Bible Strands
Acts 22:7
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul speaks to a Jerusalem crowd, recounting his journey to Damascus. He describes falling to the ground at noon as a bright heavenly light flashed around him, during which a voice directly addresses him.
The words — ἔπεσὶ (epesa) literally means "I fell," and ἤκουσα (ēkousa) means "I heard," grounding the account in physical collapse and auditory perception. The particle τε (te) links the two actions, marking the fall as the immediate precursor to hearing.
The thread — The voice’s confrontation parallels God’s legal challenge in Jeremiah 2:9 and aligns with the principle in Matthew 25:45 that harming believers equals harming Christ. Paul later summarizes his former violence in 1 Timothy 1:13.
Why it lands — The text reports that the voice identifies itself as Jesus and directly links Saul’s persecution to Christ. It requires the reader to recognize that opposing the church is opposing the risen Lord and demands a reorientation of allegiance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 2:9 Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children.
- Matthew 25:45 Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’
- 1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
- Genesis 3:9 But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”
- Genesis 16:8 “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.
- Genesis 22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
- Genesis 22:11 Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
- Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
- 1 Samuel 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
- Isaiah 43:22 But you have not called on Me, O Jacob, because you have grown weary of Me, O Israel.