Acts 22:6 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.
Acts 22:6 nkjv
"Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
Acts 22:6 niv
"About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
Acts 22:6 esv
"As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.
Acts 22:6 nlt
"As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.
Acts 22 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 9:3 | And when he drew near Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. | Direct Parallel Occurrence |
| Acts 26:13 | Then I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. | Direct Parallel Occurrence |
| Galatians 1:16 | to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediately I did not consult with anyone of flesh and blood. | Paul's divine revelation |
| 1 Corinthians 15:8 | And last of all as to one untimely born he appeared also to me. | Paul's apostleship confirmation |
| John 12:30 | Jesus answered, “This voice has not come for my sake but for yours.” | Jesus clarifying the voice |
| John 9:39 | Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” | Theme of spiritual sight/blindness |
| Isaiah 9:2 | The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. | Prophecy fulfilled |
| Isaiah 49:6 | It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the protected of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. | Mission to the Gentiles |
| Ephesians 3:9 | and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. | Revelation of God's mystery |
| Colossians 1:27 | to them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. | Christ in believers |
| 2 Corinthians 4:6 | For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. | Divine light in hearts |
| Acts 26:14 | And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ | Jesus speaking directly |
| Acts 26:19 | Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, | Obedience to the vision |
| Philippians 3:12 | Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus my Lord has made me his own. | Christ making one His own |
| 1 Timothy 1:16 | But for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. | Mercy shown to Paul |
| Romans 11:32 | For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. | God's mercy |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” | Witnessing power |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | Called out of darkness |
| Acts 13:47 | For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’” | Light for Gentiles |
| 1 John 1:5 | This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. | God is light |
| 1 Samuel 26:14 | David also cried out to Saul from the top of the mountain. David answered, “For who has this day chased your life out of my hand? | Saul's persecution of David (parallels Paul) |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 6 Meaning
The verse describes a sudden, blinding light and a voice from heaven, revealing Jesus as the Lord. This experience dramatically changed Paul's life, leading him to faith in Christ and a new mission.
Acts 22 6 Context
This chapter recounts Paul's defense before the Jerusalem crowd after being arrested. He details his early life as a zealous Pharisee and persecutor of Christians. The narrative shifts to his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus, which is what verse 6 directly addresses. The crowd's violent reaction to his testimony highlights the deep animosity towards him, but Paul firmly believes in the divine origin of his calling and the truth of the Gospel, which he continues to proclaim despite opposition. This accounts explains his apostleship and his mandate to preach to the Gentiles.
Acts 22 6 Word analysis
- Ὡς (Hōs): As, when. This conjunction marks the timing of the event.
- ἐξεπορεύοντο (exeporeuonto): They were journeying, were on their way. This imperfect tense indicates a continuous action in the past.
- καὶ (kai): And. A simple conjunction connecting phrases.
- ἐγένετο (egeneto): It happened, there was. A common aorist verb for a sudden occurrence.
- ἄφνω (aphno): Suddenly, unexpectedly. Emphasizes the abruptness of the divine intervention.
- ἐκ (ek): From. Indicates the source of the light.
- τοῦ (tou): The. Definite article.
- οὐρανοῦ (ouranou): Heaven. Genitive case, indicating origin from heaven.
- περιλάμψαι (perilampsai): To shine around, to flash around. Aorist infinitive, describing the action of the light.
- αὐτὸν (auton): Him. Accusative case, the object of the light's shining.
- φῶς (phōs): Light. Nominative case, the subject of the shining.
- ἰσχυρόν (ischuron): Strong, powerful. Describes the intense nature of the light.
- ἕως (heōs): Until. Marks the extent of the light's effect.
- τῆς (tēs): The. Definite article.
- γῆς (gēs): Earth. Genitive case.
- ὅπου (hopou): Where. Indicates the location.
- ἐγὼ (ego): I. First-person pronoun, identifying Paul.
- αὐτός (autos): Myself. Emphasizes his personal experience.
- εἱχόμην (eichomēn): I was situated, I was present. Imperfect tense, indicating his state at the moment of the event.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Ὡς ἐξεπορεύοντο καί ἐγένετο": "As they were journeying and it happened" – This sets the scene, highlighting the ordinary nature of their travel just before an extraordinary event.
- "ἄφνω ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ περιλάμψαι αὐτὸν φῶς ἰσχυρόν": "Suddenly from heaven a strong light shone around him" – This phrase is crucial, depicting the immediate, celestial origin and overwhelming intensity of the light that profoundly impacted Paul.
- "ἕως τῆς γῆς ὅπου ἐγὼ αὐτός εἱχόμην": "Until the earth where I myself was situated" – This emphasizes the encompassing nature of the light, reaching down to his precise location, demonstrating a personal divine encounter meant for him.
Acts 22 6 Bonus section
The description of the light as "strong" (ἰσχυρόν, ischuron) emphasizes its overwhelming power and divine source. This light served to disorient Saul and his companions, incapacitating them physically while spiritually awakening Saul. It signifies the blinding nature of truth and divine glory to those accustomed to darkness. Paul's personal encounter on the road to Damascus is consistently presented as a direct, divinely ordained event, underscoring the authenticity of his apostleship and the Gospel he preached. This experience parallels Old Testament encounters with God's glory, such as Moses on Mount Sinai.
Acts 22 6 Commentary
This verse vividly describes the Damascus Road experience, a pivotal moment in Christian history. The sudden, powerful light from heaven, surpassing the sun, was not merely a physical phenomenon but a divine manifestation. It signaled God's direct intervention in Saul's life. The "strong light" symbolizes divine truth and the revelation of Christ's glory, which broke through Saul's darkness and blindness. This encounter was not just an external event but an internal illumination, initiating his transformation from persecutor to apostle. The light was so intense that it prostrated him and his companions, demonstrating God's sovereign power. The personal nature of the encounter, affecting "him" specifically, underscored the unique calling God had for Paul.