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Selected Verse: Acts 9:4 - Updated King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 9:4 |
Updated King James |
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? |
| |
King James |
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
he fell to the earth--and his companions with him (Act 26:14), who "saw the light" (Act 22:9).
and heard a voice saying unto him--"in the Hebrew tongue" (Act 26:14).
Saul, Saul--a reduplication full of tenderness [DE WETTE]. Though his name was soon changed into "Paul," we find him, in both his own narratives of the scene, after the lapse of so many years, retaining the original form, as not daring to alter, in the smallest detail, the overpowering words addressed to him.
why persecutest thou me?--No language can express the affecting character of this question, addressed from the right hand of the Majesty on high to an infuriated, persecuting mortal. (See Mat 25:45, and that whole judgment scene). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And he fell to the earth - He was astonished and overcome by the sudden flash of light. There is a remarkable similarity between what occurred here, and what is recorded of Daniel in regard to the visions which he saw, Dan 8:17. Also Dan 10:8, "Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision; and there remained no strength in me, for my comeliness (vigor) was turned into corruption, and I retained no strength." The effect was such as to overpower the body.
And heard a voice - The whole company heard a voice Act 9:7, but did not distinguish it as addressed particularly to Saul. He heard it speaking to himself.
Saying unto him ... - This shows that it was not thunder, as many have supposed. It was a distinct articulation or utterance, addressing him by name.
Saul, Saul - A mode of address that is emphatic. The repetition of the name would fix his attention. Thus, Jesus addresses Martha Luk 10:41, and Simon Luk 22:31, and Jerusalem Mat 23:37.
Why - For what reason. Jesus had done him no injury; had given him no provocation. All the opposition of sinners to the Lord Jesus and his church is without cause. See the notes on Joh 15:25, "They hated me without a cause."
Persecutest - See the notes on Mat 5:11.
Thou me? - Christ and his people are one, Joh 15:1-6. To persecute them, therefore, was to persecute him, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:45. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
me?
The Lord identifies Himself with His people. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Saying
In Paul's own account he says that the words were spoken in Hebrew (Act 26:14). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| He heard a voice - Severe, yet full of grace. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| And he fell to the earth - Being struck down with the lightning: many persons suppose he was on horseback, and painters thus represent him; but this is utterly without foundation. Painters are, in almost every case, wretched commentators. |
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as all of you did it not to one of the least of these, all of you did it not to me.
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 persecute you me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me.
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 persecute you me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as all of you did it not to one of the least of these, all of you did it not to me.
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as all of you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, all of you have done it unto me.
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.
2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now all of you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can all of you, except all of you abide in me.
5 I am the vine, all of you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me all of you can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
11 Blessed are all of you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
25 But this comes to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and all of you would not!
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things:
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my loveliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
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 persecute you me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.