Acts 9:3

Journeyed. There is now no way to know by which road Saul and his companions went, but they had the choice of at least two roads. One of these was the main caravan route from Egypt to Damascus, which ran parallel with the Palestinian coast line until it struck east to cross the Jordan River above the Lake of Galilee. The other way led through Samaria and crossed the Jordan south of the Lake of Galilee, and after passing through Gadara, went northeastward to Damascus. The 150 mi. might be covered in one week.

Near Damascus. The site of Saul’s vision is unknown. Conflicting and unfounded traditions point out four different places. It must have been relatively close to the city, however, for his companions “led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus” (v. 8; cf. AA 117).

The book of Acts records three accounts of what now took place near Damascus. Concerning minor variations in parallel Bible accounts, see Additional Note on Matt. 3. The table below compares the chief points in the three accounts.

Shined. Better, “flashed.” Chapters 22:6; 26:13 identify the time of day as noon. Bright as is the midday glare of the Eastern sun, Paul later says the light he saw from heaven was “above the brightness of the sun” (ch. 26:13). In the midst of this effulgence he so clearly saw the glorified Christ that he includes himself among those who were privileged to behold the Lord after His resurrection (Acts 9:17; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8; AA 115). As to the manner of the appearance, it is natural to think of it as being such as had met the gaze of Stephen (see on Acts 7:55, 56). The martyr’s words, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God,” had then seemed like blasphemy to the fiery zeal of Saul, the Pharisee. Now Saul himself sees the Son of man in the glory of the Father. Saul’s companions heard a voice but did not distinguish the words (see ch. 22:9; cf. on ch. 9:7). They saw the light (ch. 22:9), but did not perceive the form of Him that spoke (cf. on John 12:29). These details prove the reality of the experience.