Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 9:7

"And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man." — Acts 9:7 (ASV)

And the men who journeyed with him. Why these men attended him is unknown. They might have been appointed to aid him, or they may have been travelers with whom Saul had accidentally joined.

Stood speechless. In Acts 26:14, it is said that they all fell to the earth at the appearance of the light. But there is no contradiction. The narrative in that place refers to the immediate effect of the appearance of the light. They were immediately struck to the ground together. This was before the voice spoke to Saul (Acts 26:14).

In this place (Acts 9:7), the historian is speaking of what occurred after the first alarm. There is no improbability that they rose from the ground immediately and surveyed the scene with silent amazement and alarm.

The word speechless—enneoi—properly denotes those who are so astonished or so stupefied as to be unable to speak. In the Greek writers, it means those who are deaf and dumb.

Hearing a voice. This means hearing a sound or noise. The word translated 'voice' is frequently used this way, as in Genesis 3:8; 1 Samuel 12:18; Psalms 29:3–4; Matthew 24:31 (Greek); 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

In Acts 22:9, it is said, They which were with me (Paul) saw indeed the light, and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. In this context, the words 'heard not the voice' must be understood as not understanding the words—not hearing the address, the distinct articulation, which Paul heard.

They heard a noise; they were amazed and alarmed, but they did not hear the distinct words addressed to Saul. A similar instance occurs in John 12:28-29, when the voice of God came from heaven to Jesus: The people who stood by and heard it, said that it thundered.

They heard the sound, the noise; they did not distinguish the words addressed to him. See also Daniel 10:7 and 1 Kings 19:11–13.