On the road differs from near Damascus of 22.6, while at midday differs slightly in wording from about midday of the same verse. Much brighter than the sun intensifies what is said in 22.6 and 9.3. Shining also differs from what was said in the earlier accounts; there the verb flashed was used. It is not strange, however, that Luke in recounting the conversion of Paul uses slightly different details of wording. For him to have reproduced the exact wording in every instance would have certainly produced a rather monotonous account. These stylistic modifications are precisely what one would expect from a writer as skillful as Luke.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .