Optical Connections: Bolt from the blue

For those who celebrated the recent Easter holiday, it commemorated perhaps the greatest miracle of all. Recalling another wondrous event recounted in the New Testament, Saul’s conversion on his way to Damascus had an optical dimension in that he was blinded by a great light from heaven, his vision being restored miraculously three days later. Some say the light was a flash of lightning; but there are also stories of people mysteriously having their sight restored by lightning.

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus (later St Paul) on the road to Damascus is described in the New Testament (Acts 9). According to Acts 9:3, ‘As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.’ After hearing the voice of Jesus instructing him on what he should do next, ‘Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.’ (Acts 9:8-9). After those three days had passed, the disciple Ananias was sent to Saul and, by laying hands on him, ‘Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.’ (Acts 9:18).