Acts 9:7-9

Evidently Saul’s traveling companions heard a voice-like sound, but only Saul understood Jesus’ words (cf. Acts 9:7; Acts 22:9; Acts 26:14; cf. John 12:29). They all fell to the ground when they saw the light (Acts 26:14), but now they stood speechless. The light of the vision he had seen had blinded Saul temporarily. His companions had to lead him off into Damascus where he waited for three days for further instructions, blind, fasting, and praying (cf. Acts 1:14; Luke 1:22). [Note: On the practice of fasting, see Kent D. Berghuis, "A Biblical Perspective on Fasting," Bibliotheca Sacra 158:629 (January-March 2001):86-103.]

"He who had intended to enter Damascus like an avenging fury was led by the hand into that city, blind and helpless as a child." [Note: Barclay, p. 73.]

"In the light of Paul’s subsequent career, his single-minded devotion to Christ, his tireless efforts to bring Jews and Gentiles alike face to face with the same Lord as he had encountered on the Damascus road, his remorse for his vindictive cruelty, his atonement for it in selfless service of the Church he had tried to crush, it is frivolous to attempt to explain away Paul’s conversion as a hallucination, an attack of sunstroke, or an epileptic fit [as some Bible critics have alleged]. It was as is every genuine conversion experience a miracle of the grace of God." [Note: Neil, p. 128.]