While the Bible did appear to tell the slave to be faithful and obedient to his master, it also condemned the wicked and provided examples that could be interpreted to prove God's willingness to use human instruments in order to bring justice against oppressors.

Turner's growing hatred of slavery and his increasing concern for the plight of his brothers, led him to believe he was one of God's chosen instruments.
As his conviction deepened, the solar eclipse early in 1831 appeared to him to be a sign that the day of vengeance was at hand.

In the following months he collected a small band of followers, and in August they went into action.

Unlike Prosser and Vesey, he began with only a very small band which lessened his chance of betrayal.

As they moved from farm to farm, slaughtering the white inhabitants, they were joined by many of the slaves who were freed in the process.