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Friday, September 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

Acts 22:17

“After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Paul;   Temple;   Trance;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - Trances;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Lysias;   Trance;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Antonia;   Trance;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Barnabas;   Paul;   Prophet;   Trance;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Prayer;   Trance;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Damascus;   Paul the Apostle;   Prayer;   Trance;   Vision;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Amazement;   Paul;   Rapture Ecstasy;   Trance;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Washing;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Claudius;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Trance;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Apostle;   Paul;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Prophecy;   Trance;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Parallel Translations

King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe, that when I was come againe to Hierusalem, euen while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance,
King James Version
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;
English Standard Version
"When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
New American Standard Bible
"It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,
New Century Version
"Later, when I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple, and I saw a vision.
Amplified Bible
"Then it happened when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple [enclosure], that I fell into a trance (vision);
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,
Legacy Standard Bible
"Now it happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,
Berean Standard Bible
Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance,
Contemporary English Version
After this I returned to Jerusalem and went to the temple to pray. There I had a vision
Complete Jewish Bible
"After I had returned to Yerushalayim, it happened that as I was praying in the Temple, I went into a trance,
Darby Translation
And it came to pass when I had returned to Jerusalem, and as I was praying in the temple, that I became in ecstasy,
Easy-to-Read Version
"Later, I came back to Jerusalem. I was praying in the Temple area, and I saw a vision.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And it came to passe, that when I was come againe to Hierusalem, and prayed in the Temple, I was in a traunce,
George Lamsa Translation
And it came to pass that when I returned here to Jerusalem and while praying in the temple,
Good News Translation
"I went back to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the Temple, I had a vision,
Lexham English Bible
"And it happened that when I returned to Jerusalem and I was praying in the temple courts, I was in a trance,
Literal Translation
And it happened to me, returning to Jerusalem and praying in the temple: I became in an ecstasy,
American Standard Version
And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
Bible in Basic English
And it came about that when I had come back to Jerusalem, while I was at prayer in the Temple, my senses became more than naturally clear,
Hebrew Names Version
"It happened that, when I had returned to Yerushalayim, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
International Standard Version
"Then I returned to Jerusalem. While I was praying in the temple, I fell into a tranceActs 9:26; 2 Corinthians 12:2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And being returned, I came hither to Urishlem. And I prayed in the temple.
Murdock Translation
And I returned and came hither to Jerusalem. And I prayed in the temple.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it came to passe, that whe I was come agayne to Hierusalem, and prayed in the temple, I was in a traunce,
English Revised Version
And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
World English Bible
It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And when I was returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple,
Weymouth's New Testament
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And it was don to me, as Y turnede ayen in to Jerusalem, and preyede in the temple, that Y was maad in rauysching of soule,
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, that when I had come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
New English Translation
When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
New King James Version
"Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance
New Living Translation
"After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.
New Life Bible
"I came back to Jerusalem. When I was praying in the house of God, I had a dream.
New Revised Standard
"After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, when had returned unto Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I came to be in a trance,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, when I was come again to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance,
Revised Standard Version
"When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And it fortuned when I was come agayne to Ierusalem and prayde in the teple yt I was in a trauce
Young's Literal Translation
`And it came to pass when I returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, I came into a trance,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But it fortuned, that whan I was come agayne to Ierusale, and prayed in the temple, I was in a traunce,
Mace New Testament (1729)
at length being return'd to Jerusalem, one day as I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance.
THE MESSAGE
"Well, it happened just as Ananias said. After I was back in Jerusalem and praying one day in the Temple, lost in the presence of God, I saw him, saw God's Righteous Innocent, and heard him say to me, ‘Hurry up! Get out of here as quickly as you can. None of the Jews here in Jerusalem are going to accept what you say about me.'
Simplified Cowboy Version
"I did all that and then returned to Jerusalem. One day I was praying in the Big Church and fell into some sort of trance.

Contextual Overview

3He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, 5as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. 6“As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8“I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ 9Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10“I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ 11“Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus. 12Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Acts 9:26-28, Galatians 1:18

while: Acts 10:9, Acts 10:10, 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, Revelation 1:10

Reciprocal: Numbers 12:6 - in a vision Numbers 24:4 - saw Acts 11:5 - in a Acts 16:9 - a vision Acts 23:9 - if Acts 26:16 - in the Acts 26:20 - and at 2 Corinthians 12:2 - above Ephesians 3:3 - by

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation,I will bless you,I will make your name great,and you will be a blessing.
Genesis 13:16
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
Genesis 15:5
He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”
Genesis 17:6
I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you.
Genesis 22:1
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”
Genesis 22:2
“Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
Genesis 22:8
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
Genesis 22:9
When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood.
Genesis 22:10
Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
Genesis 22:13
Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 in a trance - Greek: ecstasy. See the notes on Acts 10:10. It is possible that he may here refer to what he elsewhere mentions 2 Corinthians 12:1-5 as “visions and revelations of the Lord.” In that place he mentions his being “caught up to the third heaven” 2 Corinthians 12:2 and “into paradise,” where he heard words which it was “not lawful (marg. possible) for a man to utter,” 2 Corinthians 12:4. It is not certain, however, that he alludes in this place to that remarkable occurrence. The narrative would rather imply that the Lord Jesus appeared to him in the temple in a remarkable manner, in a vision, and gave him a special command to go to the Gentiles. Paul had now stated the evidence of his conversion, which appears to have been satisfactory to them - at least they made no objection to his statement; he had shown, by his being in the temple, his respect for their institutions; and he now proceeds to show that in his other conduct he had been directed by the same high authority by which he had been called into the ministry, and that the command had been given to him in their own temple and in their own city.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 22:17. 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, Acts 9:25-26, and Galatians 1:18.

I was in a trance — This circumstance is not mentioned any where else, unless it be that to which himself refers in 2 Corinthians 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.


 
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