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Read the Bible
The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible
Acts 9:3
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedDevotionals:
- EveryParallel Translations
He got the warrant and was riding fast toward Damascus when a bright light consumed him on the trail.
As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
And as he was traveling, it happened that when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
And while he was journeying, he came near Damascus; and suddenly he saw a light from heaven shining round him;
But as he was journeying, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven,
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
And as he journeyed, he drew near Damascus; and suddenly there shone about him a light from heaven.
But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;
And as he iourneyed he came neere Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heauen.
But in the going it happened! He drew near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the heaven shone around him.
And as he was goinge on his iourney, it fortuned, that he came nye vnto Damasco, and sodenly there shyned rounde aboute hi a light fro heaue,
As he was on his journey, and near Damascus, on a sudden, a light from heaven surrounded him,
He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?"
As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ];
And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him.
But as he went on his iorney it fortuned yt he drue nye to Damasco and sodenly ther shyned rounde about him a lyght fro heven.
And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined around him a light from heaven:
And in the going, he came nigh to Damascus, and suddenly there shone round about him a light from the heaven,
So Saul headed toward Damascus. As he came near the city, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
He was on the road and nearing Dammesek, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him.
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
Now as he iourneyed, it came to passe that as he was come neere to Damascus, suddenly there shined rounde about him a light from heauen.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly a light from the sky shone round about him;
As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Dammesek, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
As he traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.Acts 22:6; 26:12; 1 Corinthians 15:8;">[xr]
And as he went and began to come nigh to Darmsuk, suddenly there shone forth upon him a light from heaven;
And as he was going, and began to approach Damascus, suddenly there was poured upon him a light from heaven.
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.
He went on his way until he came near Damascus. All at once he saw a light from heaven shining around him.
And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
But, as he was journeying, it came to pass that he was drawing near unto Damascus, and, suddenly, there flashed around him a light out of heaven;
And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Now as he proceeded, it happened that when he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
And when he iourneyed, it came to passe, that as he was come nye to Damascus, sodenly there shyned rounde about hym a lyght from heauen:
So Saul went to Damascus. When he came near the city, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shined around him.
Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him.
And whanne he made his iourney, it bifelde, that he cam nyy to Damask. And sudenli a liyt from heuene schoon aboute hym;
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
as: Acts 9:17, Acts 22:6, Acts 26:12, Acts 26:13, 1 Corinthians 15:8
a light: Psalms 104:2, 1 Timothy 6:16, Revelation 21:23, Revelation 22:5
Reciprocal: 1 Kings 19:15 - wilderness of Damascus Daniel 4:31 - fell Matthew 17:5 - a voice Matthew 28:4 - shake Acts 9:14 - here Acts 12:7 - and a 1 Corinthians 9:1 - have Philippians 3:12 - apprehended
Cross-References
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.
And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:
Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,
I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures: Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
he said, "Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers."
He also declared: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus,.... Some say it was a mile from Damascus: though, no mention is made of his obtaining letters from the high priest, only of his desiring them; yet there is no doubt but they were granted him; the design of the historian, under a divine direction, being to give an account of the temper and disposition of Saul; and he having got them, set out on his journey in high spirits, and proceeded on with the same wicked intentions, till he came near the city; where he designed to open and show his commission, and execute his wrathful purposes; but he is not suffered to go into the city with such a Spirit:
and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven; which exceeded the light and brightness of the sun, for it was at midday, Acts 26:13 and so the Ethiopic version here inserts this clause, "and it was noon time"; which circumstance shows that the light was very extraordinary; and it was an emblem of that inward and spiritual light which was now quickly communicated to him, light being the first thing in the new, as in the old creation; and of that Gospel light he was hereafter to spread in the world.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And 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 expressed here would be used in describing a flash of lightning. Many critics have supposed that God made use of a sudden flash to arrest Paul, and that he was thus alarmed and brought to reflection. That God might make use of such means cannot be denied. But to this supposition in this case there are some unanswerable objections:
- It was declared to be the appearance of the Lord Jesus: Acts 9:27, “Barnabas declared unto them how that he had ‘seen the Lord in the way;’” 1 Corinthians 15:8, “And last of all he was seen of me also”; 1 Corinthians 9:1, “Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?”
(2)Those who were with Saul saw the light, but did not hear the voice, Acts 22:9. This is incredible on the supposition that it was a flash of lightning near them.
(3)It was manifestly regarded as a message to Saul. The light appeared, and the voice spake to him. The others did not even hear the address. Besides,
- It was as easy for Jesus to appear in a supernatural manner as to appear amidst thunder and lightning. That the Lord Jesus appeared is distinctly affirmed, and we shall see that it is probable that he would appear in a supernatural manner.
In order to understand this, it may be necessary to make the following remarks:
(1) God was accustomed to appear to the Jews in a cloud; in a pillar of smoke, or of fire; in that special splendor which they denominated the Shechinah. In this way he went before them into the land of Canaan, Exodus 13:21-22; compare Isaiah 4:5-6. This appearance or visible manifestation they called the “glory of” Yahweh, is. Isaiah 6:1-4; Exodus 16:7, “in the morning ye shall see the glory of the Lord”; Acts 9:10; Leviticus 9:23; Numbers 14:10; Numbers 16:19, Numbers 16:42; Numbers 24:16; 1 Kings 8:11; Ezekiel 10:4. See the notes on Luke 2:9, “The glory of the Lord shone round about them.”
(2) The Lord Jesus, in his transfiguration on the mount, had been encompassed with that glory. See the notes on Matthew 17:1-5.
(3) He had spoken of similar glory as pertain that with which he had been invested before his incarnation, and to which he would return; John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify thou me with the glory which I had with thee before the world was”; Matthew 25:31, “The Son of Man shall come in his glory.” Compare Matthew 16:27; Matthew 19:28. To this glory he had returned when he left the earth.
(4) It is a sentiment which cannot be shown to be incorrect, that the various appearances of “the angel of Yahweh,” and of Yahweh, mentioned in the Old Testament, were appearances of the Messiah the God who would be incarnate - the special protector of his people. See Isaiah 6:1-13; compare with John 12:41.
(5) If the Lord Jesus appeared to Saul, it would be in his appropriate glory and honor as the ascended Messiah. That he did appear is expressly affirmed.
(6) This was an occasion when, if ever, such an appearance was proper. The design was to convert an infuriated persecutor, and to make him an apostle. To do this, it was necessary that he should see the Lord Jesus, 1 Corinthians 9:1-2. The design was further to make him an eminent instrument in carrying the gospel to the Gentiles. A signal miracle; a demonstration that he was invested with his appropriate glory John 17:5; a calling up a new witness to the fact of his resurrection, and of his solemn investment with glory in the heavens, seemed to be required in thus calling a violent persecutor to be an apostle and friend.
(7) We are to regard this appearance, therefore, as the reappearance of the Shechinah, the Son of God invested with appropriate glory, appearing to convince an enemy of his ascension, and to change him from a foe to a friend.
It has been objected that as the Lord Jesus had ascended to heaven, it cannot be presumed that his body would return to the earth again. To this we may reply, that the New Testament has thrown no light on this. Perhaps it is not necessary to suppose that his body returned, but that he made such a visible manifestation of himself as to convince Saul that he was the Messiah.
From heaven - From above; from the sky. In Acts 26:13, Paul says that the light was above the brightness of the sun at mid-day.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Acts 9:3. Suddenly 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 distinct voice, which appears to have been understood by Saul only.
