Acts 9:7

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

1. Saul was leading a group of men. We don't know exactly how many but several. He needed enough to arrest and bring back to Jerusalem all they captured. Remember this was a120 mile journey.

2. They stood speechless. They did not know what to say, what to do, how to respond.

3. In this passage - They heard a voice, but saw no man. Other accounts seem to give conflicting statements.

4. Study this chart for a clear understanding of all the statements.

Passage Description Acts 9:7 Heard a voice - saw no man Acts 22:9 Saw the light - did not hear the voice Acts 26:13-14 Saw the light - Voice spoke in the Hebrew tongue 5. In the first passage they heard audible sounds of a voice but did not see the source of this sound.

6. In the second passage they did not hear (understand) what was being said. (I may hear someone say something to me but not understand the words. I will say, "What did you say? I did not hear you." The means that I did not clearly hear the word and understand the message.)

7. The third passage will explain why they heard (the sound) but did not hear (understand) the message. It was spoken in Hebrew. Most Jews did not know or understand Hebrew. Only Jewish scholars would know this language. Jesus was speaking to Saul - and not to the group. So the speech was in a tongue that Saul knew and understood.

8. I have done work in Russia. I hear people talking but I do not understand what they are saying without an interpreter. I hear (the audible sound) but I do not hear (understand the message).