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I. CONSOLATION. This word is a two-edged sword; it carries comfort to those who are within, and reproof to those who are without. It is spoken to an adversary; but it is spoken for a friend. The first comfort given to fallen man was in a word spoken to his destroyer (Genesis 3:15). In the same way Israel was comforted, "Touch not Mine anointed," etc. Here, too, the Head will sustain the members by a reproof addressed to the Master. I scarcely know a more comforting word than this. Nowhere is the oneness of Christ and His disciples more clearly expressed. The Speaker is not now the Man of Sorrows: all power has been given into His hands. As you experience pain when any member of your body is hurt, so Christ cries out when an enemy's hand strikes some poor saint in Damascus. For this is the privilege of all Christians. Safety is secured, and therefore measured, by the power, not of the saved, but of the Saviour. The Queen's flag is the aegis of the temper woman as well as the stalwart warrior, and woe to the man who strikes either. Let Saul venture to say, Lord, when did we persecute Thee? The King shall answer, "Inasmuch as ye did it," etc. Here is my safety — I am His, part of Himself. We shall be able by and by to number up God's mercies, and nothing will be sweeter than the discovery of those signal rescues which Christ has achieved for us while we, like an infant sleeping in a burning house, were aware neither of the flame that was already singeing our garments nor of the strong arm of that brother who bore us beyond its reach.

II. REPROOF. While the word carries consolation to the disciples, it bears terrible reproof to adversaries. Mark here —

1. That although Saul is an enemy to Jesus, Jesus is no enemy to Saul, and the word is spoken not to cast him out, but to melt him down, and so win him near. In His glory, as in His humiliation, Jesus being reviled reviles not again. He draws a clear distinction between the converted and the unconverted, but it does not lie in that the first are received and the second rejected, but in this, that those who are already near are cherished as dear children, and the distant prodigals are invited to turn and live. Nor can we be surprised at this generosity. If, when we were His enemies, He won us, we cannot wonder that the door is still open for those who are without.

2. The form of the address betrays the tenderness of Jesus. The repetition of the name expresses sharp condemnation and tender pity. When you intend simple approval or disapproval you call the name only once; when you intend to condemn and win back you duplicate the call. "John" may be the prelude to either praise or blame, but "John, John," always means that he is doing evil, and that you mean him good (see John 20:16; cf. Luke 10:41, 42). It is the double call that Christ is addressing to the world today; at the great day it will be single — Depart ye cursed, or Come ye blessed.

3. In Saul's case the redoubled stroke was effectual. He grieved for the sin that was rebuked, and accepted the mercy that was offered.

(W. Arnot, D. D.)

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KJV: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

WEB: He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"