New International VersionI fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
New Living TranslationI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
English Standard VersionAnd I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Berean Standard BibleI fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
Berean Literal Bibleand I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?'
King James BibleAnd I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
New King James VersionAnd I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
New American Standard Bibleand I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
NASB 1995and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
NASB 1977and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
Legacy Standard Bibleand I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
Amplified BibleAnd I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
Christian Standard BibleI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? ’
Holman Christian Standard BibleI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’”
American Standard VersionAnd I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Contemporary English VersionI fell to the ground and heard a voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you so cruel to me?"
English Revised VersionAnd I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationI fell to the ground and heard a voice asking me, 'Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?'
Good News TranslationI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?'
International Standard VersionI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?'
NET BibleThen I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
New Heart English BibleI fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Weymouth New TestamentI fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleI fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
World English BibleI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI also fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?
Berean Literal Bibleand I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?'
Young's Literal Translation I fell also to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute?
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd I fell to the ground, and heard a voice, Saul, Saul, why drivest thou me out? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd falling to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
New American BibleI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
New Revised Standard VersionI fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd I fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, “Shaul, Shaul, why do you persecute me?” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
Godbey New Testamentand I felt upon the ground, and heard a voice, saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Haweis New Testament
And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Mace New Testament
I fell to the ground, and heard a voice pronounce these words, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
Weymouth New Testament
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'
Worrell New Testament
and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me,'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?'
Worsley New Testament
and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me,Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Paul's Defense to the Crowd… 6About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7I felltothegroundandhearda voicesayto me,‘Saul,Saul,whydo you persecuteMe?’8‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.…
Cross References Acts 9:4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Acts 26:14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
1 Corinthians 15:8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
John 12:29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
Matthew 17:6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
John 10:4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 20:16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
1 Samuel 3:4-10Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” / He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. / Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” ...
Exodus 3:4When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
Isaiah 6:8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”
Genesis 22:11Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
Numbers 22:9-12Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” / And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: / ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’” ...
Ezekiel 1:28The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
Daniel 10:9I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.
Revelation 1:17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
Treasury of Scripture And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? Saul. Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Whereart thou? Genesis 16:8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. Genesis 22:1,11 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold,here Iam… why. Isaiah 43:22-26 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel… Jeremiah 2:5,9 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? … Matthew 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye didit not to one of the least of these, ye didit not to me. Jump to Previous AttackingCruellyEarsEarthFellGroundHeardPersecutePersecutestPersecutingSaulVoiceJump to Next AttackingCruellyEarsEarthFellGroundHeardPersecutePersecutestPersecutingSaulVoiceActs 22 1.Paul declares how he was converted to the faith,17.and called to his apostleship.22.At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people exclaim on him.24.He would have been scourged;25.but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapes.I fell to the groundThis phrase describes Saul's physical reaction to the divine encounter on the road to Damascus. Falling to the ground is a common biblical response to a theophany or divine presence, indicating reverence, fear, or overwhelming awe. Similar reactions are seen in Ezekiel 1:28 and Daniel 10:9, where individuals fall prostrate before God's glory. This act signifies Saul's immediate submission and recognition of a power greater than himself. and heard a voice say to me
Hearing a voice from heaven is a significant motif in Scripture, often indicating divine communication or revelation. In the Old Testament, God frequently spoke to His prophets in this manner, as seen with Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:4) and Samuel in the temple (1 Samuel 3:4). The voice Saul hears is personal and direct, emphasizing the intimate nature of God's call and the importance of the message being delivered. ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
The repetition of Saul's name underscores the urgency and personal nature of the address, similar to God's call to Moses (Exodus 3:4) and Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10). The question highlights the unity between Christ and His followers, as persecuting Christians is equated with persecuting Christ Himself. This reflects the teaching of Jesus inMatthew 25:40, where He identifies with His people. Theologically, this underscores the concept of the Church as the Body of Christ, with believers intimately connected to their Savior. Saul's persecution of Christians is thus a direct affront to Jesus, marking a pivotal moment of conviction and transformation for Saul, who would become the Apostle Paul. Persons / Places / Events 1. Saul (Paul)Originally a zealous Pharisee and persecutor of Christians, Saul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus marks a pivotal transformation in his life, leading to his conversion and subsequent mission as the Apostle Paul. 2. Jesus ChristThe risen Lord who appears to Saul in a vision, identifying Himself with the persecuted Christians and initiating Saul's conversion. 3. The Road to DamascusThe location of Saul's dramatic encounter with Jesus, symbolizing a journey from spiritual blindness to enlightenment and faith. 4. Persecution of ChristiansSaul's initial mission was to arrest and persecute followers of "The Way," highlighting the early church's struggles and the transformative power of Christ's intervention. 5. Voice from HeavenRepresents divine intervention and the personal call of Jesus to Saul, emphasizing the direct and personal nature of God's call to individuals. Teaching Points Divine EncounterGod can intervene in our lives in unexpected ways, calling us to a new purpose and direction. Personal CallJesus knows us personally and calls us by name, inviting us into a relationship with Him. Transformation through GraceNo past is too dark for God's grace to redeem and transform; Saul's life is a testament to this truth. Persecution and Identification with ChristJesus identifies with His followers, and persecution against them is seen as persecution against Him. Responding to God's CallOur response to God's call can lead to profound changes in our lives and the lives of others. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Acts 22
Did God rename Saul as Paul?
Acts 9:7 vs. 22:9: Why does one passage say companions heard a voice while the other claims they did not?
Is Paul's reported encounter and voice from heaven in Acts 26:14-15 verifiable, or merely subjective experience?
Did the voice immediately specify Paul's duties? Yes (Acts 26:16-18) or No, he was told to go to Damascus for instructions (Acts 9:7; 22:10)?(7) Saul, Saul . . .--We have again, as in Acts 9:4, the Hebrew form of the name.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek I fellἔπεσά(epesa)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4098:A reduplicated and contracted form of peto; probably akin to petomai through the idea of alighting; to fall.toεἰς(eis)Preposition
Strong's 1519:A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.theτὸ(to)Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.groundἔδαφος(edaphos)Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1475:The base, ground, bottom. From the base of hedraios; a basis, i.e. The soil.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.heardἤκουσα(ēkousa)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 191:To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.a voiceφωνῆς(phōnēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5456:Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.sayλεγούσης(legousēs)Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.to me,μοι(moi)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.‘Saul,Σαοὺλ(Saoul)Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4549:Of Hebrew origin; Saul, the Jewish name of Paul.Saul,Σαούλ(Saoul)Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4549:Of Hebrew origin; Saul, the Jewish name of Paul.whyτί(ti)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101:Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.do you persecuteδιώκεις(diōkeis)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1377:To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.Me?’με(me)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
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NT Apostles: Acts 22:7 I fell to the ground and heard (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
