“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul wasn't just praying when this vision happened; he was actively worshipping in the very temple his accusers claimed he despised. This wasn't a random event, but a divine encounter during his devout practice, highlighting his deep respect for Jewish tradition even after his conversion.
“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is recounting his conversion story to the crowd in Jerusalem, trying to show them he hasn't been a renegade but has followed divine guidance. He explains that on a visit back to Jerusalem, while praying devoutly in the temple, he had a vision. In this trance, the Lord Jesus appeared to him and explicitly commanded him to leave Jerusalem and preach to the Gentiles.
Imagine standing in the heart of Jerusalem's temple, a place of deep spiritual significance. What was Paul doing there, and why is it important?
Paul, even after his dramatic conversion and initial ministry, continued to show deep respect for the Temple in Jerusalem. This passage shows him there, praying. It wasn't just a casual visit; it was during a dedicated prayer in the very place God was worshipped.
This highlights a crucial point: Paul didn't see his new faith in Jesus as a complete rejection of his Jewish heritage or its holy places. Instead, he was integrating his encounter with Christ into his existing devotion. His prayer in the Temple underscores his identity as a devout Jew who had encountered the Messiah.
It also serves as a powerful part of his defense. When accused of defiling the Temple, he could point to this moment as proof of his continued reverence for it.
Suddenly, Paul is 'in a trance.' What does this altered state mean for his experience and God's message?
The word translated 'trance' refers to a state of altered consciousness, a divine ecstasy where God communicates directly with an individual.
It's vital to understand that this wasn't a passive, uncontrolled experience. Paul was praying when it happened, indicating an active engagement with God. This state allowed him to receive a profound revelation.
This experience is likely what Paul refers to elsewhere as a 'vision or revelation from the Lord.' In this trance, God didn't just speak to Paul; He gave him a direct command that would shape his entire ministry: to go to the Gentiles. This encounter was foundational, setting the course for his mission beyond the Jewish people.
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Understand the original words
ekstasis · Greek Noun
A state of ecstasy or spiritual vision where a person is removed from ordinary consciousness to receive divine revelation.
This divine encounter in the temple, during a moment of personal prayer and deep reverence for Jewish tradition, was a pivotal moment where Paul received his specific mandate to spread the gospel to non-Jewish people.
c. AD 33-36
Paul's Conversion and Initial Ministry
Shortly after his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Saul (later Paul) begins his ministry, initially in Damascus and then in Arabia.
c. AD 36-39
First Visit to Jerusalem and Tarsus
Paul travels to Jerusalem, meets with Peter and James, and then returns to his hometown of Tarsus due to a plot against him.
c. AD 39
Called to Antioch
Barnabas finds Paul in Tarsus and brings him to Antioch, where they minister for about a year, teaching a great number of people.
c. AD 40— this verse
Vision in the Temple
While praying in the Jerusalem temple during a visit, Paul falls into a trance and receives a divine commission to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
c. AD 40-44
Ministry in Antioch and First Missionary Journey
Paul and Barnabas continue their ministry in Antioch, eventually embarking on their first missionary journey to regions like Cyprus and Asia Minor.
This passage describes Cornelius experiencing a similar trance or 'ecstasy,' highlighting a pattern of God revealing His will through extraordinary spiritual experiences to individuals like Peter and Paul.
2 Corinthians 12:2Paul himself refers to 'visions and revelations of the Lord,' and this experience in the temple, where he received a direct commission, is likely one of those profound encounters that shaped his ministry.
Galatians 1:18This verse mentions Paul's first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion, aligning with the timeline referenced in Acts 22:17 and underscoring that this divine encounter occurred early in his apostolic journey.
Acts 9:15This verse is part of the prophecy given to Ananias about Paul's calling to preach to the Gentiles, directly correlating with the commission Paul received in the trance described in Acts 22:17.
ellicottActs 22:17: "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;"
(17) When I was come again to Jerusalem. —This probably refers to the visit of Acts 9:26 , and Galatians 1:17-18 . The objection that the mission “far hence to the Gentiles” must refer to the subsequent visit of Acts 11:30 , has little or no force. When the Apostle went to Tarsus and preached the gospel to the Greeks at Antioch ( Acts 11:26 ), there was a sufficient…
barnesActs 22:17: "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;"
When I was come again to Jerusalem - That is, three years after his conversion. See Galatians 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…
Paul wasn't just praying when this vision happened; he was actively worshipping in the very temple his accusers claimed he despised. This wasn't a random event, but a divine encounter during his devout practice, highlighting his deep respect for Jewish tradition even after his conversion.
Paul is recounting his conversion story to the crowd in Jerusalem, trying to show them he hasn't been a renegade but has followed divine guidance. He explains that on a visit back to Jerusalem, while praying devoutly in the temple, he had a vision. In this trance, the Lord Jesus appeared to him and explicitly commanded him to leave Jerusalem and preach to the Gentiles.
Paul is recounting his conversion story to the crowd in Jerusalem, trying to show them he hasn't been a renegade but has followed divine guidance. He explains that on a visit back to Jerusalem, while praying devoutly in the temple, he had a vision. In this trance, the Lord Jesus appeared to him and explicitly commanded him to leave Jerusalem and preach to the Gentiles.
"“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance" — Paul wasn't just praying when this vision happened; he was actively worshipping in the very temple his accusers claimed he despised. This wasn't a random event, but a divine encounter during his de…
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Last reviewed October 2026