Paul’s Encounter With the Lord on the Damascus Road
Did Paul change his story about what he experienced on the road to Damascus?
In Acts chapter nine, we are first informed of this event. While headed to Damascus with a letter from the High Priest giving him authority to imprison those who followed The Way—believed that Jesus was the Messiah, died for sins, and was raised again on the third day according to the Scriptures—suddenly a light shone around him from heaven and he fell to the ground.
In Acts 9:7, the men who were with him heard a voice, but could not see anyone. Hearing this voice, they looked around but were unable to see the person speaking.
In Acts chapter twenty-two, Paul recounts his experience on the road to Damascus to the Jews in Jerusalem who were seeking to kill him. They had been stirred up against Paul by some of the Jews from Asia who claimed Paul brought a Gentile into the temple. Those who were with Paul saw the light, but did not hear the word spoken by the voice (Acts 22:9). This agrees with what happened in Acts 9:7, for although they heard the voice, Paul now explains they did not understand what was said. In Acts 9, his companions were not able to see anyone speak; however, Paul reveals in Acts 22 that they were able to see the light.
When Paul recounted this story to King Agrippa in Acts 26, he stated that the voice he heard was in the Hebrew dialect, explained what was said to him, but did not give any details about his companions.
When we examine all of the areas where Paul recounts the event on the road to Damascus, we find that the event happened in the middle of the day and that the light he saw was brighter than the noonday sun (Acts 22:13), the voice that spoke to him, spoke in the Hebrew dialect (Acts 22:14), his companions could see the light (Acts 22:9), and although they heard a voice they did not hear what was said explicitly to Paul (Acts 22:9). The conclusion then is that Paul did not change the story of the event, only added more detail. Since it was Luke who recorded the event in Acts, the details were not provided; however, when Paul recounts it, he gives more details. Therefore, upon examination, we discern that Paul did not contradict what was recorded; he only provided additional information and clarity.
*In Acts 22:9, Paul recounts that those who were with him did not hear the sound of the words spoken to him. In Acts 9:7, they heard the sound of a voice. Acts 22:9 focuses on the content of what was spoken, whereas Acts 9:7 refers to the sound of His voice. Thus, Paul is not changing his story.