King James Version

What Does Acts 11:5 Mean?

Acts 11:5 in the King James Version says “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 she...” — study this verse from Acts chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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:”

Acts 11:5 · KJV

Context

3

Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised , and didst eat with them.

4

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

5

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:

6

Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

7

And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

Read Acts 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision. Peter begins his defense of baptizing Cornelius by describing his supernatural experience that challenged Jewish exclusivism. The detail "in the city of Joppa" establishes the geographical setting and connects to Acts 10:9-16. "Praying" (proseuchomenos, προσευχόμενος) indicates this vision came during devoted communion with God—divine revelation often accompanies seeking God's face.

"In a trance" (en ekstasei, ἐν ἐκστάσει) means literally "standing outside oneself"—a state where normal consciousness is suspended for direct divine communication. This wasn't meditation or imagination but God-initiated revelation. The vision of "a certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners" contained clean and unclean animals, symbolically representing all peoples and nations.

Peter's detailed recounting demonstrates the profundity of this revelation: God was dismantling the ceremonial barriers separating Jews from Gentiles. The repeated vision (three times) and the Spirit's explicit command to accompany the Gentile messengers left no doubt about God's new direction. This verse marks a pivotal moment in Acts—the gospel breaking free from Jewish-only restrictions to become genuinely universal.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This account comes from Acts 11, where Peter defends his controversial actions to Jerusalem church leaders who criticized him for eating with uncircumcised Gentiles (11:2-3). The incident occurred around AD 40-41, approximately a decade after Pentecost, when the church was still predominantly Jewish and struggling with the implications of Gentile conversion.

Joppa (modern Jaffa) was a Mediterranean coastal city with mixed Jewish and Gentile populations. Peter was staying with Simon the tanner (Acts 10:6), a detail indicating his growing openness to ceremonially unclean occupations. Cornelius, the Roman centurion in Caesarea, represented the first documented case of direct Gentile conversion without prior Jewish proselytization.

The Jerusalem church's resistance to Peter's actions reveals how difficult it was for first-century Jewish Christians to accept that Gentiles could be saved without first becoming Jewish proselytes. The ceremonial food laws had served for centuries as identity markers separating God's people from pagan nations. Peter's vision declaring all foods clean (10:15) symbolized the obsolescence of these barriers in Christ. This controversy was ultimately resolved at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God use prayer as the context for revelation and direction in our lives?
  2. What cultural or traditional barriers prevent us from obeying God's call to reach all people?
  3. How can we discern between personal preference and divine conviction regarding cultural practices?
  4. What does this passage teach about God's heart for global missions and ethnic reconciliation?
  5. How should we respond when God challenges our comfortable religious traditions?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 27 words
Ἐγὼ1 of 27

“I”

G1473

i, me

ἤμην2 of 27

“was”

G2252

i was

ἐν3 of 27

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

πόλει4 of 27

“the city”

G4172

a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)

Ἰόππῃ5 of 27

“of Joppa”

G2445

joppe (i.e., japho), a place in palestine

προσευχόμενος6 of 27

“praying”

G4336

to pray to god, i.e., supplicate, worship

καὶ7 of 27

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

εἶδον8 of 27

“I saw”

G1492

used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl

ἐν9 of 27

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

ἐκστάσει10 of 27

“a trance”

G1611

a displacement of the mind, i.e., bewilderment, "ecstasy"

ὅραμα11 of 27

“a vision”

G3705

something gazed at, i.e., a spectacle (especially supernatural)

καταβαῖνον12 of 27

“descend”

G2597

to descend (literally or figuratively)

σκεῦός13 of 27

“vessel”

G4632

a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively (specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband))

τι14 of 27

“A certain”

G5100

some or any person or object

ὡς15 of 27

“as it had been”

G5613

which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)

ὀθόνην16 of 27

“sheet”

G3607

a linen cloth, i.e., (especially) a sail

μεγάλην17 of 27

“a great”

G3173

big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)

τέσσαρσιν18 of 27

“by four”

G5064

four

ἀρχαῖς19 of 27

“corners”

G746

(properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)

καθιεμένην20 of 27

“let down”

G2524

and ???? (to send); to lower

ἐκ21 of 27

“from”

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

τοῦ22 of 27
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

οὐρανοῦ23 of 27

“heaven”

G3772

the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)

καὶ24 of 27

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἦλθεν25 of 27

“it came”

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

ἄχρις26 of 27

“even”

G891

(of time) until or (of place) up to

ἐμοῦ·27 of 27

“to me”

G1700

of me

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 11:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 11:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 10:9-32Amos 8:2Ezekiel 2:9Amos 7:4-7Jeremiah 1:11-14Acts 11:5-14

Places in This Verse

JoppaSettlement · Modern: Jaffa · 32.05°N, 34.75°E14 verses across 5 books
View all places in Acts 11 →

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