Acts 9:7

7 But the men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but beholding no one.

Acts 9:7 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 9:7

And the men which journeyed with him
Out of respect to him, to keep him company; or rather to assist him in his designs:

stood speechless:
astonished and amazed, they had not power to speak one word, nor to rise from the ground, and move one step forward; they were as if they were thunderstruck, and fastened to the earth; for this standing is not opposed to their being fallen to the earth, but to their going forward, and only expresses the surprise and stupidity that had seized them:

hearing a voice, but seeing no man;
that is, they heard the voice of Saul, saying, who art thou? and what wilt thou have me to do? but saw nobody that he spoke to, which surprised them; for it is certain they did not hear the voice of Christ, that spake to him, ( Acts 22:9 ) or if they heard the voice of Christ, it was only the sound of his voice, but did not understand what he said; but the former seems rather to be the sense, and the best way of reconciling the two passages.

Acts 9:7 In-Context

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], *I* am Jesus, whom *thou* persecutest.

6 But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 But the men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but beholding no one.

8 And Saul rose up from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw no one. But leading [him] by the hand they brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without seeing, and neither ate nor drank.

Footnotes

• [a] Or 'sound.'