# Connecting Statement:

After the high priest gave Saul the letters, Saul left for Damascus.

# As he was traveling

Saul left Jerusalem and now travels to Damascus.

# it happened that

This is an expression that marks a change in the story to show something different is about to happen. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])

# there shone all around him a light out of heaven

"a light from heaven shone all around him"

# out of heaven

Possible meanings are 1) heaven, where God lives or 2) the sky. The first meaning is preferable. Use that meaning if your language has a separate word for it.