CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 9:9 For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/9-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/44_Act_09_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 9:9 - The Road to Damascus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/acts/9-9.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/acts/9-9.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/acts/">Acts</a> > <a href="/acts/9.htm">Chapter 9</a> > Verse 9</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/acts/9-8.htm" title="Acts 9:8">◄</a> Acts 9:9 <a href="/acts/9-10.htm" title="Acts 9:10">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/acts/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/acts/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/acts/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/acts/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/acts/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And he was three days without seeing, and neither did he eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/acts/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/acts/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/acts/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/acts/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/acts/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/acts/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/acts/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/acts/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/acts/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/acts/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/acts/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/acts/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/acts/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />For three days he couldn't see and didn't eat or drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/acts/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />For three days he was not able to see, and during that time he did not eat or drink anything. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/acts/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/acts/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/acts/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/acts/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/acts/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/acts/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/acts/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and he was three days without seeing, and he neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/9.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And he was three days without seeing, and neither did he eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/acts/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and he was three days without seeing, and he did neither eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/acts/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he was three days not seeing, and he ate not, nor drank.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/acts/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/acts/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And in that place, he was without sight for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/acts/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/acts/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/acts/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he was unable to see for three days during which he neither ate nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/9.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And he could see nothing for three days, and he did not eat or drink.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/acts/9.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/acts/9.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />and he was three days not seeing, neither did he eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/acts/9.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />And he was three days seeing nothing, and did neither eat nor drink.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/acts/9.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />where he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/9.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/acts/9.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />And he was three days without seeing; and he neither ate, nor drank.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/acts/9.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/acts/9-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=2749" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/acts/9.htm">The Road to Damascus</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">8</span>Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/5140.htm" title="5140: treis (Adj-AFP) -- Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; three.">For three</a> <a href="/greek/2250.htm" title="2250: hēmeras (N-AFP) -- A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. ">days</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēn (V-IIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">he was</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.">without</a> <a href="/greek/991.htm" title="991: blepōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.">sight,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/5315.htm" title="5315: ephagen (V-AIA-3S) -- A primary verb; to eat.">he did not eat</a> <a href="/greek/3761.htm" title="3761: oude (Conj) -- Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even.">or</a> <a href="/greek/4095.htm" title="4095: epien (V-AIA-3S) -- To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe.">drink anything.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">10</span>In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/22-11.htm">Acts 22:11</a></span><br />Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/26-12.htm">Acts 26:12-18</a></span><br />In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. / About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. / We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-6.htm">2 Corinthians 4:6</a></span><br />For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/1-15.htm">Galatians 1:15-16</a></span><br />But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased / to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/1-12.htm">1 Timothy 1:12-16</a></span><br />I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. / I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. / And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/9-39.htm">John 9:39-41</a></span><br />Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” / Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” / “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-16.htm">Matthew 6:16-18</a></span><br />When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. / But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, / so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/9-15.htm">Matthew 9:15</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/18-35.htm">Luke 18:35-43</a></span><br />As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. / When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. / “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/34-28.htm">Exodus 34:28</a></span><br />So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-9.htm">Deuteronomy 9:9</a></span><br />When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread and drank no water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/19-8.htm">1 Kings 19:8</a></span><br />So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Jonah 3:5-10</a></span><br />And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. / Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/9-3.htm">Daniel 9:3</a></span><br />So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/58-3.htm">Isaiah 58:3-6</a></span><br />“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. / You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. / Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/9-11.htm">Acts 9:11,12</a></b></br> And the Lord <i>said</i> unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for <i>one</i> called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/33-12.htm">2 Chronicles 33:12,13,18,19</a></b></br> And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/esther/4-16.htm">Esther 4:16</a></b></br> Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which <i>is</i> not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/9-7.htm">Able</a> <a href="/acts/2-46.htm">Ate</a> <a href="/john/12-40.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/john/4-12.htm">Drank</a> <a href="/john/19-30.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/acts/2-46.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/acts/7-11.htm">Food</a> <a href="/acts/8-21.htm">Sight</a> <a href="/acts/7-20.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/9-12.htm">Able</a> <a href="/acts/10-41.htm">Ate</a> <a href="/acts/13-11.htm">Blind</a> <a href="/acts/10-41.htm">Drank</a> <a href="/acts/10-41.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/acts/10-10.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/acts/9-19.htm">Food</a> <a href="/acts/9-12.htm">Sight</a> <a href="/acts/10-3.htm">Three</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-1.htm">Saul, going toward Damascus, is stricken down to the earth, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-8.htm">and led blind to Damascus;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-10.htm">is called to the apostleship;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-18.htm">and is baptized by Ananias.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-20.htm">He preaches Christ boldly.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-23.htm">The Jews lay wait to kill him;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-29.htm">so do the Grecians, but he escapes both.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-31.htm">The church having rest, Peter heals Aeneas;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/9-36.htm">and restores Tabitha to life.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For three days</b><br>The duration of three days is significant in biblical narratives, often symbolizing a period of transformation or preparation. In the Old Testament, Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish (<a href="/jonah/1-17.htm">Jonah 1:17</a>), which Jesus later referenced as a sign of His own death and resurrection (<a href="/matthew/12-40.htm">Matthew 12:40</a>). The three days Saul spent in darkness can be seen as a time of reflection and repentance, preparing him for his new mission as Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.<p><b>he was without sight</b><br>Saul's physical blindness is symbolic of his spiritual blindness. Before this encounter, Saul was zealous in his persecution of Christians, unable to see the truth of Jesus as the Messiah. His blindness serves as a metaphor for his previous spiritual state and highlights the transformative power of Christ. This temporary blindness also emphasizes the dramatic change that will occur in Saul's life, as he moves from persecutor to proponent of the faith.<p><b>and he did not eat or drink anything</b><br>Fasting is a common biblical practice associated with mourning, repentance, and seeking God's guidance. Saul's abstention from food and drink indicates a period of deep spiritual reflection and penitence. In the Jewish tradition, fasting is often a sign of humility and submission to God, as seen in the practices of figures like Moses (<a href="/exodus/34-28.htm">Exodus 34:28</a>) and Daniel (<a href="/daniel/9-3.htm">Daniel 9:3</a>). Saul's fast underscores his earnestness in seeking understanding and reconciliation with God after his encounter on the road to Damascus.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul (Paul)</a></b><br>A zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians, Saul experienced a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, where he encountered the risen Christ and was struck blind.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/damascus.htm">Damascus</a></b><br>A significant city in ancient Syria, Damascus was where Saul was headed to arrest Christians. It became the place of his transformation and the beginning of his ministry.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_road_to_damascus.htm">The Road to Damascus</a></b><br>The location of Saul's encounter with Jesus, marking a pivotal moment in Christian history where a persecutor of the faith became one of its greatest apostles.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/blindness.htm">Blindness</a></b><br>Saul's physical blindness symbolizes his spiritual blindness, which is later healed, signifying his new spiritual insight and mission.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/fasting.htm">Fasting</a></b><br>Saul's abstention from food and drink for three days reflects a period of deep reflection, repentance, and preparation for his new calling.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_transformation.htm">Spiritual Transformation</a></b><br>Saul's conversion teaches us that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. Even the most ardent opponent of the faith can become a powerful instrument for God's purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_suffering.htm">The Role of Suffering</a></b><br>Saul's temporary blindness and fasting illustrate how God can use physical and emotional trials to bring about spiritual growth and readiness for His work.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_reflection.htm">The Importance of Reflection</a></b><br>Saul's three days of blindness and fasting serve as a model for taking time to reflect and seek God's direction, especially during times of significant life changes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>The account of Saul's conversion underscores God's sovereign ability to intervene in human affairs and redirect lives according to His divine plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_ministry.htm">Preparation for Ministry</a></b><br>Just as Saul's fasting prepared him for his future ministry, believers are encouraged to seek God's guidance and strength through prayer and fasting as they prepare for their own callings.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_biblical_fasting_types.htm">What are the biblical types of fasting?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_paul's_blindness_and_recovery_possible.htm">Acts 9:8-9: How could Paul's immediate blindness and rapid recovery be medically or naturally feasible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_pauland#8217;s_duty_specified_immediately.htm">Did the voice immediately specify Paul's duties? Yes (Acts 26:16-18) or No, he was told to go to Damascus for instructions (Acts 9:7; 22:10)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_gal._1_17-18_with_acts_9.htm">In Galatians 1:17-18, Paul says he did not go to Jerusalem immediately after his conversion, yet Acts 9 suggests otherwise; how do we reconcile this conflict?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) <span class= "bld">He was three days without sight.</span>--It is natural to think of this period of seclusion from the visible world as one of spiritual communion with the invisible, and we can hardly be wrong in referring the visions and revelations of the Lord, the soaring as to the third heaven, and the Paradise of God, of which he speaks fourteen or fifteen years later, to this period. (See Notes on <a href="/context/2_corinthians/12-1.htm" title="It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.">2Corinthians 12:1-4</a>.) The conditions of outward life were suspended, and he lived as one fallen into a trance--in the ecstacy of an apocalyptic rapture. (Comp. the analogous phenomena in <a href="/context/ezekiel/8-1.htm" title="And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there on me.">Ezekiel 8:1-4</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - Did <span class="accented">neither</span> for <span class="accented">neither did</span>, A.V. The same reason, we may venture to think, which caused the interposition of three days' blindness between Saul's conversion and his baptism, led Saul himself to pass those days in a voluntary self-abasement. His sin in persecuting the Church of God and its Divine Head, his guilt in assisting at the death of God's saints, and in rejecting the testimony to Christ's resurrection, had been very great. These three days of blindness and of fasting were therefore a fitting preparation for the grace of forgiveness about to be so freely and fully given to him (<a href="/1_timothy/1-12.htm">1 Timothy 1:12-16</a>). What thoughts must have passed through Saul's mind during those three days! Before passing on, it may be well to observe that it is to this appearance to him of Jesus Christ that St. Paul undoubtedly refers when he says (<a href="/1_corinthians/9-1.htm">1 Corinthians 9:1</a>), "Have not I seen Jesus Christ?" and again (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-8.htm">1 Corinthians 15:8</a>), "Last of all, he was seen of me also," where he puts this appearance of Jesus to himself on a par with those to Peter and James and the other apostles, which made them competent witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. And so in ver. 17 of this chapter Ananias says, "The Lord Jesus which was seen by thee" (<span class="greek">ὁ ὀφθείς σοι</span>); and Barnabas (ver. 27), when he brought Saul to the apostles, related "how he had seen the Lord in the way." And in <a href="/acts/22-14.htm">Acts 22:14</a> Ananias says, "God hath appointed thee to see the Righteous One." Moreover the description in ver. 7 of Saul's fellow-travelers, that they "saw no man," implies, by contrast, that Saul did. The reticence of both St. Paul and St. Luke as to what he saw, and what was the appearance of the Lord Jesus, seems to arise from profound reverence and awe, such as St. Paul speaks of in <a href="/2_corinthians/12-4.htm">2 Corinthians 12:4</a>. It may be also worth remarking how this appearance of Christ was deferred till he was quite close to Damascus, according to one tradition only a quarter of a mile from the gates, but according to Porter, whom Farrar and Lewin follow, at a distance of about ten miles, at a village called Caueab. So the intervention of the angel by which Isaac's life was spared was not till Abraham had the knife in his hand to slay his son; and Peter's prison doors were opened not till the very night before he was to have been brought forth to death. Faith and patience are thus strengthened, and God's intervention is more marked. There is not the slightest trace in the narrative of what the fancy of many has suggested, that Saul's uneasy conscience was wrought up into a paroxysm as he approached Damascus, and so prepared the way for the vision of Christ. Even Canon Farrar's eloquent description of what he supposes to have been the thoughts which agitated Saul's mind on his eventful journey seems hardly to rest on any solid base (see 'Life of St. Paul,'vol. 1. <a href="/acts/10.htm">Acts 10</a>.). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/acts/9-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">[For]</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">three</span><br /><span class="grk">τρεῖς</span> <span class="translit">(treis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5140.htm">Strong's 5140: </a> </span><span class="str2">Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; 'three'.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">days</span><br /><span class="grk">ἡμέρας</span> <span class="translit">(hēmeras)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2250.htm">Strong's 2250: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">he was</span><br /><span class="grk">ἦν</span> <span class="translit">(ēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">without</span><br /><span class="grk">μὴ</span> <span class="translit">(mē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3361.htm">Strong's 3361: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sight,</span><br /><span class="grk">βλέπων</span> <span class="translit">(blepōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_991.htm">Strong's 991: </a> </span><span class="str2">(primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">he did not eat</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔφαγεν</span> <span class="translit">(ephagen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary verb; to eat.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[or]</span><br /><span class="grk">οὐδὲ</span> <span class="translit">(oude)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3761.htm">Strong's 3761: </a> </span><span class="str2">Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">drink [anything].</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔπιεν</span> <span class="translit">(epien)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4095.htm">Strong's 4095: </a> </span><span class="str2">To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/acts/9-9.htm">Acts 9:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/acts/9-9.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 9:9 He was without sight for three days (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/9-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 9:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 9:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/9-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 9:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 9:10" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>