“Who art thou, Lord?”
The full verse · Acts 26:15 · KJV
, art , ? he , .
Asked by
Paul: then called Saul, fallen to the earth on the road to Damascus, as he recounts it before King Agrippa (Acts 26:12-14)
Asked to
Jesus: the risen Lord, who had just spoken from heaven, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 26:14)
The Scene
On the road to Damascus, lying on the ground in a light brighter than the sun, Saul has just heard a voice ask why he persecutes the speaker (Acts 26:13-14).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionSaul did not know who was speaking. A light from heaven and a voice calling him by name suggested he was facing someone with authority, but he did not recognize the One he had been fighting. Gill, on the same words in Acts 9:5, says Saul "knew not Christ by his form or voice, as Stephen did," and "knew neither the person, nor voice of Christ." Barnes, also on Acts 9:5, says that "Lord" here means no more than "sir," a respectful address. The question is honest: Saul needed to know who was speaking.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe answer was immediate and plain: "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" (Acts 26:15). The One whose name Saul had fought (Acts 26:9) was alive and speaking. Jesus went on: "rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness" (Acts 26:16). He promised to deliver Saul from the people and the Gentiles and sent him "to open their eyes" (Acts 26:17-18).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsSaul had "received authority from the chief priests" to imprison believers, and when they were put to death, he "gave my voice against them" (Acts 26:10). He was traveling to Damascus "with authority and commission" to continue the work (Acts 26:12).
All three accounts in Acts record this question and answer (Acts 9:5; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:15). In Acts 22:8 the answer is "I am Jesus of Nazareth." Barnes, on Acts 9:5, says the answer makes it clear "that there was a personal appearance of the Saviour; that he was present to Saul."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis is the question every person must eventually ask: who is Jesus? Saul asked it on his face in the dust, and Jesus answered with His own name. The persecutor's whole world turned on that answer. Matthew Henry paraphrases the reply as "I am Jesus; he whom thou hast despised, and hated, and vilified."
Jesus did not stop at revealing His identity. He gave Saul a new purpose in the same breath: "a minister and a witness" (Acts 26:16). For Saul, knowing who Jesus is led directly to knowing why he was there. Paul's whole defense before Agrippa rests on this moment. He is not just arguing a doctrine; he is telling what happened when he asked, "Who art thou, Lord?"
Look Closer
Why did Saul ask, "Who art thou, Lord?"
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, who are You to me today, and what purpose are You calling me to as I come to know You better?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Saul had strong opinions about Jesus before he truly knew Him. What ideas about Jesus have you held that changed when you met Him in Scripture or in life?
- Share the moment or season when the question "Who is Jesus?" became personal for you.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
It is right to ask Jesus who He is. Saul's question was honest, and Jesus answered him clearly. You can bring the same question to Him: in Scripture, in prayer, and in the company of others who know Him.
Notice too that knowing Jesus came with a calling. Saul did not just get information; he got a mission (Acts 26:16-18). As you learn who Jesus is, be ready, as Saul was, to hear what He wants you to do. Paul's response is worth following: he "was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19).
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