Acts 9:3

Acts 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
• New International Version (NIV)As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

Context of Acts 9:3

1Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied.

Acts 9:3 word by word

ἐν δὲ τῷ πορεύεσθαι ἐγένετο αὐτὸν ἐγγίζειν τῇ Δαμασκῷ, ἐξαίφνης τε αὐτὸν περιήστραψεν φῶς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• asἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• he journeyedπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• cameγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• nearἐγγίζωeggizō · to come nearG1448
• DamascusΔαμασκόςDamaskos · DamascusG1154
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• suddenlyἐξαίφνηςexaiphnēs · suddenlyG1810
• there shined round aboutπεριαστράπτωperiastraptō · to shineG4015
• a lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for Acts 9:3

• Acts 9:17Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 22:6“As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
• Acts 26:12“I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests.
• 1 Corinthians 15:8Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
• Psalms 104:2He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe, spreading out the sky like a canopy,
• 1 Timothy 6:16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
• Revelation 21:23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
• Revelation 22:5Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Commentaries on Acts 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Suddenly there shined round about him - This might have been an extraordinary flash of the electric fluid, accompanied with thunder, with which God chose to astonish and confound Saul and his company; but so modified it as to prevent it from striking them dead. Thunder would naturally follow such a large quantity of this fluid as appears to have been disengaged at this time; and out of this thunder, or immediately after it, Christ spoke in an awful and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And as he journeyed - On his way, or while he was traveling. The place where this occurred is not known. Irby and Mangles say it is “outside the eastern gate.” In the Boat and Caravan it is described as about a mile from the town, and near the Christian burying-ground which belongs to the Armenians. All that we know of it is that it was near to Damascus. And suddenly - Like a flash of lightning. There shined round about him … - The language which is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19The conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road is central to the story in Acts. Luke tells the story three times (also 22:1–21; 26:1–29). Paul (Saul) mentions this experience several times in his letters (1 Corinthians 15:8–10; Galatians 1:11–17; Philippians 3:4–11; see 1 Timothy 1:12–17). Saul’s conversion was his call as a prophet and commission as an apostle (Acts 9:15; 22:15, 21; 26:15–18). No one is beyond God's power to reach, save, and use…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. he came near Damascus--so Ac 22:6. Tradition points to a bridge near the city as the spot referred to. Events which are the turning points in one's history so imprint themselves upon the memory that circumstances the most trifling in themselves acquire by connection with them something of their importance, and are recalled with inexpressible interest. suddenly--At what time of day, it is not said; for artless simplicity reigns here. But he himself…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 9:3

• Bigotry
• Converts
• Heart
• Jesus, the Christ
• Light
• Miracles
• Paul
• Persecution
• Regeneration
• Syria
• Vision

In the dictionaries

• Damascus
• Apostle
• Authority
• Confound
• Forthwith
• Kick
• Resurrection of Christ
• Acts of the Apostles
• Ascension
• Chronology of the New Testament

Commentaries on Acts 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings