John Calvin Commentary Acts 9:8

"And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus." — Acts 9:8 (ASV)

He was raised up from the earth. Luke adds now, that he was overcome with such great fear that he could not rise by himself; and not only that, but he was also blind for a time, so that he might forget his former cleverness and cunning. When Luke says that after that his eyes were opened, he saw not, it seems that this does not agree with the other words that will follow shortly, namely, that his eyes were covered, as it were, with scales; but the meaning of this passage is that he was indeed blind and deprived of his sight for those three days; because when he opened his eyes, he saw nothing.