Acts 11:5 Meaning and Explanation
“I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Peter begins his account: praying in Joppa, he fell into a trance and saw a great sheet lowered from heaven, coming down to him.
What Does Acts 11:5 Mean?
Peter retells the vision of Acts 10. He was at prayer on a housetop in the seaport of Joppa when heaven opened his eyes: a vessel like a great sheet descended by its four corners. His retelling adds a vivid detail — it came even to me. The lesson was delivered into his very hands.
The vision was born in prayer; God interrupted a praying man, not an idle one. And what descends comes from heaven: the welcoming of the nations is not Peter's invention but God's initiative, lowered into history from above. When the Lord means to enlarge a heart, He often begins in the quiet place where that heart already seeks Him.
Acts 11:5 in the Original Language
ekstasis (ἔκστασις), 'trance' -- a state in which ordinary awareness gives way to God-given sight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 11:5
What does Acts 11:5 mean?
Peter begins his account: praying in Joppa, he fell into a trance and saw a great sheet lowered from heaven, coming down to him.