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

1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

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

• ·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 into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
• Acts 22:6And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
• Acts 26:12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
• 1 Corinthians 15:8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
• Psalms 104:2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
• 1 Timothy 6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
• Revelation 21:23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
• Revelation 22:5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever 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