English Standard Version
Acts 9:4
4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Acts 9:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
- New International Version (NIV)He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
Context of Acts 9:4
2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" 5And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
Read all of Acts 9Acts 9:4 word by word
καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἤκουσεν φωνὴν λέγουσαν αὐτῷ· Σαοὺλ Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he fellπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
- toἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the earthγῆgē · earth: soilG1093
- and heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- a voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- SaulΣαούλSaoul · SaulG4549
- whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- persecutest thouδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
Cross-references for Acts 9:4
- Acts 5:10Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
- Numbers 16:45"Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.
- John 18:6When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
- Romans 11:22Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
- 1 Corinthians 4:7For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
- Genesis 3:9But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"
- Genesis 16:8And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."
- Genesis 22:11But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
- Exodus 3:4When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
- Luke 10:41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
- John 20:16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
- John 21:15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
- Acts 22:7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
- Acts 26:14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
- Isaiah 63:9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- Zechariah 2:8For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:
Commentaries on Acts 9:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4And 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And 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, Daniel 8:17. Also Daniel 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19The conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road is central to the story in Acts. Luke tells the story three times (also 22:1–21; 26:1–29). Paul (Saul) mentions this experience several times in his letters (1 Corinthians 15:8–10; Galatians 1:11–17; Philippians 3:4–11; see 1 Timothy 1:12–17). Saul’s conversion was his call as a prophet and commission as an apostle (Acts 9:15; 22:15, 21; 26:15–18). No one is beyond God's power to reach, save, and use…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-64-6. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 9:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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