Acts 9:8

“And Saul arose from the earth, etc.] As he was bid by Christ, (<440906>Acts 9:6) and when his eyes were opened he saw no man; neither Christ, who appeared to him from heaven, whom he had before seen, nor even any of his companions, nor indeed any object: the Syriac version renders it, “he saw nothing”; not anything at all; and the Ethiopic version, “he could not see”: when he opened his eye lids, he perceived his sight was gone, and this showed it to be real blindness; and which was an emblem of the ignorance and blindness he had been in: but they led him by the hand; the men that were with him, perceiving that he could not guide himself, took him by the hand, and led him on his journey; and…”

“Saul arose . . . and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man--after beholding the Lord, since he "could not see for the glory of that light" (Act 22:11), he had involuntarily closed his eyes to protect them from the glare; and on opening them again he found his vision gone. "It is not said, however, that he was blind, for it was no punishment" [BENGEL].”

“When his eyes were opened - He naturally closed them at the appearance of the light, and in his fright kept them closed for some time. He saw no man - This darkness continued three days, Acts 9:9. There is no reason to suppose that there was a miracle in this blindness, for in Acts 22:11, it is expressly said to have been caused by the intense light. “And when I could not see for the glory of that light,” etc. The intense, sudden light had so affected the optic nerve of the eye as to cause a temporary blindness. This effect is not uncommon. The disease of the eye which is thus produced is called “amaurosis,” or more commonly “gutta serena.” It consists in a loss of sight without any apparent…”

“he saw: Act 9:18, Act 13:11, Act 22:11; Gen 19:11; Exo 4:11; Kg2 6:17-20 Acts 9:9”