1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
6 “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,
7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
8 “And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
Saul’s companions on the road to Damascus heard a noise but didn’t [spiritually] hear or understand it as God’s voice. Why do you suppose that was? Do you think it was because they made a “free-will” decision NOT to understand it? Of course not. Saul’s companions did not have “ears to hear” anything from God because He did not GIVE them spiritual ears. When Saul understood the voice Of Jesus speaking to him, it was the first outward proof that his spirit had been quickened, he was now alive and had ears to hear.
Being a Roman citizen and traveling on the authority of the High Priest, I believe Saul was NOT walking. I believe he was riding a horse or he was in a carriage or wagon of some sort. Regardless, he was KNOCKED to the ground. Do you think that was voluntary? Do you think he made a “free-will” decision to go to the ground?
Bottom line - Please don’t think for one second Paul had a choice any more than Lazarus had a choice. When God quickened Paul’s spirit on the road to Damascus he WAS going to come to Christ, just as when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead - Lazarus WAS going to come to Christ. And that is what happens every time God saves a lost man - He raises him from the dead (Ephesians 2:1, 2:5, Colossians 2:13) and he WILL come to Christ (John 6:37).
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