Acts 9:3 BSB — MannaFest

Acts 9:3

As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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:

KJV

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

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Commentary

3 voices

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book V (220)

Indeed, when I hear that this man was chosen by the Lord after He had attained His rest in heaven, I feel that a kind of improvidence is imputable to Christ, for not knowing before that this man was necessary to Him; and because He thought that he must be added to the apostolic body in the way of a fortuitous encounter rather than a deliberate selection; by necessity (so to speak), and not voluntary choice, although the members of the apostolate had been duly ordained, and were now dismissed to their several missions.

The record, by era

The Reformation1 voice

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

In craving epistles of the high priest, he ran headlong against Christ willingly; and now he is enforced to obey whether he will or no. This is surely the most excellent mercy of God, in that that man is reclaimed unto salvation contrary to the purpose of his mind, whom so great a heat carried headlong into destruction.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

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.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

17 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἐν	en	In	G1722 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
τῷ	tō	<the>	G3588 →
πορεύεσθαι	poreuesthai	proceeding	G4198 →
ἐγένετο	egeneto	it came to pass	G1096 →
αὐτὸν	auton	[as] he	G846 →
ἐγγίζειν	engizein	[is] drawing near	G1448 →
τῇ	tēa	<the>	G3588 →
Δαμασκῷ,	Damaskō	to Damascus,	G1154 →
ἐξαίφνης	exaiphnēs	suddenly	G1810 →
τε	te	also	G5037 →
αὐτὸν	auton	him	G846 →
περιήστραψεν	periēstrapsen	flashed around	G4015 →
φῶς	phōs	a light	G5457 →
ἐκ	ek	from	G1537 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
οὐρανοῦ·	ouranou	heaven;	G3772 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Timothy 6:16
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:17
  Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- John 1:18
  No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
- 1 John 1:5
  And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
- Colossians 1:15
  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- Psalms 90:2
  Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Through
Revelation 21:23
And 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.
leads to
- Isaiah 60:19–20
  No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your…
- Revelation 22:5
  There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and…
Through
1 Corinthians 15:8
And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 9:1
  Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

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The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

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01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Acts

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Acts