“As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around 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.
- KJV 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.
- 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,
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 1:16He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Acts 26:12–18“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests,
- Acts 9:3–8As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
- Matt 17:2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
- Gen 15:2Abram said, “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- 2 Sam 8:6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
- Isa 24:23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders will be glory.
- Gen 14:15He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to 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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