Acts 26:13

Act 26:13. Εἶδον, I saw) unexpectedly.—βασιλεῦ, O King) Most seasonably he fixes the word King at this point, where there is an Epitasis of (emphatic addition to) the language.—ὑπὲρ, above) The glory of Christ.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act 26:13 . ἡμέρας μέσης : temporal genitive, Blass, Gram. , p. 107 (in classical Greek ἡμ . μεσοῦσα ). The expression is perhaps stronger than in Act 22:6 , in the bright full light of day. κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν : “on the way,” and so foreboding nothing (Weiss). βασιλεῦ : “advertitur rex ad miraculum rei,” Blass, cf. Act 26:7 , so Weiss. ὑπὲρ τὴν λαμπ .: here only expressly, but implied in Act 9:3 , Act 22:6 , indicating the supernatural nature of the light; noun only here in N.T., cf. Dan 12:3 . περιλάμψαν : only in Luke, cf. Luk 2:9 , where the word is also used for a light from heaven; nowhere else in N.T., but the verb is found in Plutarch, Josephus. The fact that the light shone round about Paul and his companions is at any rate not excluded by Act 9:7 or Act 22:9 , as Weiss notes. It is quite in accordance with the truth of the facts that the more vivid expression should occur in Paul’s own recital.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13. At midday, O king. The narration tendeth to this end, that king Agrippa may understand that it was no vain visure or ghost, neither was it any such trance as brought him into some madness, so that he was destitute of judgment. For though he fell to the earth for fear, yet he heareth a plain voice; he asketh who it was that spake; he understandeth the answer which was made, which are signs that he was not beside himself. Hereupon it followeth that he did not rashly change his mind, but did godlily and holily obey the heavenly oracle, lest he should of set purpose proceed to strive against God.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

13. at midday] There could be no question about the supernatural character of a light which overpowered the midday glare of an Eastern sun.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

At midday, O king,.... So in Act 12:6. This circumstance is omitted in Act 9:3. King Agrippa is called upon by the apostle, to excite his attention to what he was about to relate, it being very wonderful, and of great importance.

I saw in the way; that is, to Damascus, when near the city;

a light from heaven; which descended from thence:

above the brightness of the sun; it was a greater light than that, or otherwise it could not have been discerned at noon, or have had the effect it had upon Saul, and his company. This account of the greatness of the light, is not in the other places where this narrative is given:

shining round about me: so in Act 9:3

and them which journeyed with me; this is not mentioned in the other accounts.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

Ver. 13. {See Trapp on "Act 9:2"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

At mid-day; this appeared at noon-day, that it might not be suspected to be a dream or fancy.

Above the brightness of the sun; our Saviour’s face in the transfiguration did shine as the sun, Mat 27:2, and he was yet on earth in his mortal body; how much more resplendent must it have been now, when he appeared from heaven with his glorious body! And if the righteous shall shine as the sun, Dan 12:3; Mat 13:43; how much more does their Prince and Saviour! See concerning this history, Act 9:3, &c., and Act 22:6, &c.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

On for in, A.V.; that for which, A.V.. At midday. "About". (Act_22:6) It enhanced the wonder of that light from heaven that it should be seen above the brightness of the sun at midday, in such a latitude.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

O King - Most seasonably, in the height of the narration, does he thus fix the king's attention. Above the brightness of the sun - And no marvel. For what is the brightness of this created sun, to the Sun of righteousness, the brightness of the Father's glory?

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

See notes on verse 12

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

13. ἡμέρας μέσης, at midday. There could be no question about the supernatural character of a light which overpowered the midday glare of an Eastern sun.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13.] See notes on ch. 9:3-8, where I have treated of the discrepancies, real or only apparent, between the three accounts of Saul’s conversion. See also ch. 22:6-10.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Above the brightness of the sun. Peculiar to this third account of Paul 's conversion. The other peculiarities are : the falling of his companions to the ground along with himself; the voice addressing him in Hebrew; and the words, "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.