Acts 9 · Verse 4

Acts 9:4

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:4, King James Version

Acts 9:4 in other translations

BSBHe fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
WEBHe fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
ASVand he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
YLTand having fallen upon the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute?'
DARBYand falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?
BBEAnd he went down on the earth, and a voice said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?
WebsterAnd he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

What does Acts 9:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 9:4-6
4-6. he fell to the earth--and his companions with him (Ac 26:14), who "saw the light" (Ac 22:9). and heard a voice saying unto him--"in the Hebrew tongue" (Ac 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 Mt 25:45, and that whole judgment scene).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. 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 (vigour) 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, Acts 9:7, but did not distinguish it as addressed particularly to Saul. He heard it speaking to himself.

Saying unto him, etc. 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, Lk 10:41 and Simon, Lk 22:31; and Jerusalem, Mt 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. Jn 15:25, "They hated me without a cause."

Persecutest. Mt 5:11.

Thou me? Christ and his people are one, Jn 15:1-6. To persecute them, therefore, was to persecute him, Mt 25:40,45.

(b) "to kick" Acts 5:39 (*) "pricks" "goads"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 9:1-9

So ill informed was Saul, that he thought he ought to do all he could against the name of Christ, and that he did God service thereby; he seemed to breathe in this as in his element. Let us not despair of renewing grace for the conversion of the greatest sinners, nor let such despair of the pardoning mercy of God for the greatest sin. It is a signal token of Divine favour, if God, by the inward working of his grace…

Read the full comment on Acts 9:1-9 →

Acts 9:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
πεσὼνpesōnhaving fallenG4098
ἐπὶepionG1909
τὴνtēntheG3588
γῆνgēngroundG1093
ἤκουσενēkousenhe heardG191
φωνὴνphōnēna voiceG5456
λέγουσανlegousansayingG3004
αὐτῷ·autōto him;G846
ΣαοὺλSaoulSaulG4549
Σαούλ,SaoulSaul,G4549
τίtiwhyG5101
μεmeMeG3165
διώκεις;diōkeisdo you persecute?G1377

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 9:4

  • Zechariah 2:8

    For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12

    For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

  • Genesis 22:11

    And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

  • Isaiah 63:9

    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

  • Romans 11:22

    Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

  • John 21:15

    So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

  • Acts 26:14-15

    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 persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

  • 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 3:9

    And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

  • Matthew 25:40

    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

  • Ephesians 5:30

    For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

  • Acts 22:7-8

    And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he fell.
5:10; Nu 16:45; Joh 18:6; Ro 11:22; 1Co 4:7
Saul.
Ge 3:9; 16:8; 22:11; Ex 3:4; Lu 10:41; Joh 20:16; 21:15
why.
22:7,8; 26:14,15; Isa 63:9; Zec 2:8; Mt 25:40,45,46; 1Co 12:12
Eph 5:30

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 9:3

    And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

  • Acts 9:4

    And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

  • Acts 9:5

    And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Read all of Acts 9

Acts 9:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y cayendo en tierra, oyó una voz que le decía: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et étant tombé par terre, il entendit une voix qui lui disait: Saul! Saul! pourquoi me persécutes-tu?
German
Elberfelder 1871		und auf die Erde fallend, hörte er eine Stimme, die zu ihm sprach: Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cadens in terram audivit vocem dicentem sibi: Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris?