Act 9:4 | RWP | e4.org | He fell upon the earth ( πεσων επ την γην ). Second aorist active participle. So in Paul says: "I fell unto the ground" ( επεσα εις το εδαφος ) using an old word rather than the common γην . In Paul states that "we were all fallen to the earth" ( παντων καταπεσοντων ημων εις την γην , genitive absolute construction). But here in verse "the men that journeyed with him stood speechless" ( ιστηκεισαν ενεο ). But surely the points of time are different. In Paul refers to the first appearance of the vision when all fell to the earth. Here in verse Luke refers to what occurred after the vision when both Saul and the men had risen from the ground. Saul, Saul ( Σαουλ, Σαουλ ). The Hebrew form occurs also in ; where it is expressly stated that the voice was in the Hebrew (Aramaic) tongue as also in (Ananias). Deissmann ( Bible Studies , p. 316) terms this use of Σαουλ "the historian's sense of liturgical rhythm." For the repetition of names by Jesus note (Martha, Martha), (Simon, Simon). Me ( με ). In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in verse made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers ( ; , ; ). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in , but not here.

‏ Acts 9:4

He fell upon the earth ( πεσων επ την γην ). Second aorist active participle. So in 22:7 Paul says: "I fell unto the ground" ( επεσα εις το εδαφος ) using an old word rather than the common γην. In 26:14 Paul states that "we were all fallen to the earth" ( παντων καταπεσοντων ημων εις την γην, genitive absolute construction). But here in verse 7 "the men that journeyed with him stood speechless" ( ιστηκεισαν ενεο ). But surely the points of time are different. In 26:14 Paul refers to the first appearance of the vision when all fell to the earth. Here in verse 7 Luke refers to what occurred after the vision when both Saul and the men had risen from the ground.

Saul, Saul ( Σαουλ, Σαουλ ). The Hebrew form occurs also in 22:7; 26:14 where it is expressly stated that the voice was in the Hebrew (Aramaic) tongue as also in 9:17 (Ananias). Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 316) terms this use of Σαουλ "the historian's sense of liturgical rhythm." For the repetition of names by Jesus note Lu 10:41 (Martha, Martha), Lu 22:31 (Simon, Simon).

Me ( με ). In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in verse 5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Mt 10:40; 25:40, 45; Joh 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in 26:14, but not here.