Acts 9:7
King James Version
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Acts 22:9
King James Version
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
Is this a contradiction in the Holy Bible? The ESV translates Acts 22:9 differently:
link
Can the original words truly be translated both ways? Is the ESV the correct translation?
It's not a contradiction. It's a contextual issue.
In Acts 9 we read:
Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Act 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Act 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
In Acts 22 we read:
Act 22:5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
Act 22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
Act 22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
Act 22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
Act 22:10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
Act 22:11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
In Acts 26, we read:
Act 26:12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Act 26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
Act 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Act 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
In Acts 9:7, the men who were with Paul,
Act 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Act 9:7 οι δε ανδρες οι συνοδευοντες αυτω ειστηκεισαν εννεοι ακουοντες μεν της φωνης μηδενα δε θεωρουντες
In Acts 22:9, we read:
Act 22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
Act 22:9 οι δε συν εμοι οντες το μεν φως εθεασαντο και εμφοβοι εγενοντο την δε φωνην ουκ ηκουσαν του λαλουντος μοι
Acts 22:9, is saying that while the men "heard" (ακουοντες) a "voice" (φωνης) (Acts 9:7), meaning spoken words, they did not understand the language ("φωνην ουκ ηκουσαν του λαλουντος μοι", as the words means 'voice/language of the one speaking') being spoken, as it was "in the Hebrew tongue" ("τη εβραιδι διαλεκτω") (Acts 26:14), which they did not understand, but Paul did understand, as he was an "Hebrew of the Heberws" (Php. 3:5), of the tribe of Benjamin, &c.
Thayer's lexicon, even provides the following definition for "φωνην":
"3) speech
3a) of a language, tongue"
See also Psa. 19:3 for the connection of the words themselves, in their connectivity. See also Isa. 36 & 2 Ki. 18 for a place in which a voice is heard, and a language spoken, but not all present understand that language being spoken.
