Hearing a Voice and Hearing the Words
By Isaac H. Hall
CONCERNING the statement in verse 8 that the men "heard a voice," and its connection with the statements of the other two accounts of Paul's conversion recorded in the Acts, it is enough here to say that over and over again, in Jewish writings, a distinction is taken between hearing a voice and hearing the words. If this fact had been generally noted, it would have saved much laborious "reconciling" of the several accounts, in a matter where the consistency of the varying statements lies upon the very surface. Luke observes the customary distinction in the way natural to the people and the times; and it is the fault of the habits of other times, that many commentators have supposed that he failed in minute accuracy. Luke does not, indeed, change the word in the account in chapter 22, but he changes the case of the noun; so that the two differ sufficiently. The Syriac also makes a distinction, but in a different way; in chapter 9 it says the "men were hearing a voice (call) only," but in chapter 22, the "people did not hear the voice of him that spake to me."