Acts 9:3-6
What is written? (ESV)
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
What does it say?
Saul (e.g. Paul) is on his way to Damascus when he encounters Jesus in a vision. Jesus asks him why he is persecuting him and tells him to enter the city where he will be told what to do.
What is its immediate context?
Saul is a zealous, Jewish Pharisee and a leader in the persecution of this relatively new faith in Jesus the Christ. After arriving in Damascus, he meets Ananias, who also had a vision from Jesus to meet Saul (vss 10-11). Ananias is the one that tells Saul what he must do (vss 17-19). Also told by Paul before the Jewish crowd (22:3-16) and again by Paul before Agrippa (26:12-18).
How Acts 9:3-6 is applied across Bible answers
Is hearing the gospel the only way to know God’s will?
Visions from Jesus occur, but specifically to join together a seeker (Saul) with a preacher (Ananias). Ananias came to Saul and told him God's word.
Is it required that an apostle see Jesus?
Saul (Paul) sees the risen Lord.7
Although Paul only sees a “light” and hears His voice, Paul later testifies that he saw the Lord.7
Was Saul saved on the road to Damascus?
Luke's third-person account of Saul's conversion. While on the road to Damascus, Saul is told by Jesus in a vision to go to Damascus where he would be "told what you are to do". Once there, Ananias arrives, tells Saul that it was Jesus who also instructed him to come in order that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. When Ananias laid his hands on Saul his sight was restored. Then he was baptized and ate food.
