Acts 22:17

17 "It happened when I 1returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I 2fell into a trance,

Acts 22:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 22:17

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 ( Galatians 1:17 Galatians 1:18 )

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 ( 2 Corinthians 12:2 ) is not certain, though probable.

Acts 22:17 In-Context

15 'For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'
17 "It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,
18 and I saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.'
19 "And I said, 'Lord , they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Acts 9:26; Acts 26:20
  • 2. Acts 10:10
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.