The trance of Paul is a significant event in the New Testament, illustrating a profound moment of divine revelation and guidance in the life of the Apostle Paul. This event is primarily recorded in the Book of Acts and serves as a testament to the supernatural experiences that accompanied the early Christian apostles.

Biblical Account

The trance of Paul is described in Acts 22:17-21. Paul recounts this experience during his defense before the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. He states, "When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. 'Quick!' he said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'" (Acts 22:17-18). In this vision, Paul is instructed by the Lord to depart from Jerusalem due to the rejection he would face from the Jewish people regarding his testimony about Jesus Christ.

Context and Significance

This trance occurs after Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, a pivotal moment in his life where he transitioned from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted apostle of Christ. The trance in Jerusalem is part of Paul's early ministry experiences, highlighting the direct communication and guidance he received from the Lord.

The setting of the trance is significant. Paul is in the temple, a place of worship and prayer, which underscores the importance of seeking divine guidance in sacred spaces. The trance serves as a divine intervention, redirecting Paul's mission and ensuring the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles, as Paul is later known as the Apostle to the Gentiles.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the trance of Paul emphasizes the sovereignty of God in directing the mission of His servants. It illustrates the concept of divine revelation, where God communicates His will directly to individuals through visions and trances. This event also underscores the theme of rejection and acceptance in the spread of the Gospel. Despite the anticipated rejection in Jerusalem, Paul's mission is affirmed and redirected to a broader audience, fulfilling God's plan for the inclusion of the Gentiles.

Paul's Response

In response to the vision, Paul expresses his initial reluctance, reminding the Lord of his past persecution of Christians and his presence at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 22:19-20). However, the Lord's command is clear, and Paul obediently follows the divine directive, leaving Jerusalem to continue his missionary work. This obedience reflects Paul's transformation and commitment to his apostolic calling.

Conclusion

The trance of Paul is a profound example of divine guidance and revelation in the New Testament. It highlights the early challenges faced by the apostles and the supernatural means by which God directed their paths. Through this event, the expansion of the Gospel beyond the Jewish community is affirmed, showcasing the inclusive nature of God's salvation plan.Acts 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;
Nave's Topical Index

Rome Protects Paul
... It is very characteristic of Paul that he thought that his own conversion was the
best ... We need not discuss the date of the trance, whether it was in his first ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/rome protects paul.htm

The Conversion of S. Paul
... Book First CCLXXXIV THE CONVERSION OF S. PAUL. The mid-day sun, with fiercest glare, ...
While Saul, in wakeful trance,. Sees deep within that dazzling field. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cclxxxiv the conversion of s.htm

Paul and his Praying (Continued)
... him, "Behold he prayeth." And so we have in this reference Paul's prayerfulness
intensified ... to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/xiv paul and his praying.htm

Paul Before the Council.
... WE have seen, in the last Lecture, to what danger Paul was exposed, not long after ...
to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance, and saw ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxvi paul before the.htm

Paul's First Prayer
... through his ears"set his whole soul on fire; and when at last he started up from
that three days' trance, and began ... Here was an argument for Paul's sincerity ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/pauls first prayer.htm

Days of Preparation
... Burdened in behalf of those who refused to believe, Paul was praying in the temple,
as he himself afterward testified, when he fell into a trance; whereupon a ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 13 days of preparation.htm

Acts XXII
... and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance, (18) and saw ... By allowing Paul
to speak, Lysias expected to learn something about the charges against him ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxii.htm

The First Book of Our Answer to the Treatise of Celsus...
... would have eaten: but while they made ready he fell into a trance, and saw ... Moreover,
in the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul states that Peter, still from fear ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter i the first book.htm

Sermon for Whit Sunday
... of St. Augustine, it was given to Paul in his trance, and to Moses in
Sinai, to behold the Godhead without a veil. This was not ...
/.../xix sermon for whit sunday.htm

Of the Sovereign Degree of Union by Suspension and Ravishment.
... returns which she makes, as by stealth, she experiences S. Paul's distress: [333 ...
to our Saviour, it is not distinguished from a rapture, trance, or suspension ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii of the sovereign.htm

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