A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle comprising an electric motor, wherein said electric motor comprises a rotatable output; a shaft extending from said handle; a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein; an anvil configured to deform said fasteners; a closure drive configured to move said anvil toward and away from said fastener cartridge, wherein said closure drive comprises a rotatable closure drive portion; a firing drive configured to deploy said fasteners from said fastener cartridge; and a firing actuator; a rotatable actuator knob configured to be rotated in a first direction to rotate said electric motor in a first direction and move said anvil toward said fastener cartridge and a second direction to rotate said electric motor in a second direction and move said anvil away from said fastener cartridge; the surgical instrument being characterized by a transmission, comprising: a first operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said closure drive; a second operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said firing drive; and a switch configured to switch said transmission between said first operating configuration and said second operating configuration; wherein said rotatable actuator knob is configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration, and wherein said firing actuator is configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration. a handle comprising an electric motor, wherein said electric motor comprises a rotatable output; a shaft extending from said handle; a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein; an anvil configured to deform said fasteners; a closure drive configured to move said anvil toward and away from said fastener cartridge, wherein said closure drive comprises a rotatable closure drive portion; a firing drive configured to deploy said fasteners from said fastener cartridge; and a firing actuator; a rotatable actuator knob configured to be rotated in a first direction to rotate said electric motor in a first direction and move said anvil toward said fastener cartridge and a second direction to rotate said electric motor in a second direction and move said anvil away from said fastener cartridge; the surgical instrument being characterized by a transmission, comprising: a first operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said closure drive; a second operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said firing drive; and a switch configured to switch said transmission between said first operating configuration and said second operating configuration; a first operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said closure drive; a second operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said firing drive; and a switch configured to switch said transmission between said first operating configuration and said second operating configuration; wherein said rotatable actuator knob is configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration, and wherein said firing actuator is configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration.