Handelingen 9:4

4 En ter aarde gevallen zijnde, hoorde hij een stem, die tot hem zeide: Saul, Saul! wat vervolgt gij Mij?

Handelingen 9:4 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 9:4

And he fell to the earth
Not being able to bear the light, and still less the divine glory and majesty which he perceived was present; and therefore, in great confusion, amazement, and fear, he fell with his face to the ground, and lay there prostrate and so did also those that were with him, ( Acts 26:14 )

and heard a voice, saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me?
this voice was the real voice of Christ in his human nature, and who visibly and in person appeared, and was seen by the apostle; ( Acts 26:16 ) ( 1 Corinthians 15:8 ) the language he spoke in was the Hebrew tongue, and he calls him by his Hebrew name Saul, and which is doubled to denote vehemency and affection; (See Gill on Luke 22:31) he knew him as one of his sheep, though straying, and calls him by name, and expostulates with him, wherefore he should persecute him in his members as he did; for the union between Christ and his people is so close, that what is done to them is done to him. There seems to be a considerable emphasis on the word "me"; "me", who have been they surety from everlasting; "me", who hath loved thee and given myself for thee; "me", who have shed my blood, laid down my life, and died for thee; "me", who am now at my Father's right hand, interceding for thee, that grace might be bestowed upon thee, the set time being now come.

Handelingen 9:4 In-Context

2 En begeerde brieven van hem naar Damaskus, aan de synagogen, opdat, zo hij enigen, die van dien weg waren, vond, hij dezelve, beiden mannen en vrouwen, zou gebonden brengen naar Jeruzalem.

3 En als hij reisde, is het geschied, dat hij nabij Damaskus kwam, en hem omscheen snellijk een licht van den hemel;

4 En ter aarde gevallen zijnde, hoorde hij een stem, die tot hem zeide: Saul, Saul! wat vervolgt gij Mij?

5 En hij zeide: Wie zijt Gij, Heere? En de Heere zeide: Ik ben Jezus, Dien gij vervolgt. Het is u hard, de verzenen tegen de prikkels te slaan.

6 En hij, bevende en verbaasd zijnde, zeide: Heere, wat wilt Gij, dat ik doen zal? En de Heere zeide tot hem: Sta op, en ga in de stad, en u zal aldaar gezegd worden, wat gij doen moet.