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Acts 12:10

in Acts 12

They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him.

KJV

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

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This verse in Acts 12

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts · Written before 735.

They came to the iron gate that leads to the city. Narrow indeed and made of iron was the gate that leads to the heavenly Jerusalem, but it has now been made passable to us by the footsteps of the apostles, who conquered the iron …

This site's exposition

So Peter followed him out

on Acts 12:9-10

Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real, thinking he was only seeing a vision, the word used of his trance in 10:17. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself, with no human hand named. Once they reached the street, the angel suddenly left him.

This site's exposition

They passed the first and second guards

Codex Bezae adds that they went down the seven steps. The detail reads like local memory of the prison. Opened by itself renders the word Mark 4:28 uses of soil bearing grain unaided.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 26 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of its own accord. Behold, a second miracle. And they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. When the angel departed, then Peter understood.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 26 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

And when they had passed the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate, which opened unto them of its own accord: and yet the things that had happened within the prison were more marvellous: but this was now more after the manner of man. And having gone out, they went along one street and immediately the Angel departed from him. When there was no hindrance, then the Angel departed. For Peter would not have gone along, there being so many hindrances.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 26 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

When they were past the first and the second ward - see also how strong the guard was - they came unto the iron gate.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

The first and second ward - At each of which doubtless was a guard of soldiers. The gate opened of its own accord - Without either Peter or the angel touching it.
When they were past the first and the second ward,....
3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

The application of the redemption in the conversion of souls is the sending forth of the prisoners, by the blood of the covenant, out of the pit wherein is no water, Zech. ix.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

The first and - second ward - It is supposed that ancient Jerusalem was surrounded by three walls: if so, then passing through the gates of these three walls successively is possibly what is meant by the expression in the text. The prison in which he was confined might have been that which was at the outer wall. Iron gate - This was in the innermost wall of the three, and was strongly plated over with iron, for the greater security. In the east, the gates are often thus secured to the present day.
The first and second ward - The word which is here rendered “ward” φυλακήν phulakēn properly denotes “the act of guarding”; but it is most commonly used to denote “a prison, or place of confinement.” In this place it seems to denote the guard itself - the soldiers stationed at intervals in the entrance into the prison. These were passed silently, probably a deep sleep having been sent on them to facilitate the escape of Peter. The iron gate - The outer gate, Secured with iron, as the doors of prisons are now. That leadeth unto the city - Or rather into εἰς eis the city. The precise situation of the prison is unknown. It is supposed by some (compare Lightfoot on this place) that the prison was between two walls of the city, and that the entrance to the prison was immediately from the inner wall, so that the gate opened directly into the city. Of his own accord - Itself. It opened spontaneously, without the application of any force or key, thus showing conclusively that Peter was delivered by miraculous interposition. And passed on through one street - Until Peter was entirely safe from any danger of pursuit, and then the angel left him. God had effected his complete rescue, and now left him to his own efforts as usual.

The words behind it

33 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

11 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 16:26Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.9 worksActs 5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,7 worksIsaiah 45:1–2This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:5 worksGenesis 40:3and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.4 worksGenesis 42:17So Joseph imprisoned them for three days,4 worksJohn 20:19It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.4 works
The other 5 cross-references, with their words ▾
Numbers 15:34and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody.4 worksActs 12:4He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.3 worksIsaiah 21:8Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.3 worksRevelation 3:7To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.2 worksJohn 20:26Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Acts 16:26

    Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

    it leads to

    • Acts 4:31

      After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

    • Acts 5:19

      But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

    • Acts 12:7

      Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his…

    • Psalms 146:7

      He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,

    • Matthew 28:2

      Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.

  • Through

    Acts 5:19

    But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

    it leads to

    • Acts 16:26

      Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

    • Psalms 34:7

      The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.

    • Acts 12:7–11

      Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his…

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 12 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 26; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, Expositor's Greek Testament.

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