And 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.
Parallel translations
- WEB As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
- BSB About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
- NKJV “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
- NASB “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,
- NLT “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
On the road near Damascus at midday, a great light from heaven suddenly blazed around Paul. The risen Christ broke into his journey with overwhelming glory.
Overview
This is the first of three accounts of Paul's conversion in Acts (chapters 9, 22, 26). The light brighter than the noonday sun reveals the glory of the risen and exalted Christ. God's grace seized Paul while he was actively pursuing evil, showing that salvation is God's sovereign initiative, not man's seeking.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Rev 1:16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- Acts 26:12–18Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
- Acts 9:3–8And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
- Matt 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
- Gen 15:2And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
- 2 Sam 8:6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
- Isa 24:23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
- Gen 14:15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 22:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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