Acts 9:7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Stood speechless, hearing a voice— Stood perfectly astonished;—stood fixed and confounded. The original implies the attitude of a person who is so astonished as not to be able to stir. In chap. Acts 22:9 it is said, that they did not hear the voice of him that spake: but this is easily reconciled with the present passage, by the double sense of the Greek word φωνη, which signifies either a human voice, or indistinct sound of words, in general; or a distinct voice or speech. In the passage before us, it is to be understood in the general sense, and in the other as denoting a distinct and articulate sound of words, intelligible to the hearers: so that the companions of Saul heard a voice, but not in so clear a manner as to understand what was said. And this seems to be further confirmed from hence, that we do not find that any of them embraced the Christian truths or dispensation, which probably would have been the case, had it been designed for the conviction of any but Saul himself. So John 12:29 those present when the voice from heaven came to Christ, heard the sound, so as to take it for thunder, without distinctly understanding what was said. From St. Paul's taking such particular notice that the voice spake unto him in the Hebrew tongue, chap. Acts 26:14. Dr. Benson thinks we may gather, that possiblyhis companions might be Hellenistic Jews, who, though theyheard the sound of the words, yet did not understand their meaning,—for not hearing is frequently put in scripture for not understanding; see particularly 1 Corinthians 14:2 in the original. And it does not appear, that Saul informed them who it was that made this glorious appearance unto him, or what the voice had said: very likely he kept it secret from every one, at least till he had received further directions in Damascus. It is said also, that they saw no man; and the case was the same with the men who were with Daniel when he saw the vision, Daniel 10:7.