf. St. Paul's own language in Galatians 1:15, genitive of quality; common Hebraistic mode of expression (cf. Acts 8:23) = ἐκλεκτόν, see Blass, Gram., p. 96; cf. Luke 16:8; Luke 18:6, etc. For σκεῦος similarly used see Jeremiah 22:28; Hosea 8:8, and Schöttgen, Horæ Hebraicæ, in loco; and in N.T. Romans 9:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:4. Grimm and Blass both compare σκ. de homine in Polyb., xiii., 5, 7; xv., 25, 1. Vas electionis: the words are written over what is said to be St. Paul's tomb in the church dedicated to him near the city of Rome. τοῦ βαστάσαι, genitive of purpose; verb as used here continues the metaphor of σκεῦος; may mean simply to bear, to carry, or it may denote to bear as a burden; cf. 2 Kings 18:14, Sir 6:25; cf. Luke 14:27; Acts 15:10; Romans 15:1, etc. ἐθνῶν καὶ βασιλέων ἐθν., placed first because Saul's special mission is thus indicated. βασιλ., cf. Acts 26:12; 2 Timothy 1:16; also before the governors of Cyprus, Achaia, Judæa. υἱῶν τε Ἰ., see critical notes above, again the closely connecting τε, all three nouns being comprehended under the one article τῶν the Apostle's work was to include, not to exclude, his brethren according to the flesh, whilst mission to the Gentiles is always emphasised; cf. Acts 22:15; Acts 22:21; Acts 26:17; cf. Romans 1:13-14.