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Q: Please tell me why these two chapters seem to contradict each other.

Acts 9:7 The men that were with Paul heard but did not see

Acts 22:9 the men that were with Paul Saw but did not hear

See what i mean? Am i missing something?

Tony Cevallos

Act 9:7
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

Act 22:9
And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not (3756) the voice of him that spake to me.

They heard a voice in Acts 9:7, but did not hear a voice in Acts 22:9. Can this be? No, they do not contradict each other. In Acts 22:9 Paul spoke in Hebrew custom, asking a question, expecting a confirming answer, asking a response from his audience, confirming that they understand what he was talking about. In Hebrew custom it is common for people to ask questions in an conversation, it stimulates both parties to think before they talk. When there are no questions asked, it is not considered as a conversation. To prove this statement, let’s look at the word “not” used in Acts 22:9.

Word: ou
Pronounc: oo
Strong: G3756
Orig: a primary word, the absolute negative [cf G3361] adverb
Use: HE Strong:
1) no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer


It is a negative word, but also a question, inserted in the sentence, demanding conformation or agreement. To translate this verse correctly in English, it would be written like this;

“They that were with me were afraid when they saw the light, but have they not heard the voice that spoke to me?”

He has put the emphasis on the fact that Y’shua spoke to Him and that he was persecuting Y’shua when he persecuted His people.

This is a translation mistake that came about by not understand the Hebrew culture and customs, expressing it in English, to people with (normally) a Greek way of thinking.


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