3
Andδὲasἐν τῷhe was going,πορεύεσθαιit happened thatἐγένετοheαὐτὸνwas approachingἐγγίζεινDamascus,τῇ Δαμασκῷandτεsuddenlyἐξαίφνηςa lightφῶςfromἐκheavenτοῦ οὐρανοῦflashed aroundπεριήστραψενhim.αὐτὸν
Acts 9:3
Study it in the app“And as he was going, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”
With the Greek beneath
Acts 9:3, word by word
- he was goingπορεύεσθαιporeuesthai
go
To go somewhere, set out.
Where else “poreuesthai” appears- it happened thatἐγένετοegeneto
happen
For an event to occur, for something to take place in history.
Where else “egeneto” appears- was approachingἐγγίζεινengizein
come near
Come near, draw near; be at hand.
Where else “engizein” appears- DamascusΔαμασκῷDamaskōi
Damascus
See it on the mapWhere else “Damaskōi” appears- suddenlyἐξαίφνηςexaiphnēs
suddenly
Suddenly.
Where else “exaiphnēs” appears- a lightφῶςphōs
light
Light from the sun, a lamp or heaven.
Where else “phōs” appears- heavenοὐρανοῦouranou
heaven
God's dwelling, above all that is created.
Where else “ouranou” appears- flashed aroundπεριήστραψενperiēstrapsen
flash around
Shine around, flash around someone like lightning.
Where else “periēstrapsen” appears
Places in this verse
Damascus
Today: Damascus, capital of Syria
A city in southern Syria, about 135 miles (220 km) northeast of Jerusalem; today it is the capital of Syria.
David put it under his control (2 Sam 8:6). On the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Saul, who was going to persecute believers (Acts 9:3-5).
The context
2and asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 · This verse (above)
4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
To study Acts 9 in a group
1. What it says
What happens to Saul on the road to Damascus, and what does the voice say to him? (vv. 3-6)
2. What it means
Ananias hesitates because of what he has heard about Saul, yet goes to him. What moves him to obey the Lord? (vv. 10-17)
3. How I live it
If someone who once hurt you says they have changed, how can you respond with both care and openness?