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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 22:6 - 22:11
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_22:6-11
6"But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' 9And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.' 11But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus."
Act_22:6 "about noontime" This is an added detail not found in Act_9:3.
Act_22:7 This is a repeat of Act_9:4.
Act_22:8
NASB, NJB "Jesus the Nazarene"
NKJV, NRSV,
TEV "Jesus of Nazareth"
Paul shares his personal testimony three times in Act_9:1-31; Act_26:4-18, but here and Act_26:9 are the only places where he uses this designation. Literally, this is "Jesus the Nazarene." This is a term of derision in Act_24:5, but a term of prophecy in Mat_2:23. It is possible that it is not a geographical designation, but a Messianic title from "branch" (cf. Isa_11:1; Isa_53:2) from the Hebrew word nçser (cf. Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15; Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12). See Special Topic at Act_2:22.
▣ "whom you are persecuting" See full note at Act_9:4.
Act_22:9 "but did not understand the voice" There is no contradiction between the accounts of Paul's conversion in Act_9:7; Act_22:9. The Greek grammar implies that his companions heard the sound, but did not understand the words. See Act_9:7 for a fuller discussion.
Act_22:10 "all that has been appointed for you" This is a perfect passive indicative. It reflects the words of Jesus to Ananias in Act_9:15-16. Paul had a very specific and difficult mission to accomplish. In several ways Paul's vision and commission follow that of OT prophets (cf. Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1; Ezekiel 2-3).
Act_22:11 I think this was the cause of Paul's "thorn in the flesh." Some theories regarding Paul's thorn in the flesh are:
1. early Church Fathers, Luther, and Calvin, say it was spiritual problems with his fallen nature (i.e., "in the flesh")
2. Chrysostom says it was a problem with persons (cf. Num_33:55; Jdg_2:3)
3. some say it was epilepsy
4. Sir William Ramsay says it was malaria
5. I think it was ophthalmia, a common eye problem (compare Gal_4:13-15; Gal_6:11) exacerbated or caused by this initial blindness on the Damascus road (cf. Acts 9, possibly an OT allusion in Jos_23:13)