Acts 22:9-11 "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. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus." Saul was blinded by the light! A brilliant light from heaven, brighter than the sun, knocked him to the ground. Jesus’ voice called him by name, making the divine confrontation intensely personal and urgent. The man Saul had dismissed as a dead blasphemer was alive and glorified. In persecuting Jesus’ followers, Saul had actually been persecuting Jesus Himself. Paul’s companions saw the bright light but “did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.” Some translations render it “did not understand” the voice. The Greek verb akouō can mean...
Acts 22:7&8 "7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? 8 And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest." That will get your attention! A brilliant light from heaven, brighter than the sun, suddenly flashed around him and knocked him to the ground. The repeated use of his name underscores the personal and urgent nature of this divine confrontation. The man Saul thought was a dead blasphemer is alive and glorified. In attacking Jesus’ followers, Saul had been attacking Jesus Himself. The Lord identifies so closely with His Church that He takes persecution of His people personally (Matthew 25:40). This encounter marks Paul’s conversion, from persecutor to apostle, through a direct meeting with the risen Christ. As in other biblical callings, God gave him a new heart and spirit, now responsive and ready to love and obey. Saul had every reason to be proud: a devo...