Acts 9:7

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

Acts 9:7 in Other Translations

KJV
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
ESV
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
NLT
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!
MSG
7 His companions stood there dumbstruck - they could hear the sound, but couldn't see anyone -
CSB
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing 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 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Cross References 2

  • 1. John 12:29
  • 2. Daniel 10:7; Acts 22:9
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