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 Living Translation (NLT)As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.

Context of Acts 9:3

1Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

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 9:17And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 22:6“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
• Acts 26:12“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
• 1 Corinthians 15:8Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
• Psalms 104:2Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
• 1 Timothy 6:16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
• Revelation 21:23The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
• Revelation 22:5There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall 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