Suddenly there shined round about him a light, &c.— It was about noon that Saul with his company came nigh the city of Damascus; when suddenly there appeared the Shechinah, or the glory of the Lord, far more bright and dazzling than the sun in its meridiansplendor: and this great light from heaven shone peculiarly round about them; upon which they all fell flat upon their faces, as the prophet Daniel had done upon like occasions. Daniel 8:17; Daniel 10:9. See also Acts 26:14. Saul, who had his head full of Jewish learning, was well acquainted with the notion of the Shechinah, and therefore he soon apprehended this to be the excellent glory. But, upon hearing a voice from it, which charged him with persecution, he was greatly surprised, and inquired, "Who art thou, Lord, that I should be charged with persecuting thee?" The voice out of the midst of the glory replied, "I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou persecutest; for the persecution of my disciples and members is the persecution of me: it is hard for thee to kick against the goads,— κεντρα, "—a proverbial expression of impotent rage, which hurts oneself and not those against whom it is levelled. See chap. Acts 22:8.
Related Commentaries of Acts 9:3
Acts 9:3-6
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him,Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said,I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him,Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.