Acts 9:7

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 9:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.
Acts 9:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the men which journeyed with him, etc.] Out of respect to him, to keep him company; or rather to assist him in his designs: stood speechless: astonished and amazed, they had not power to speak one word, nor to rise from the ground, and move one step forward; they were as if they were thunderstruck, and fastened to the earth; for this standing is not opposed to their being fallen to the earth, but to their going forward, and only expresses the surprise and stupidity that had seized them: hearing a voice, but seeing no man; that is, they heard the voice of Saul, saying, who art thou? and what wilt thou have me to do? but saw nobody that he spoke to, which surprised them; for it is certain…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the men . . . stood speechless--This may mean merely that they remained so; but if the standing posture be intended, we have only to suppose that though at first they "all fell to the earth" (Act 26:14), they arose of their own accord while Saul yet lay prostrate. hearing a--rather "the" voice--Paul himself says, "they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me" (Act 22:9). But just as "the people that stood by heard" the voice that saluted our Lord with recorded words of consolation and assurance, and yet heard not the articulate words, but thought "it thundered" or that some "angel spake to Him" (Joh 12:28-29) --so these men heard the voice that spake to Saul, but heard not the articulate…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the men which journeyed with him - Why these men attended him is unknown. They might have been appointed to aid him, or they may have been travelers with whom Saul had accidentally fallen in. Stood speechless - In Acts 26:14, it is said that they all fell to the earth at the appearance of the light. But there is no contradiction. The narrative in that place refers to the immediate effect of the appearance of the light. They were immediately smitten to the ground together. This was before the voice spake to Saul, Acts 26:14. In this place Acts 9:7 the historian is speaking of what occurred after the first alarm. There is no improbability that they rose from the ground immediately, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The men - stood - Having risen before Saul; for they also fell to the ground, Act 26:14. It is probable they all journeyed on foot. Hearing the noise - But not an articulate voice. And seeing the light, but not Jesus himself, Act 26:13, &c. Acts 9:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Act 22:9, Act 26:13, Act 26:14; Dan 10:7; Mat 24:40, Mat 24:41 Acts 9:8”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification