About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.
Parallel translations
- WEB at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.
- KJV At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
- NKJV at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
- NASB at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me.
- NLT About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.
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
Paul describes seeing at midday a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around him and his companions. He recounts the dazzling appearance of the risen Christ.
Overview
At noon, when the sun was strongest, an even greater light revealed the glory of the risen and exalted Jesus. This third account of Paul's conversion in Acts stresses the overwhelming, supernatural nature of the encounter. The blazing light testifies that the crucified Jesus lives in glory, confronting Paul, and every hearer, with the reality of the risen Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Rev 21:23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Rev 1:16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Acts 22:6About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
- Matt 17:2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
- Acts 9:3As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
- Isa 30:26The light of the moon will be as bright as the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days—on the day that the LORD binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wounds He has inflicted.
- Isa 24:23The moon will be confounded and the sun will be ashamed; for the LORD of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders with great glory.
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 26:13 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.