6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. (Acts 22:6-9 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Apostle Paul having related what he was before his conversion in the foregoing verses, in these and the following verses, he declares the manner of his conversion, saying that when he was travelling to Damascus to pursue his persecuting plan, a great light shone round about him, upon which he fell to the ground, and heard these words articulately spoken to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Where observe, That Christ takes the opposition made against his gospel, and the persecution carried on against his members, as done to himself; it being against his friends, his cause, and interest: as the honour done to the Head redounds to the members, so the wrongs and injuries offered to the members, are resented by the Head. Christ said not thus (when upon earth) to his murderers, Why bind ye me? Why buffet ye me? Why scourge ye me, and crucify me? But now, when his members suffered, he cries out from heaven, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Lord, thou art more tender of thy body mystical, than thou wast of thy body natural; more sensible of thy members’ sufferings, than of thine own!
Observe next, How ready Paul was to understand and know, and how desirous to execute and do, the will of God: Who art thou, Lord? and what wilt thou have me to do? We may sooner find fire without heat, than a true convert without operative grace.
Observe further, Christ’s answer to Paul’s enquiry: Who art thou, Lord; says Paul; I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest, saith Christ.
Where note, That contemned, though not contemptible, name, Jesus of Nazareth, is owned by Christ from heaven.
Mark, he said not, I am Jesus the Son of God, I am Jesus the heir of the world, and Lord of all; but, I am Jesus of Nazareth. He glorieth in that reproach which his enemies cast upon him, Jesus of Nazareth; he owned his name from heaven, to teach his members not to be ashamed of it when reproached by it here on earth.
Observe lastly, The witnesses of Paul’s conversion: The men that were with him, who saw the light but heard not the voice. It is very probable that he had a considerable number of officers with him, to bring both men and women that professed Christianity bound to Jerusalem. These saw the light shining, and heard a confused noise like thunder, but they heard not the articulate, much less the efficacious voice of Christ, which spake so convincingly to Paul’s soul.
Lord, how many are there who come under the preaching of the gospel, that, with Paul’s companions, hear only a confused noise and empty sound! They do not hear the efficacious voice of Christ speaking to their hearts with a strong hand and so remain shut up under the power of unbelief.