Trance

​Acts 10:9-16
Peter’s Dream
 
What an interesting passage this is! However, the word, “trance,” really bothers me. Many of the bible translations use it, except for a few that use “asleep” or “vision.” The definition of trance describes “a half-conscious state between sleeping and waking.” That makes me feel somewhat better because all I could picture at first was Mowgli from The Jungle Book being hypnotized by Kaa the Snake. Kaa’s eyes swirl and put Mowgli into a trance as Kaa sings “Trust in me.” The negative connotations associated with “trance” today leave me skeptical.
 
I had to look up the original Ancient Greek word, which is ἔκστασις ekstasis, or ecstasy, which is defined as a state when a person transcends normal consciousness, or a time of bewilderment and amazement. I guess “trance” is the closest English word that describes the half-sleeping / half-awake state Peter experienced when he saw an opening to heaven.
 
With this definition, it seems as though he fell into this ecstatic trance after he saw the vision because he was so amazed and bewildered to have this experience from God. But scripture makes it sound as if he goes into a trance and then has the vision. Maybe that doesn’t bother anyone else, but it seems too hokey to me if he goes into a trance and then has the vision. I could certainly see how he would fall into ecstasy after receiving a vision from God, but if it happened before, it might seem as if he was conjuring the vision himself.
 
I think it’s really important to know that this vision came from God. If it came from Peter, it could be interpreted that Peter was so hungry that he was giving himself permission to break the Jewish dietary laws. “The voice” tells him to eat anything to satisfy his hunger, even what used to be considered unclean. Even though Peter heard a voice, that could’ve been his own inner voice. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone mistook the voice of God and used it as an excuse when they want to satisfy their own desires.
 
However, if this vision was produced by Peter’s hunger, it would only be about food. After reading the entire chapter, the vision is clearly not about food. Clean vs unclean food is an analogy that God used to describe the Jew and Gentile relationship. Jews considered Gentiles unclean or impure, so God was teaching Peter that the good news is for all people. God’s vision is for people to come together as one, and to consider each other equally valuable.
 
Perhaps God used the food laws as the analogy because Peter was so hungry, and he had food on the brain. Perhaps it was because their food laws were deeply ingrained in his Jewish upbringing, so God knew that change needed to happen at the foundation. Perhaps God knew that the best way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
 
The opening to heaven was the sign that this vision was from God and not Peter. It is also important to remember that Peter went to the roof to pray. When Peter retells this experience in the next chapter, he said, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision” (Acts 11:5). So, Peter’s hunger may have played a role in the vision, but it didn’t produce a hunger dream. While Peter was praying, he received a vision. Whether the vision came first or the trance, it doesn’t change the fact that God gave Peter a message that broadened his ministry.
 
Sometimes words in scripture speak to us in positive ways or negative ways, so we dig deeper to explore what lies underneath that word. I still don’t like the word “trance,” but I just have to remind myself that sometimes ancient words don’t always translate well to English. I shouldn’t let that interfere with the real point of the passage: God spoke and Peter listened.
 
Reflection questions:
What do you think about the word “trance”?
Have you ever received a message from God or a vision?
Was it while you were praying or another time?
What role does Peter’s hunger play in this passage?