Bible Strands
Acts 9:4
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A voice from heaven addresses Saul as he collapses to the ground during his journey to Damascus. The encounter occurs immediately after a sudden light flashes around him.
The words — πεσὼν (pesōn) means "having fallen," describing the sudden physical collapse, while ἤκουσεν (ēkousen) means "he heard," marking the auditory nature of the divine address.
The thread — The pattern of a heavenly voice calling a figure by a repeated name appears in Genesis 22:11, and the identification of the church with Christ connects to the body metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:12.
Why it lands — The text states that attacking the church is equivalent to attacking Jesus, which requires immediate recognition of divine authority rather than human justification.
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 he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Cross-references
- Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—
- 1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
- Genesis 22:11 Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
- Isaiah 63:9 In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
- Romans 11:22 Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
- John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
- Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
- 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.
- Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’