### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb περιαστράπτω (periastráptō), Strong's number `{{G4015}}`, is a compound word formed from the preposition περί (peri), meaning "around" or "about," and the verb ἀστράπτω (astráptō) `{{G797}}`, meaning "to flash," "to lighten," or "to gleam." The combination thus conveys the sense of "to flash all around," "to shine about," or "to envelop in light." It describes an intense, sudden, and all-encompassing effulgence, not merely a light that illuminates a surface, but one that surrounds and immerses the object or person in its brilliance. The root ἀστράπτω (astráptō) is often associated with the vivid, sudden flash of lightning, implying an immediate, undeniable, and overwhelming visual phenomenon.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) appears exclusively in the New Testament, specifically in the Book of Acts, where it is used three times to describe the miraculous light that enveloped Saul (who would become Paul) on the road to Damascus. These occurrences are found in the various accounts of his conversion experience:
* **[[Acts 9:3]]**: "As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him (περιηστραψεν αυτον φως εκ του ουρανου)." This is the initial narrative account, emphasizing the sudden and divine origin of the light.
* **[[Acts 22:6]]**: In Paul's personal testimony before the crowd in Jerusalem, he recounts, "But it happened that as I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly flashed around me (εγενετο φως ικανον εκ του ουρανου περιηστραψεν με)." Here, Paul adds the detail of the time of day ("about noon") and describes the light as "great" (ικανον), underscoring its immense intensity.
* **[[Acts 26:13]]**: Before King Agrippa, Paul again testifies, "at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me (περιηστραψεν με φως εκ του ουρανου υπερ την λαμπροτητα του ηλιου)." This account provides the most vivid description, explicitly stating that the light was "brighter than the sun," signifying an intensity far exceeding any natural light source and highlighting its supernatural, divine nature.
In all three instances, περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) depicts a sudden, overwhelming, and divinely orchestrated manifestation of light that completely enveloped Saul, leading to his physical blindness and, paradoxically, his spiritual enlightenment. The verb emphasizes the inescapable nature of this divine encounter.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of light is central to biblical theology, and περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) relates to several key terms and themes:
* **ἀστράπτω (astráptō) `{{G797}}`**: The base word, used in [[Luke 17:24]] to describe the sudden, undeniable appearance of the Son of Man, "For just as the lightning (αστραπη) flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day." This connection reinforces the sudden, powerful, and undeniable nature of the light surrounding Saul.
* **φῶς (phōs) `{{G5457}}`**: The general word for "light," often used metaphorically for truth, revelation, and God's presence (e.g., [[John 1:4-5]], [[1 John 1:5]]). The light described by περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) is a specific, intense manifestation of this divine φῶς (phōs).
* **λάμπω (lampō) `{{G2989}}`**: To shine, to give light (e.g., [[Matthew 5:16]]). While λάμπω (lampō) can describe general shining, περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) implies a more dynamic, enveloping flash.
* **Theophany/Divine Glory**: The intense, supernatural light echoes Old Testament descriptions of God's manifest presence or glory (Hebrew כָּבוֹד (kavod) `{{H3519}}`). Examples include the glory of the Lord appearing on Mount Sinai (e.g., [[Exodus 24:16-17]]), the pillar of fire guiding Israel (e.g., [[Exodus 13:21]]), and Ezekiel's visions of divine splendor (e.g., [[Ezekiel 1:28]]). The light that περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) describes is a New Testament equivalent, a direct manifestation of the risen Christ's glory.
* **Revelation and Blindness**: The light from heaven caused Saul's physical blindness, a common biblical motif where intense divine revelation can overwhelm human capacity (e.g., [[Daniel 10:8]]). This physical blindness, however, leads to spiritual sight, a profound reversal.
### Theological Significance
The use of περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) in the accounts of Paul's conversion carries profound theological weight:
* **Divine Initiative and Sovereignty**: The sudden, overwhelming nature of the light underscores God's sovereign initiative in calling Saul. It was not a choice Saul made, but an inescapable divine intervention that radically reoriented his life. The light was not sought but imposed.
* **Christocentric Revelation**: The light is explicitly linked to the voice of the risen Jesus (e.g., [[Acts 9:4-5]]). Thus, περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) describes a direct, glorious manifestation of Christ's presence and authority. It is a post-resurrection theophany, revealing Christ in His glorified state, akin to the Transfiguration (cf. [[Matthew 17:2]]).
* **Transformative Power**: The light is not merely an external phenomenon; it is an agent of profound transformation. Saul's encounter with this light leads directly to his conversion, the cessation of his persecution of Christians, and his commissioning as an apostle to the Gentiles. The physical blindness becomes a metaphor for his former spiritual blindness, which is then replaced by true spiritual sight.
* **The Nature of Divine Light**: Described as "brighter than the sun," this light transcends natural phenomena. It represents the unapproachable light in which God dwells (cf. [[1 Timothy 6:16]]) and signifies divine purity, holiness, and judgment. For Saul, it was a light that exposed his spiritual darkness and redirected him toward the light of Christ.
### Summary
The Greek verb περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) `{{G4015}}` signifies a sudden, intense, and all-encompassing flash of light that completely envelops its subject. Its exclusive use in the New Testament pertains to the accounts of Saul's (Paul's) conversion on the road to Damascus, where a light from heaven, described as "brighter than the sun," flashed around him. This word powerfully conveys the overwhelming and undeniable nature of divine revelation. Theologically, περιαστράπτω (periastráptō) highlights God's sovereign initiative in calling individuals, the glorious and authoritative manifestation of the risen Christ, and the transformative power of divine light to bring about spiritual sight and reorientation, even through an initial experience of physical blindness. It marks a pivotal moment of encounter with the divine that radically alters the course of human life.
TRV