Superman don't need no airplane.

The road from Jerusalem to Damascus 

As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" 

He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn't see anyone.
Acts 9:3-7

Damascus is about 140 miles, (225 kilometers) from Jerusalem, a 30 minute flight, or 3 hours by car, but in the days of the Apostle Paul that journey would take about a week. A week's walking would give anyone a great deal of time for thinking. What, I wonder, did he think about? He was an expert in God's Law, an educated man, feared by Jew and Christian alike, undoubtedly a proud man. In matters pertaining to the religious life of Israel, Paul was very zealous.   

And [you have heard how] I outstripped many of the men of my own generation among the people of my race in [my advancement in study and observance of the laws of] Judaism, so extremely enthusiastic and zealous I was for the traditions of my ancestors. Galatians 1:14 Amplified Bible

Saul's (who became known as Paul) traveling companions were not friends, they were more likely there to act as escorts/guards for any prisoners that  Paul may apprehend in his vendetta against the Christians in Damascus. As they were not Paul's equals, they would not be walking beside him, but maintaining a respectful distance behind him. Paul was, after all, likely at this time a member of the Sanhedrin (an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in Israel) and a Pharisee as well as a prominent, if not a wealthy Roman citizen. Rome did not grant citizenship to every person from a conquered country. Especially so of the troublesome inhabitants of Israel.

Paul does not appear to have been involved with the trial and eventual crucifixion of Jesus, but he took to the subsequent persecution of the "Christ-followers" like a "duck to water". His success at persecuting the disciples of Christ had been so great that they had fled Jerusalem and moved to other cities and towns. Paul was very proud of his success. He was at the very apex of his career and he was not content to let these people escape from his wrath.

At the moment of his "worldly" success he heard the voice....
The Voice that spoke in the dark and created the heavens and the earth.
The Voice that spoke with Adam and Eve in the Garden.
The Voice that spoke out of the burning bush to Moses.
The Voice that spoke to Samuel  
The Voice that raised up Lazarus and later said “It is finished” from the cross at Calvary.

Many of us remember Muhammad Ali in the days of his prime, as Cassius Clay, when he was the Champion of the World as a boxer. He would often go around saying pridefully and with arrogance that he “was the greatest.” One day, when was on an airplane, the flight attendant was walking down the aisle and noticed that Muhammad Ali had not buckled his seatbelt prior to take off, and told him that he needed to. Muhammad Ali said to her, “I’m superman and superman don’t need no seatbelt.” The flight attendant shot back with, “Superman don’t need no airplane either, now buckle up!”

It is very hard for us to admit when we are wrong. It took a bright light searing Paul’s eyes and searching  his soul, leaving him blind and dependent upon others to show him that he was wrong. On the road to Damascus, God took care of Paul’s pride, arrogance and self-sufficiency.

Over the years I have known a few people who have experienced a "Damascus Road" conversion; drug dealers and users who have become missionaries, pimps and prostitutes who have become chaplains, an abortionist who became a missionary doctor, dedicated to saving starving children, a wife beater who now ministers (together with his wife) to abused women. Such conversions are usually as dramatic as they are sudden. Sadly I have also known a few, who after their dramatic conversion, have failed to "capitalize" on such a God moment, and now walk deeper in darkness than before.

It's not so much about what God said or did; but rather how we respond.