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

1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

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 9:17So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 22:6“As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.
• Acts 26:12“One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.
• 1 Corinthians 15:8Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
• Psalms 104:2You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
• 1 Timothy 6:16He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.
• Revelation 21:23And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
• Revelation 22:5And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. 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