West Virginia Capitol.
Tuesday, 5 December 2023
“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance Acts 22:17
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The Greek is more literally translated, “And it happened to me, having returned to Jerusalem and my praying in the temple, I came into a trance” (CG).
Paul had just been instructed by Ananias to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. That was while he was in Damascus. Next, he tells the crowd, “And it happened to me, having returned to Jerusalem.”
His words now occurred upon his return, which is recorded in these few verses of Acts 9 –
“And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.” Acts 9:26-30
Though these words in Acts 9 are recorded directly after his departure from Damascus, as if he immediately traveled there, it is probable that he first went to Arabia, returned to Damascus, and then went to Jerusalem –
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.” Galatians 1:15-18
It is then during this fifteen-day stay in Jerusalem that his next words probably took place. He says, “and my praying in the temple, I came into a trance.”
The fact that he went to the temple to pray forms a part of his defense against being a blasphemer. His words to them indicate that he has remained an observant Jew all along.
Versions such as the KJV and NKJV don’t give the correct sense here. Instead of “he was in a trance,” it says he “came” or “fell” into a trance. Like both Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10, the state came about during a time of prayer.
Life application: By the time of these events, Paul had personally received revelation from the Lord in Arabia. He had believed in the Lord for a full three years. And yet, he took time to pray while in the temple.
In other words, his attitude was not, “I personally know the Lord and don’t need to pray anymore.” Rather, prayer was a part of his continued life in Christ. In his epistles, he holds prayer as a key and integral part of his walk with the Lord.
If this is so with someone who was personally called by the Lord and who had then personally received revelation from the Lord, it shows the high value of prayer. It should be something we likewise place a high value on. Let us remember this and take time to stop and pray. Moving mountains in one’s life begins while stationary on one’s knees.
Lord God, help us to remember to connect with You as we conduct our affairs each day. May prayer be considered an important part of our walk as we draw near to You with our souls open before You. Help us to solidify this as a priority in our lives. Amen.