Acts 26:13 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.
Acts 26:13 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.
Acts 26:13 niv
About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
Acts 26:13 esv
At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
Acts 26:13 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.
Acts 26 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 9:3 | As he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined from heaven a light round about him. | Initial account of Paul's conversion light. |
| Acts 22:6 | As I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. | Second account, reinforcing midday, heavenly light. |
| Mt 17:2 | And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun... | Christ's face shining like the sun at the Transfiguration. |
| Rev 1:16 | ...and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. | John's vision of the glorified Christ, whose face shines like the sun. |
| Dan 12:3 | And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. | Saints shining with divine wisdom/righteousness, light as a metaphor for glory. |
| Exod 3:2 | And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush... | Divine manifestation often involving light/fire. |
| Exod 24:17 | And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount... | God's glory on Mount Sinai seen as a brilliant, consuming fire. |
| Ps 104:2 | Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment... | God's essence inherently associated with light. |
| Isa 60:19 | The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light... | Future perfect light from the Lord, superior to natural light sources. |
| Hab 3:4 | And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. | God's radiant glory equated with overwhelming light. |
| Jn 1:4 | In him was life; and the life was the light of men. | Christ as the source of true life and spiritual light. |
| Jn 8:12 | Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness... | Jesus' self-declaration as the ultimate source of spiritual light. |
| 2 Cor 4:6 | For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. | Divine light creating spiritual understanding and revealing Christ's glory. |
| Rev 21:23 | And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it... | New Jerusalem lit by God's glory, rendering natural light unnecessary. |
| Gen 15:12 | And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. | God's encounter with Abram, sometimes accompanied by dramatic phenomena. |
| Dan 10:7 | And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them... | Divine visions impacting others physically even if they don't fully perceive them. |
| 1 Cor 9:1 | Am I not an apostle? am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?... | Paul basing his apostleship on his direct encounter with the risen Christ. |
| Gal 1:12 | For I neither received it of man, neither was taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. | Paul asserting the divine, not human, source of his gospel and call. |
| 2 Cor 12:1-4 | I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago...caught up to the third heaven. | Paul's later extraordinary spiritual experiences confirming divine access. |
| Isa 42:7 | To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. | Spiritual transformation from blindness and captivity to sight and freedom. |
| Jn 9:39 | And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. | Jesus' mission involving reversal of spiritual perception, granting sight. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ... that I may win Christ. | Paul's radical re-evaluation of his life after meeting Christ. |
| Jer 1:5 | Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet... | God's pre-ordination and calling of His servants for specific tasks. |
| Rom 1:1 | Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. | Paul's self-identification, stemming from his Damascus Road experience. |
Acts 26 verses
Acts 26 13 Meaning
Acts 26:13 recounts Paul's personal testimony to King Agrippa concerning his conversion. He describes encountering a supernaturally brilliant light at midday, emanating directly from heaven, which far surpassed the sun's intensity. This dazzling illumination enveloped him and his travelling companions, signaling an undeniable and transformative divine intervention that forever changed the trajectory of his life.
Acts 26 13 Context
Acts 26:13 is part of Paul's impassioned defense before King Agrippa II, Festus, and other dignitaries in Caesarea Maritima. Paul, falsely accused by the Jewish leaders of offenses against their law and the Roman Emperor, takes the opportunity to preach the gospel and justify his ministry. His defense revolves around recounting his personal conversion experience on the road to Damascus (previously detailed in Acts 9 and Acts 22). He describes his former life as a zealous Pharisee actively persecuting Christians, his dramatic encounter with the resurrected Jesus, and his subsequent commissioning as an apostle to the Gentiles. This specific verse emphasizes the dramatic nature and undeniable reality of the heavenly light that initiated his transformation, laying the groundwork for the supernatural voice that followed, giving him his commission. The cultural context includes Jewish beliefs in divine light (Shekinah glory) and angelic visitations, as well as the Roman legal system under which Paul was being tried.
Acts 26 13 Word analysis
- At midday (μεσημβρία - mesēmbria): This specifies the exact time, noon, when the sun's natural light is at its most intense. This detail emphasizes that the encountered light was not a faint vision or a play of shadows but was distinctly superior to the strongest natural illumination, making its supernatural origin undeniable. It lends credibility to the account as an eyewitness testimony.
- O king (βασιλεῦ - basileu): A formal and respectful direct address to King Agrippa II, maintaining decorum within the Roman judicial setting and underscoring the solemnity of Paul's testimony.
- I saw (εἶδον - eidon): "I saw with my own eyes," indicating a direct, objective perception, not merely an internal impression. Paul asserts this as a concrete, factual event, observable even if others did not fully comprehend its significance.
- in the way (ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ - en tē hodō): Literally "on the road" or "on the journey." This places the encounter precisely in the context of his ongoing mission to persecute believers in Damascus. God intercepted him in the midst of his active opposition to Christ, dramatically changing his path.
- a light (φῶς - phōs): Signifies more than mere illumination; it embodies divine revelation, truth, the presence of God or Christ, and often brings clarity, salvation, and life, contrasting with spiritual darkness and error. This was not ordinary light but an expression of divine glory.
- from heaven (ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ - ek tou ouranou): Denotes its origin as divine, supernatural, and directly from God's realm, distinguishing it from any earthly source. This emphasizes God's direct intervention in human affairs.
- above the brightness (ὑπὲρ τὴν λαμπρότητα - huper tēn lamprotēta): "Surpassing," "exceeding," or "beyond" the brilliance. The preposition "huper" highlights its incomparability. The light was of an intensity far beyond any known natural phenomenon.
- of the sun (τοῦ ἡλίου - tou hēliou): The ultimate natural light source. By contrasting it with the sun at its strongest (midday), Paul underscores the light's supernatural power and majesty. It was a visible manifestation of divine glory.
- shining round about me (περιλάμπω - perilampō, from peri 'around' and lampō 'to shine'): This verb indicates an all-encompassing, pervasive illumination, not just a distant glow. It suggests the light entirely enveloped Paul and his companions, leaving no part of their surroundings unaffected, creating an inescapable experience.
- and them which journeyed with me (καὶ τοὺς σὺν ἐμοὶ πορευομένους - kai tous syn emoi poreuomenous): This crucial detail indicates that the experience was not a hallucination or private vision, but an objective event witnessed, to some extent, by others present. While they might not have understood its spiritual significance or heard the words as clearly (Acts 9:7, Acts 22:9), they experienced its physical impact, corroborating the extraordinary nature of the event.
Acts 26 13 Bonus section
- Apostolic Authentication: This vision of light from heaven, leading to an audible voice, became the bedrock of Paul's claim to be a legitimate apostle, one who had "seen the Lord" (1 Cor 9:1), thereby having direct divine authority and not needing to rely on human intermediaries or training from existing apostles.
- Symbolism of Light and Blindness: The external, overwhelming light causing physical blindness mirrors Paul's former spiritual blindness concerning Christ. This event brought him from profound spiritual darkness into the glorious light of Christ, emphasizing salvation as an act of divine illumination (Eph 5:14).
- Consistent Testimony: Paul reiterates this same account multiple times (Acts 9, 22, 26), each time offering slightly different details, yet maintaining core consistency. This repetitive telling under various circumstances (before disciples, a mob, and royalty) suggests genuine eyewitness testimony rather than fabrication, strengthening its credibility.
- Theophany/Christophany: This brilliant light from heaven functions as a Christophany (an appearance of Christ) or Theophany (an appearance of God). It's a common biblical motif for God's presence, often described with intense light, fire, or cloud (e.g., Exod 3, 19; Ezek 1; Rev 1).
Acts 26 13 Commentary
Acts 26:13 is pivotal in Paul's defense, laying the visual foundation for the spiritual revelation that follows. The sheer intensity and heavenly origin of the light establish the undeniable supernatural nature of his encounter. It wasn't an internal prompting or a philosophical realization but an external, overwhelming divine manifestation. The reference to "midday" and "above the brightness of the sun" intentionally removes any possibility of it being a common atmospheric phenomenon, positioning it as an unprecedented act of God's direct presence, specifically that of the glorified Christ.
This light, symbolic of God's truth and revelation, pierced through Paul's spiritual darkness, which had driven him to persecute Christ's followers. It simultaneously enlightened him to his error and physically blinded him, highlighting his immediate need for new sight and spiritual understanding. The shared experience with his companions validates the event as objectively real, despite their differing comprehension of its specific message. It serves as powerful apologetic evidence, validating Paul's claim to apostleship as divinely commissioned rather than self-appointed. The light represents the moment God intersected human will with His divine purpose, dramatically turning a persecutor into an apostle for Christ.