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Acts 22:17

in Acts 22

Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

KJV

And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

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This verse in Acts 22

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Retractions on Acts · Written before 735.

But it happened that when I was returning to Jerusalem and praying in the temple, I fell into a trance, and saw him. For the trance of the mind, some Codices have a mental ecstasy, others a fear, others an alienation. For what is called …

This site's exposition

I was in a trance

on Acts 22:17-18

Returning to Jerusalem and praying in the temple, Paul was in a trance and saw the Lord, who told him to make haste and get quickly out of the city, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. The command answers a question the crowd may well be silently asking, why did Paul leave his own people for the Gentile mission, and Paul’s answer is that Christ himself sent him away from Jerusalem, not that Paul had rejected his own nation first. The vision in the temple itself, the most sacred ground in Judaism, underscores that Paul’s Gentile calling came from the God of Israel in Israel’s own house.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 48 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"And when I was come again to Jerusalem," etc. How was it, that being a Jew, and there brought up and taught, he did not stay there? Nor did he abide there, unless he had a mind to furnish numberless occasions against him: everywhere just like an exile, fleeing about from place to place. "While I prayed in the temple," he says, "it came to pass that I was in a trance." To show that it was not simply a phantom of the imagination, therefore "while he prayed" the Lord stood by him. And he shows that it was not from fear of their dangers that he fled, but because they would "not receive" his "testimony." But why said he "They know I imprisoned?" Not to gainsay Christ, but because he wished to learn this which was so contrary to all reasonable expectation. Christ, however, did not teach him this, but only bade him depart, and he obeys: so obedient is he.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

And it came to pass, that when I was come again to Jerusalem,.... Which was three years after his conversion; for he did not immediately return to Jerusalem, but went into Arabia; and when he returned to Damascus, which was three years after he came to Jerusalem; see Gal 1:17 even while I prayed in the temple; the temple was an house of prayer; hither persons resorted for that purpose; and as the apostle had been used to it, he continued this custom, and during the time of prayer he fell into an ecstasy: I was in a trance: and knew not whether he was in the body, or out of the body: whether this was the time he refers to in 2Co 12:2 is not certain, though probable.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

When I was returned to Jerusalem - From Damascus, and was praying in the temple - Whereby he shows that he still paid the temple its due honour, as the house of prayer. I was in a trance - Perhaps he might continue standing all the while, so that any who were near him would hardly discern it.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

), his external senses, for the present, locked up; he was in an ecstasy, as when he was caught up into the third heaven, and was not at that time sensible whether he was in the body or out of the body. In this trance he saw Jesus Christ, not with the eyes of his body, as at his conversion, but represented to the eye of his mind (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

it came to pass, &c.--This thrilling dialogue between the glorified Redeemer and his chosen vessel is nowhere else related. when I was come again to Jerusalem--on the occasion mentioned in Ac 9:26-29. while I prayed in the temple--He thus calls their attention to the fact that after his conversion he kept up his connection with the temple as before.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

When I was come again to Jerusalem - It is likely that he refers to the first journey to Jerusalem, about three years after his conversion, Act 9:25, Act 9:26, and Gal 1:18. I was in a trance - This circumstance is not mentioned any where else, unless it be that to which himself refers in 2Co 12:2-4, when he conceived himself transported to the third heaven; and, if the case be the same, the appearance of Jesus Christ to him, and the command given, are circumstances related only in this place.
When I was come again to Jerusalem - That is, three years after his conversion. See Gal 1:17-18. While I prayed in the temple - Paul, like other converts to Christianity from among the Jews, would naturally continue to offer his devotions in the temple. We meet with repeated instances of their continuing to comply with the customs of the Jewish people. I was in a trance - Greek: ecstasy. See the notes on Act 10:

The words behind it

16 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

11 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ephesians 3:3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.10 works2 Corinthians 12:2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.9 worksActs 10:10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.6 works2 Corinthians 12:1–4I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.4 worksActs 10:9–10The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.2 worksActs 26:20First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.2 works
The other 5 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 9:26–28When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.2 worksActs 11:5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.2 worksNumbers 24:4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:2 worksRevelation 1:10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,1 worksGalatians 1:18Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Revelation 1:10

    On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

    it leads to

    • Revelation 21:10

      And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

    • Revelation 4:1–2

      After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show…

    • 2 Corinthians 12:2–4

      I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.

    • Revelation 17:3

      And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten…

  • Through

    Acts 26:20

    First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of…

    it leads to

    • Matthew 3:8

      Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.

    • Acts 3:19

      Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

    • 2 Timothy 2:25–26

      He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

    • Acts 2:38

      Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 22 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 48; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 22 →