Paragraph 22:6–9
Notice that much of the wording of 22:6–16 is identical or similar to that of 9:3–8. You will want to look at how you translated those verses.
22:6a
About noon as I was approaching Damascus: The Greek words are literally “And it happened to me (while) traveling and coming near to Damascus about noon.” It indicates that something else happened to Paul besides going to Damascus. It also indicates where it happened and the time of day. Lastly, these words introduce 22:6b–16b. Other ways to translate these words are:
But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
It happened that I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when in the middle of the day (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon (New Living Translation (2004))
22:6a in Greek has two verbs, “journeyed” and “came near.” The verb “journeyed” indicates that Paul was somewhere on the road between Jerusalem and Damascus. The phrase “came near” indicates he had almost finished his journey, but had not yet entered the city. In some languages it is more natural to translate only approaching Damascus here, as the Berean Standard Bible does.
The verbs do not say whether Paul walked or rode an animal (such as a donkey). Translate in a way that allows for both walking or riding.
I: Paul refers only to himself here. He is the important person in this story. Later, in 22:9, he introduces the group of men traveling with him.
22:6b
a bright light: This light was much brighter than the noonday sun on a cloudless day. It was so bright that it startled Paul so much that he fell to the ground. For example:
a very bright light (New American Standard Bible)
from heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven can either mean:
(1) the place where God lives,
(2) the sky.
The light came from Jesus up in heaven (Acts 9:3), but Paul would see that light as coming from the sky. However, he would have known that the light came from heaven when he knew it was Jesus speaking to him. In some languages “sky” would be the best word, but in some languages “heaven” would be best here.
flashed: This Greek word can mean “flash” (like lightning) or “shine” (for a time). It is not clear from these verses which occurred. For example:
shone (Revised Standard Version)
around me: The word around indicates that the light shone on Paul and all of the ground near him. Paul was completely within this circle of light shining from above. It does not indicate that the light moved around. The light did not shine on the men with Paul, because they were not blinded by it like Paul (22:11). Other ways to translate this phrase are:
all around me (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
on the place where I was
-or-
on me
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