Damascus
Where is Damascus today? The capital of Syria, the ancient city on whose road Paul met the Lord and where his sight was restored, with key chapters.
- Today
- Damascus, capital of Syria
- Country
- Syria
- Status
- Living capital: the Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Identification
- Certain
Damascus is one of the most frequently mentioned cities in the Bible. In the Old Testament it is the capital of the Aramean kingdom, appearing in many scenes, from Eliezer of Damascus, whom Abraham expected to be his heir, to the leper commander Naaman praising the rivers of Damascus and the prophets' oracles against the city. In the New Testament Saul (Paul) meets a light from heaven on the road to Damascus; in the city Ananias lays hands on him, his sight returns, he is baptized and begins proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah.
Read the chapters
- Genesis 15
- 2 Kings 5
- Isaiah 17
- Acts 9
The chapter recounting the radical change Saul undergoes on the road — one of the best-known conversion stories, in which the fiercest opponent becomes one of the most devoted witnesses.
- Acts 22
- 2 Corinthians 11
Related topics
Related people
- Paul
- Peter
- Abraham
- Joseph
- Noah
- Elijah
- Adam
- Elisha
- Eve
- Isaac
- Sarah
- Jacob
- Isaiah
- Barnabas
- Stephen
- Lydia
- Matthew
- Timothy
- Methuselah
- Seth
- Abel
- Cain
- Ishmael
- Hagar
- Lot
- Rachel
- John the Apostle
- Philip the Apostle
- Judas Iscariot
- Mark
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Hope
- Bible Verses of Comfort
- Bible Verses About Fear and Anxiety
- Bible Verses About Faith
- Bible Verses About Creation
- Bible Verses About Salvation
- Bible Verses About Courage
- Bible Verses About Repentance
- Bible Verses About Family
- Bible Verses About Marriage
- Bible Verses About Generosity
- Bible Verses About Jesus
- Bible Verses About Justice
- Bible Verses About Holiness
- Bible Verses About Waiting on God
- Bible Verses About Witness
- Bible Verses About Loneliness
- Bible Verses About New Beginnings
- Bible Verses About Guidance
- Bible Verses About God's Protection
- Bible Verses About Trials and Testing
- Bible Verses About Joy
- Bible Verses About Healing
- Bible Verses About Strength
- Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
- Bible Verses About God's Promises
- Bible Verses About Work and Labor
- Bible Verses About Mercy
- Bible Verses About Honesty
Reading plans
- The Bible for Beginners — 10 Days
- Advent — 24 Days to Christmas
- The Early Church Through Acts — 28 Days
- The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover
- 30 Days with the Gospel — An Introduction to the New Testament
Books
Places in the Bible
Which country is Damascus in today?
Damascus today is the capital of Syria and is counted among the oldest inhabited cities in the world. In the Bible it is the center of the Aramean kingdom, and in the New Testament Saul (Paul) met a light from heaven as he approached it (Acts 9:3). In the Old City visitors see the Roman street identified with the Street called Straight, the small chapel traditionally on the site of Ananias' house, and the Umayyad Mosque, whose shrine is believed to hold the head of John the Baptist.
What happened to Paul on the road to Damascus?
According to Acts, as Saul travelled to arrest the believers in Damascus, a light from heaven flashed around him and he heard a voice speaking to him (Acts 9:3-4). He was blind for three days; in Damascus Ananias laid hands on him, his sight returned and he was baptized.
Does the Street called Straight still exist?
Yes. The Street called Straight mentioned in Acts 9:11 is identified with the Roman main street that crosses the Old City of Damascus from east to west. Markets line it today, and the small Chapel of Ananias nearby is by tradition built on the site of Ananias' house.