“Heard” or “Understood” in Acts 22:9?

“ηκουσαν” can be translated as “heard” and Acts 22:9 will not contradict Acts 9:7. Those who allege a contradiction here need to examine the passages more carefully. Compare:
  • Acts 22:9 says, "they heard not the voice of him [the Lord] that spake to me."
  • Acts 9:5-7 says, "And he [Saul] said, Who art thou, Lord?... And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. "
Acts 22:9 says that the men did not hear the "voice of him that spake" to Saul - this was the voice of the Lord. The voice in Acts 9:5-7, which the men did hear, was the voice of Saul addressing the Lord, saying, "Who art thou Lord?" The men heard Saul's voice which addressed a person, but the men could not see the person who was being addressed. This is why Acts 9:7 says, "hearing a voice, but seeing no man." Consider John Gill's comment on Acts 22:7:

"They heard the voice of Saul, saying, who art thou? and what wilt thou have me to do? but saw nobody that he spoke to, which surprised them; for it is certain they did not hear the voice of Christ, that spake to him, Acts 22:9."