Acts 22:6

Friday, 24 November 2023

“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

A more literal translation would be, “And it was to me, traveling and approaching Damascus about midday, suddenly from heaven considerable light gleamed around me” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul told the gathered crowd that he had received letters allowing him to bring in chains to Jerusalem those who followed the Way in Damascus. He continues now, saying, “And it was to me, traveling and approaching Damascus.

Paul notes a few things here that are of interest. The first is that what occurred was as he was approaching Damascus. This means that it occurred outside of the land of Israel. It is not to simply be dismissed because of this though, as some Jewish commentaries attempt to do about such events.

Daniel and Ezekiel had their visions outside of the land. Moses received the law outside of the land. Elijah was taken out of the land when he spoke to the Lord. Etc. Paul is stating this as a fact, and the people were to receive it as such.

Secondly, he next says it was about midday. This was omitted from the account in chapter 9. Paul is giving a first-hand account of the matter. Stating that it was around the middle of the day is then telling the crowd that what occurred was more intense and brighter than even the sun in its fullest moment.

The glory which he beheld eclipsed the splendor of the sun. This is similar to how Jesus is described in Revelation 1:16 –

“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”

As for the word translated as midday, this is the second and last time it is seen in Scripture. The word is mesémbria. It is a compound word coming from mesos, meaning “middle,” and hémera, meaning “day.” Hence, it means “midday.” Of the manifestation, he next says it occurred “suddenly from heaven.”

This was not something that could be attributed to man, such as someone in the distance carrying a mirror that reflected the light. Rather, the direction is from above. It wasn’t there, and then it was suddenly there. Continuing, Paul says, “considerable light gleamed around me.”

The word periastrapto is also used for the second and last time. It comes from peri, around, and astraptó, to flash forth. The word astraptó was used in Luke 24:4 to describe the dazzling garments worn by the two men at Jesus’ tomb. This was more than a temporary flash. Rather, there was a gleaming radiance from heaven that suddenly enveloped Paul.

Life application: Paul was chosen as an apostle and designated to go forth to the Gentiles. He was a hard case in his fight against Christianity, and it took a hard lesson for him to understand just who he was persecuting.

The same is true with many of the people of the world today. But it should not be expected that the Lord is going to suddenly reveal Himself to them. Nor is it wise to listen to people who claim this is how they met the Lord. We now meet the Lord through His completed word.

This is stated explicitly in Scripture. Instead of wasting your time reading books about heavenly visitations and watching videos about people claiming they have seen the Lord, it would be prudent to spend your time reading the Bible and sharing the gospel.

It is incumbent on us to tell the world about Jesus. He is not going to go around His word, popping into people’s heads or offices, to make converts. He has entrusted that sacred duty to the people of His church.

Lord God, what a treasure and a gift Your word is. May we be wise in pursuing it and diligent in sharing it. People need this word to know who Jesus is and what He has done. They need it to understand the gospel. Help us to learn the word and then share it with others. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.