God’s Word Translation
Acts 9:3
3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
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
1Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest 2and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟ and imprison them in Jerusalem. As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5Saul asked, “Who are you, sir?” The person replied, “I’m Jesus, the one you’re persecuting.
Read all of Acts 9Acts 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 left and entered Judas’ house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 22:6“But as I was on my way and approaching the city of Damascus about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
- Acts 26:12“I was carrying out these activities when I went to the city of Damascus. I had the power and authority of the chief priests.
- 1 Corinthians 15:8Last of all, he also appeared to me. I’m like an aborted child ⌞who was given life⌟.
- Psalms 104:2You cover yourself with light as though it were a robe. You stretch out the heavens as though they were curtains.
- 1 Timothy 6:16He is the only one who cannot die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has seen him, nor can they see him. Honor and power belong to him forever! Amen.
- Revelation 21:23The city doesn’t need any sun or moon to give it light because the glory of God gave it light. The lamb was its lamp.
- Revelation 22:5There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings 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
In the dictionaries
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
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