In another article in this issue of The Christian we have mentioned that dreams and visions were frequently used in the Old Testament, before the Word of God was complete and before the coming down of the Holy Spirit to indwell every true believer. We have also mentioned that God continues to use dreams and visions today, especially in parts of the world where His Word may not be available. However, the Lord did use dreams and visions from time to time in the early church, particularly with Peter and Paul.
Both Peter and Paul lived in a transitional time, and the Lord did not immediately stop using this way of communicating to His servants. “The darkness [was] passing,” and the “true light” was already shining (1 John 2:88Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. (1 John 2:8) JND), but this took place over a period of time. Paul was the one used of the Lord to “fulfill [or complete] the word of God” (Col. 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25)), and thus he had a very special calling. There were seven times in his life that the Lord chose to speak to him in a direct vision, rather than simply leading him by the Holy Spirit.
The First Vision
The first time that Paul saw a vision was when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-63And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:3‑6)). A light brighter than the sun suddenly struck him down, and a voice spoke to him: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” Saul, as he was called before he was saved, immediately recognized this as a “heavenly vision” (Acts 26:1919Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: (Acts 26:19)), and he replied, “Who art Thou, Lord?” He knew that the Lord Himself was speaking to him, and he waited for the Lord to tell him what to do next.
It is important to recognize that Saul was persecuting Christians with a good conscience, for he could say later to the Jewish Sanhedrin, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:11And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. (Acts 23:1)). Saul thought he was doing the right thing and that persecuting the Christians was pleasing to the Lord. But the Lord was going to show him otherwise and that Saul’s laying his hands on believers in Christ was persecuting Christ Himself.
The Second Vision
The second vision Paul had was shortly afterward, when he was in Damascus, blinded for three days, with time to ponder what had happened to him. During this time Saul evidently saw another vision — a vision of a man named Ananias coming to him, putting his hands on him, and giving him back his sight (Acts 9:11-1211And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (Acts 9:11‑12)). The Lord had also sent a vision to Ananias, telling him to go and do this, and He had told Ananias that Saul would be expecting him. During this same visit from Ananias, Saul was baptized and was “filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:1717And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 9:17)).
It was shortly before this that Stephen was martyred while Saul looked on with approval, but as another has commented, “It was typical of the ways of God in this dispensation of grace, that when Satan succeeded in putting out one of the brightest lights in the early church, God laid hold of the worst one responsible and said, as it were, “You come and take his place!” Then the Lord made of Saul of Tarsus an even greater servant than Stephen.
Direction in Service and Guidance
For the third vision we must go on to Acts 22:17-21,17And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 21And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. (Acts 22:17‑21) where we read Paul’s account of how God gave him direction in service. Saul (by this time called Paul) was evidently in Jerusalem, praying in the temple, when the Lord told him clearly to “depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles” (Acts 22:2121And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. (Acts 22:21)). Unlike Peter’s mission, which was to the Jews, Paul’s commission was to the Gentiles. Later, when Paul did go back to Jerusalem to witness to his own nation — the Jews—there was nothing but trouble. All this is a good lesson for us; we are always right to do what the Lord gives us to do. Following our own way, even with good motives, will never accomplish God’s purposes.
The fourth vision is given to us in Acts 16:9,9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. (Acts 16:9) for here Paul and his companion Silas are uncertain of what to do. If Paul received general guidance as to his service for the Lord in Jerusalem, he also sometimes needed specific guidance. They were “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,” and when they tried to “go into Bithynia,” we read that “the Spirit suffered them not.” But then, after coming to Troas, they received another vision telling them that there was a man in Macedonia, asking them to “come over into Macedonia, and help us” (vs. 9). They had labored for the Lord in Asia, but now it was time for the gospel to be introduced into Europe. Again, how wonderful are the ways of God! Little did Paul and Silas know that to reach that man (the jailor in Philippi), they would have to endure beating and imprisonment. Paul was learning how he was to suffer for the name of Christ (Acts 9:1616For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:16)).
Encouragement
The fifth vision is one of encouragement, for here Paul is in a large, wealthy, and very important city in Greece — Corinth. Paul was fearful as he went there, and he admits this later in 1 Corinthians 2:3: “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” It was not that he had any doubt as to the power of the gospel, but he was afraid that perhaps these wealthy, educated people might not want to listen to him. The Lord encourages him by telling him that “no man shall set on thee to hurt thee” and that He, the Lord, had “much people in this city” (Acts 18:1010For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (Acts 18:10)). The Lord kept His word, and we do not read of any direct persecution in Corinth, although Paul stayed there for a year and a half. The one attempt by the Jews to raise up persecution resulted only in the Jews’ being driven from the judgment seat by Gallio, the Roman deputy of the region.
The sixth vision is very precious, for it occurs at a low point in Paul’s life, when he was doubtless rather discouraged. After being told that his commission was to the Gentiles, his love for his own nation, the Jews, caused him some years later to go up to Jerusalem once more, intent on preaching to them one more time. However, there was no blessing from his efforts, and had it not been for the Lord’s allowing the Jews to force him out of the temple, he might have seriously compromised his Christian position (Acts 21:18-3018And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. 25As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 26Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. 27And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. (Acts 21:18‑30)). As a result of the uproar that ensued, he was taken into custody by the Romans and no doubt felt his failure keenly. The night following the Lord appeared to him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:1111And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. (Acts 23:11)). We might call this encouragement in trial, for, as we have mentioned, Paul surely must have realized his failure in going up to Jerusalem. Also, many believers had witnessed to him on his trip up to Jerusalem that he should not go there. But the Lord had pity on His servant, for He knew that Paul’s motives were right. The Lord first gives Paul credit for testifying of Him in Jerusalem, and then He tells him that he would also bear witness at Rome. Paul knew, right from that point, that he would reach Rome. All this must have made it somewhat easier for him to bear the two long years in prison before he was finally sent to Rome. But Paul knew that the Lord was in charge of all his circumstances.
His Appearing Before Caesar
The seventh visit might be called encouragement or intelligence in danger. After spending two years in prison in Caesarea, Paul was finally put on a ship to Rome. It turned out to be a dangerous journey, and so much so that most on board the ship thought that they would be lost at sea. Paul already had the answer: He knew that would not happen, but that he would reach Rome. However, now God gave him a further vision. Not only would he reach Rome and be brought before Caesar, but the Lord would graciously preserve all who were on board that ship (Acts 27:23-2523For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. (Acts 27:23‑25)). When Paul revealed this vision to those on the ship, he spoke with authority, and he took charge of the ship, although only a prisoner. The result was that “then were they all of good cheer” (Acts 27:3636Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. (Acts 27:36)). Again, this is an encouragement to us, for when a believer in Christ speaks with God’s authority, others, even unbelievers, will often recognize the voice of the Lord and listen.
We might mention one final vision Paul had, although it was more than a vision. I refer to the time when Paul was “caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:22I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2)). No doubt Paul was actually caught up to the third heaven (the dwelling place of God), although he was not conscious of whether he was in the body or out of the body. It was a wonderful preview of coming glory, yet afterward he needed “a thorn for the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:77And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2 Corinthians 12:7) JND), lest he should be “exalted above measure.” Human pride could still get in the way, and that thorn kept Paul humble. Yet later Paul could rejoice in it, for it only made the power of Christ more evident in his life.
You and I will not likely experience visions such as Paul had, but God by His Holy Spirit can make His mind very clear to us, in all the areas where Paul saw visions. However, we must be walking with the Lord, with a true desire to know His mind.
W. J. Prost