Who was the Jesus that Saul was persecuting, compared to the Jehovah of the Old Testament?
The Jesus Saul persecuted was Jehovah of the Old Testament. When Saul asked, 'Who art thou, Lord?' he understood he was addressing Jehovah, the God of Abraham. The answer, 'I am Jesus,' revealed that the crucified, buried, and risen One was the same Jehovah who called Abraham, spoke to Moses, and spoke to David.
Les explains that Saul's question 'Who art thou, Lord?' should really be understood as 'Jehovah,' because Jehovah was the God of Abraham and the One Saul knew he was dealing with. The answer from heaven was 'I am Jesus.' That meant the One Saul deemed an imposter and blasphemer, whose name he was trying to obliterate from Jewish thinking, was the same Jehovah who had called Abraham, spoken to Moses, and spoken to David. This same One was now speaking from heaven after being crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. Les notes what an experience this was, and that while God dealt with Saul outside the city, He was dealing with Ananias in the city.
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
More Questions
Why did Saul become the man he became after his encounter with Jesus?
This experience of hearing the voice from heaven say 'I am Jesus whom you persecuted' explains why Saul became the man he became.
What did Saul realize when Jesus answered 'I am Jesus'?
When Jesus answered 'I am Jesus,' Saul realized that the very person he hated and thought he had to stamp out was the same as his Jehovah from the Old Testament.
Why does Saul's question in Acts 9 say 'Lord' when it should really be 'Jehovah'?
In the original text, Saul's question should really be rendered 'Jehovah' rather than 'Lord,' because Jehovah was the God of Abraham that Saul understood he was dealing with.