Acts 9

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

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:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

What does Acts 9:7 mean?

Explanation

Acts 9:7 is a verse from the Christian New Testament book of Acts, which describes the experience of Saul (later known as Paul) on the road to Damascus.

Saul had been known as a persecutor of Christians.

According to the account, as he nears Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shines around him, and he falls to the ground.

He then hears a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" When his traveling companions witness this event, they stand speechless.

The literal interpretation of this verse is that the men accompanying Saul could hear the voice that was speaking to Saul but could not see anyone.

This voice was the voice of Jesus Christ, whose followers Saul was persecuting.

The deeper meaning of the verse speaks to the powerful and supernatural nature of the encounter, as the men could hear the same voice Saul did, thus verifying the experience, yet they were not privy to the full revelation, as they could not see the risen Christ as Saul did.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 9:7 falls within the Acts of the Apostles, a book traditionally believed to be written by Luke, a companion of Paul.

This part of Acts narrates the dramatic conversion of Saul, a zealous Pharisee and persecutor of the early Christian community, to Christianity.

At this time, Saul was on his way to Damascus with orders to arrest any followers of Jesus.

The verse and subsequent conversion played a significant role in the early church's history as it transformed Saul into Paul, one of the most influential figures in spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 9:7 illustrates the sovereignty of God, which can interrupt the life of an individual dramatically and unexpectedly.

It reinforces the Christian belief in Jesus Christ's omnipresence, as he interacts with Saul beyond the grave.

This encounter represents the idea of prevenient grace, a theological concept that God reaches out to individuals before they are aware of it.

The verse also illustrates that sometimes the divine revelation is personal, tailored to an individual, such as Saul, while those who are with him witness the event but do not fully participate in the experience.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life as a reminder that encounters with the divine may not be comprehensible to everyone and that God might work in surprising and individual ways in the lives of people.

It teaches that bystanders may witness the effects of a profound experience without fully understanding it.

On a practical level, it encourages individuals to remember that sometimes transformative experiences may be difficult to explain or share with others and that each person’s spiritual journey is unique.

Cross-References

Acts 22:9: "And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me."
Acts 26:14: "And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
John 12:29: "The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him."
Daniel 10:7: "And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves."

Language Study

The original language of this verse is Koine Greek.

The word used for "hearing" is "ἀκούων (akouōn)," which means the act of perceiving by the ear.

The phrase "seeing no man" is "μηδένα θεωροῦντας (mēdena theōrountas)," where "μηδένα" means "no one" and "θεωροῦντας" comes from "θεωρέω," meaning to see or perceive. This language conveys both physical perceptions, what the companions heard and did not see.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse, with its theme of divine encounters, can be compared to other ancient myths and religious interpretations where gods or spiritual beings communicate with humans.

In ancient Greco-Roman mythology, gods often appeared to mortals, sometimes in disguise. In Judaism, there are accounts of prophets who received visions from God.

While these stories often share elements of divine-human interaction, Acts 9:7 stands out in its historical claim that the risen Jesus appeared not only to Saul but audibly to his companions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, experiences like the one described in Acts 9:7 involving visions and auditory phenomena could be interpreted through the lens of psychology or neurology, perhaps as a form of hallucination or a spiritual experience with neurological underpinnings.

However, the collective nature of the auditory experience, as noted by the companions hearing the voice too, challenges purely naturalistic explanations and lends itself more readily to a supernatural interpretation within a religious framework.

Commentaries

According to various commentaries, Acts 9:7 is often discussed in terms of its importance to Paul's testimony and the transformation of his life.

Some commentators focus on the apparent discrepancy with Acts 22:9, where Paul seems to indicate that his companions did not hear the voice. This has been reconciled by suggesting that while the men heard a sound, they did not understand the words spoken to Paul.

Commentators also suggest that the event's supernatural elements are meant to underscore the divine initiative in Paul's conversion and the fulfillment of Jesus’s continuing mission after his resurrection.

Acts 9

Acts 9

What does Acts 9:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 9:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?