As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
Parallel translations
- WEB As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
- KJV And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
- BSB As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
- NASB Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
- NLT As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.
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
As Saul neared Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly blazed around him. The risen Lord breaks into his journey.
Overview
The dramatic light signals a direct intervention by the glorified Christ. Saul, intent on persecution, is arrested not by men but by God himself. This sudden encounter shows that conversion is ultimately God's sovereign work, breaking in on a hostile heart with overwhelming grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Acts 26:12–13“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests,
- 1 Cor 15:8and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
- Acts 22:6As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
- Rev 21:23The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
- 1 Tim 6:16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
- Ps 104:2He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
- Acts 9:17Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
- Rev 22:5There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
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 9:3 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.