Hi Mrl1970,
I think this "seemingly" contradiction can be easily dispelled when viewed as a whole.
Acts 9:3-7 [NIV]
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they
heard the sound but did not see
anyone (No mention of not seeing the light, the text states not seing anyone. Upon hearing the voice, would they not have expected to?) Acts 22:6-9 [NIV]
6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 ” ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.
9 My companions saw the light (Saul is not saying that they seen a person, just the light. I do not see a contradiction) but they did not
understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
I agree with Kat on the rendering of the Greek word:
akouō [G391] to understand, perceive the sense of what is saidIt would appear contextually that when Christ spoke to Saul on the road, he did so in a manner that only Saul could understand; His message was for Saul only.
Christ spoke similarly in Matthew
Mat 13:9 [NIV]
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear akouō [G391] [understand]. (Christ gave Saul the ears of discernment, not his travelling companions)This should not sound to unusual because Christ seemed to be able to materialize in any form He wanted, following His ressurecion.
John 20:10-16 [NIV]
10 Then the disciples went back to their homes,
11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don't know where they have put him.”
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
As a side note, it would appear that the events as recorded in Acts 9:7 were the fulfillment of Daniels vision / prophecy in Daniel 10:7.
Daniel 10:7-97 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.
8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
Well this is how I have been given to understand.
Comments welcome,
Love to you in Christ,
Darren