Jn.15:16 Ye have not chosen me. Left to themselves, these disciples, or anyone, for that matter, would never have chosen Christ. I have chosen you. This does not refer to Christ’s selection of men for the office of apostle; the selection to which Christ here refers takes a person out of the kingdom of sin (v. 18) and makes him fruitful in godliness (contrast 6:70). This is God’s election of sinners to salvation and holiness (6:37; Eph. 1:4–5; 1 Thess. 2:13). Though the Father is the primary agent of eternal election, the Son has also elected because He too is God, and all the persons of the Trinity share one divine will (5:19–20; 10:30). ordained. Literally, “put,” here probably in the sense of appoint. go. Perhaps, “go into the world,” so that they can see the fruit of genuine discipleship and glorify the Father (v. 8; Matt. 5:14–16). Election motivates mission (2 Tim. 2:9–10).

15:18–16:4 Union with Christ makes a person fruitful for God, but it also places him in direct opposition to the wicked world, which hates God and Christ and so hates His people. Therefore, the disciples’ participation in the true Israel alienated them from unbelieving Israel (synagogues; 16:2), and they were now to expect its persecution.

15:18 world. The human race viewed in its united hostility to God, here referring not to all people everywhere (see note at 3:16) but to those who had seen Christ’s miracles and heard His preaching in Israel (vv. 22, 24). hated me. No one is neutral to Christ or God; those who hear the gospel but are not yet converted hate and reject Him (1:10; 3:19–20; 7:7).

15:19 not of the world. Their citizenship is in heaven (8:23; Phil. 3:20). chosen you out. Christ’s election of sinners results in a change of nature and allegiance so that His disciples no longer fit in with the patterns of unbelief and sin that characterize fallen mankind.

Joel R. Beeke, Michael P. V. Barrett, and Gerald M. Bilkes, eds., The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014), 1540.