"Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 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.  As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

Here is what strikes me about this passage:  the last verse.

Until this point, Saul is connected with the high priest.  he is connected with the synagogues.  He is connected with the men and women who are called the Way.  But he is not connected to Jesus.

This explains why the experience knocks him to his knees.  Saul, who is soon to be called Paul, has been so religious but not Christ following.  In fact, we don't really see Saul have an experience with God except when he watches Stephen get stoned - and that is only Stephen's experience.

But don't blame Saul too quickly.  We all struggle trying to see God through our stuff.  We can all be distracted by family, church, nation, love...  whatever.  And these are not bad things.  They are not the Best Thing!

You and I and Saul are called to follow the Best!