Question concerning Acts 9:3-6?

Question

Here are the verses:

Acts 9:3-6
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecut me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

This was of course, the story of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. My question is this:

Saul was a well-learned student of Gamaliel......so he was well versed in the books of Moses & the other prophets. Isn't it amazing that Saul cried out the word "Lord" when he was blasted to the ground?

It's almost as if he knew beforehand who it was by calling Him "Lord"

Your thoughts.

Answer 1

I don't know that he knew beforehand, I think that is speculation, as the verses don't say that explicitly. Paul later said that he persecuted the church of God, and wasted it. Had he had some inkling from Gamaliel that Jesus was Lord, you'd think he'd have been fully aware of it beforehand. But Paul said what he did (the persecution of the church), he did in ignorance.

It could be that, as it was with me, when your Creator gets a hold of you, you know who it is.

Answer 2

Saul, as you mentioned, was very well versed in the Torah. He knew that Moses could not look upon God and live, but was allowed to view His "afterglow" as He went by. This was enough to send Moses reeling, and even had a bit rub off on his own face.
When Saul looked into this light, there was obviously something different about it. It was not painful as one would have by looking in to the Sun, but rather gave, perhaps, an overpowering peace and fulfillment. When the words of Jesus came to Saul, it may have been a voice he recognized during his times of meditation and prayers--that still, small voice if you will.
Remember also that Jesus said that "His sheep will know His voice", and Saul was definitely one of Jesus' sheep. Running astray? Yes, but one good smack from His rod set Saul in the right direction in no time.
Just like Moses, Saul needed an identity so that he could more accurately walk in the right way. Moses asked, "What is Your name?" as did Saul with "Lord, who are You?" The response was the same... "I AM". Only this time there was more information, "I am Yeshua--the One you are persecuting."

Answer 3

I think this should teach us a very valuable lesson, being that we should be forgiving to everyone, no matter what, because you don't know, God can use anyone for His Work, and it also shows how forgiving The Lord is, if we think we have committed a sin to great, we can think again, Jesus forgave Saul, and The Holy Spirit came into him, giving him the new name of coarse Paul, and look at all the work The Holy Spirit did through him, and continues to teach us today.

Answer 4

Lord was used throughout the old testament as a word for God, so the fact that Paul used this word is not significant.

What is significant is that Jesus states that he is Jesus Christ, rather than using his title of Lord or God to let Paul know that not only are they one and the same, but that Paul had been 100 percent wrong is dismissing Jesus as the promised Messiah.

In the Psalms, David uses the famous, my Lord said to my Lord.

Answer 5

YES! It is as if the Holy Spirit immediately told Him it was God, like it came natural to him that it was God.....which is awesome.
Also I notice in this verse -- along with other scriptures that Jesus spoke-- God did not give Saul the option to go into the city and follow His commands" He TOLD Saul to do it and Saul did it....notice that? There was no question, He commanded him and he obeyed. (This shows that Saul was definately in God's will of salvation!)

Answer 6

I guess if lights from Heaven flashed all around me and I heard a booming voice coming from above, I would assume it was the Lord too. Wouldn't you?

Answer 7

G2962
κύριος
kurios
koo'-ree-os
From κῦρος kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title): - God, Lord, master, Sir.

Darlin' - the word, "Lord" here, in Greek - was more commonly a respectful way of saying "Mister." He may not have grasped in that shocking moment that he was speaking to his Lord God. Many of us have trouble thinking clearly in the face of shocking events.

...Just a thought.

Peace.

Answer 8

Because of his education, Paul knew that what he was experiencing was a manifestation of The LORD. He immediately recognized his error, and submitted to Him.
Minister

Answer 9

I think he might have been subconsciously looking for the reality of the Messiah and when he encountered Jesus, He'd studied, He knew without any doubt.

Answer 10

Lord is a normal method of addressing anyone of superiority and a good idea if you do knot know the rank of whom you are addressing