Damascus
A place in the Bible
A very old city north of the Holy Land. On the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Saul.
What happened here
- The road to Damascus: Saul was going to Damascus to arrest the Christians. Near the city a light from heaven flashed around him, and he heard, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
- Ananias: in Damascus lived a disciple named Ananias. He laid his hands on Saul, and Saul regained his sight. Then he was baptized.
- Saul preaches: he stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus and began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
Today
Damascus is still a city. It is the capital of Syria.
Where it appears in the Bible
Acts 9:2-4; Acts 9:10; Acts 9:17-18; Acts 9:19-20
What the Bible says
Acts 9:2-4
2And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus; and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. 4And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:10
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.
Acts 9:17-18
17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest; that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up, he was baptized.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Damascus”; Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), “Damascus”