Original Word: ἔκστασις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: ekstasis
Pronunciation: ek'-sta-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (ek'-stas-is)
KJV: + be amazed, amazement, astonishment, trance
NASB: trance, astonishment, amazement
Word Origin: [from G1839 (ἐξίστημι - amazed)]

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

amazement, astonishment

From existemi; a displacement of the mind, i.e. Bewilderment, "ecstasy" -- + be amazed, amazement, astonishment, trance.

see GREEK existemi

1611 ékstasis (from 1839 /eksístēmi, "completely remove") – properly, take out of regular position (standing) and bring into a state of ecstasy (rapture) – like a person "carried out" in trance-like amazement. This state of mind reaches far beyond the powers of ordinary perception.

Word Origin
from existémi
Definition
a displacement (of the mind), i.e. bewilderment, ecstasy
NASB Translation
amazement (1), astonishment (2), completely* (1), trance (3).STRONGS NT 1611: ἔκστασις

ἔκστασις, ἐκστάσεως, ἡ (ἐξίστημι);

1. universally, in Greek writing, any casting down of a thing from its proper place or state; displacement (Aristotle, Plutarch).

2. a throwing of the mind out of its normal state, alienation of mind, whether such as makes a lunatic (διανοίας, Deuteronomy 28:28; τῶν λογισμῶν, Plutarch, Sol. 8), or that of the man who by some sudden emotion is transported as it were out of himself, so that in this rapt condition, although he is awake, his mind is so drawn off from all surrounding objects and wholly fixed on things divine that he sees nothing but the forms and images lying within, and thinks that he perceives with his bodily eyes and ears realities shown him by God (Philo,quisrerumdivin.heres § 53 (cf. 51; B. D. under the word, Trance; Delitzsch, Psychol. 5:5)): ἐπέπεσεν (Rec., others ἐγένετο) ἐπ' ἔκστασις, Acts 10:10; εἶδεν ἐν ἐκστάσει ὅραμα, Acts 11:5; γενέσθαι ἐν ἐκστάσει, Acts 22:17, cf. 2 Corinthians 12:2f.

3. In the O. T. and the New amazement (cf. Longinus, 1, 4; Stobaeus, flor. tit. 104, 7), the state of one who, either owing to the importance or the novelty of an event, is thrown into a state of blended fear and wonder: εἶχεν αὐτάς τρόμος καί ἔκστασις, Mark 16:8; ἐξέστησαν ἐκστάσει μεγάλη, Mark 5:42 (Ezekiel 26:16); ἔκστασις ἔλαβεν ἅπαντας, Luke 5:26; ἐπλήσθησαν θάμβους καί ἐκστάσεως, Acts 3:10; (for חֲרָדָה, trembling, Genesis 27:33; 1 Samuel 14:15, etc.; פַּחַד, fear, 2 Chronicles 14:14, etc.).

Scope and Nuances of the Term

The word translated variously as “amazement,” “astonishment,” or “trance” portrays a sudden displacement from ordinary perception. In narrative settings it conveys overwhelming wonder before divine power; in visionary contexts it marks a Spirit-given state in which normal sensory awareness is suspended so that fresh revelation can be received.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Amazement before Miracles

• Mark 5:42 – When Jesus restores Jairus’s daughter, “they were completely astonished”.
• Mark 16:8 – After the angelic announcement of the resurrection, the women flee “trembling and bewildered.”
• Luke 5:26 – The healed paralytic walks, and “everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God.”
• Acts 3:10 – Bystanders see the lame man walking: “they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

2. Trance and Prophetic Vision

• Acts 10:10 – Peter on the rooftop “fell into a trance” and received the Gentile-embracing vision of the sheet.
• Acts 11:5 – Peter recounts the same event, underscoring its authenticity.
• Acts 22:17 – Paul, praying in the temple, “fell into a trance” and was commissioned to the Gentiles.

Patterns of Use

• In the Gospels the term highlights the response of crowds to redemptive acts, indicating that Christ’s works irresistibly demonstrated divine authority.
• In Acts it is twice linked to apostolic revelation that altered salvation-history (opening the gospel to Gentiles) and once to a healing that authenticated apostolic witness.
• The movement from emotional amazement (spectators) to visionary reception (apostles) illustrates the Spirit’s capacity both to arrest attention and to communicate mission.

Theological Significance

1. Validation of Divine Initiative

Both public astonishment and private trances serve as divine endorsements. Miraculous deeds validate Jesus as Messiah; trances authorize the Church’s missionary expansion.

2. Continuity with Old-Testament Prophecy

Prophets such as Ezekiel experienced similar suspension of normal faculties (Ezekiel 1:1; 8:3). The New Testament usage shows prophetic continuity while centering all revelation on Christ and His gospel.

3. Christological Focus

All seven occurrences ultimately direct attention to Jesus: the Gospels reveal His power; Acts reveals His ongoing headship over the Church by the Spirit.

Historical Interpretation

Early Church writers regarded ecstatic vision as an extraordinary but genuine operation of the Holy Spirit. While later excesses led to caution, the mainstream tradition affirmed that God may temporarily elevate believers beyond ordinary sensation for revelatory purposes, always subject to the test of Scriptural coherence.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

• Expectancy: Congregations should anticipate that genuine encounters with God can evoke profound awe.
• Discernment: Visionary experiences must harmonize with the full counsel of Scripture (Galatians 1:8).
• Mission: Like Peter and Paul, believers who receive fresh direction from God’s Word are compelled outward in evangelism.
• Worship: Corporate astonishment leads naturally to praise, as seen in Luke 5:26.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1611 describes both the amazed reaction of witnesses to God’s mighty acts and the Spirit-induced trances that deliver pivotal revelation. In every setting it underscores God’s sovereign initiative to reveal Himself, advance His redemptive plan, and elicit worshipful awe in His people.

εκστασει εκστάσει ἐκστάσει εκστασεως εκστάσεως ἐκστάσεως έκστασιν εκστασις έκστασις ἔκστασις εκστραγγιείς εκστρατεύει ekstasei ekstásei ekstaseos ekstaseōs ekstáseos ekstáseōs ekstasis ékstasisInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Mark 5:42 N-DFS
GRK: ἐξέστησαν εὐθὺς ἐκστάσει μεγάλῃ
NAS: old. And immediately they were completely astounded.
KJV: with a great astonishment.
INT: they were overcome immediately with amazement great

Mark 16:8 N-NFS
GRK: τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις καὶ οὐδενὶ
NAS: for trembling and astonishment had gripped
KJV: and were amazed: neither
INT: trembling and amazement and to none

Luke 5:26 N-NFS
GRK: Καὶ ἔκστασις ἔλαβεν ἅπαντας
NAS: struck with astonishment and [began] glorifying
KJV: all amazed, and
INT: And amazement seized all

Acts 3:10 N-GFS
GRK: θάμβους καὶ ἐκστάσεως ἐπὶ τῷ
NAS: with wonder and amazement at what had happened
KJV: and amazement at
INT: with wonder and amazement at that which

Acts 10:10 N-NFS
GRK: ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἔκστασις
NAS: he fell into a trance;
KJV: fell into a trance,
INT: upon him a trance

Acts 11:5 N-DFS
GRK: εἶδον ἐν ἐκστάσει ὅραμα καταβαῖνον
NAS: praying; and in a trance I saw
KJV: and in a trance I saw a vision,
INT: I saw in a trance a vision descending

Acts 22:17 N-DFS
GRK: με ἐν ἐκστάσει
NAS: that I fell into a trance,
KJV: was in a trance;
INT: I in a trance

Strong's Greek 1611
7 Occurrences

ἐκστάσει — 3 Occ.
ἐκστάσεως — 1 Occ.
ἔκστασις — 3 Occ.