Acts 12:6
in Acts 12On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison.
KJV
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
⋯
This verse in Acts 12
Commentary
11 notes on this versePeter was neither confused nor afraid, but on that very night, when they intended to bring him out of the prison, he slept, having entrusted everything to the will of the Lord. Pay attention also to how thorough the guard was: the guards slept with …
This site's exposition
bound with two chains
on Acts 12:6-8
On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, at rest on the eve of his trial. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell, and at his touch the chains fell off his wrists. The orders that follow are ordinary and unhurried, to dress, put on sandals and wrap his cloak around him, a rescue without haste.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
John ChrysostomCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12.6-7 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
See how Peter slept and was not in anguish or fear. In the very night when he was about to be brought before the court he slept, leaving everything to God. Indeed the multitude becomes powerful when virtue is present. And it had such a power that even though the doors were closed, chains bound the apostle and the jailers slept at both his sides, virtue delivered him and saved him from all those difficulties. So if virtue is present the multitude has great strength, but if vice is present it makes no benefit.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. See Peter sleeping, and not in distress or fear! That same night, after which he was to be brought forth, he slept, having cast all upon God. "Between two soldiers, bound with two chains." Mark, how strict the ward!
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. In that night He delivered him. "And a light shined in the prison," that he might not deem it fancy: and none saw the light, but he only. For if, notwithstanding this was done, he thought it a fancy, because of its unexpectedness; if this had not been, much more would he have thought this: so prepared was he for death. For his having waited there many days and not being saved caused this. Why then, say you, did He not suffer him to fall into the hands of Herod, and then deliver him? Because that would have brought people into astonishment, whereas this was credible: and they would not even have been thought human beings.
Peter was neither in agony nor in fear, but slept, having cast everything upon the Lord. [CHRYSOSTOM]
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. See Peter sleeping, and not in distress or fear! That same night, after which he was to be brought forth, he slept, having cast all upon God. "Between two soldiers, bound with two chains." Mark, how strict the ward! "And says, Arise." The guards were asleep with him, and therefore perceived nothing of what was happening. "And a light shined." What was the light for? In order that Peter might see as well as hear, and not imagine it to be all fancy. And the command, "Arise quickly," that he may not be remiss. He also smote him; so deeply did he sleep.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And when Herod would have brought him forth,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains - Two soldiers guarded his person; his right hand being bound to the left hand of one, and his left hand bound to the right hand of the other. This was the Roman method of guarding their prisoners, and appears to be what is intimated in the text.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
And when Herod would have brought him forth--"was going to bring him forth." the same night--but a few hours before the intended execution. Thus long were the disciples kept waiting; their prayers apparently unavailing, and their faith, as would seem from the sequel, waxing feeble. Such, however, is the law of God's procedure (De 32:36 and see on Joh 21:3).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And when Herod would have brought him forth - When he was about to bring him to be put to death. The same night - That is, the night preceding. The intention of Herod was to bring him out as soon as the Passover was over; but during the night which immediately preceded the day in which he intended to bring him to punishment, Peter was rescued. Peter was sleeping - Here is an instance of remarkable composure, and an illustration of the effects of peace of conscience and of confidence in God. It was doubtless known to Peter what the intention of Herod was. James had just been put to death, and Peter had no reason to expect a better fate. And yet in this state he slept as quietly as if there had been no danger, and it was necessary that he should be roused even by an angel to contemplate his condition and to make his escape. There is nothing that will give quiet rest and gentle sleep so certainly as a conscience void of offence; and in the midst of imminent dangers, he who confides in God may rest securely and calmly. Compare Psa 3:5; Psa 4:8. Between two soldiers - See the notes on Act 12:4. Peter was bound to the two. His left hand was chained to the right hand of one of the soldiers, and his right hand to the left hand of the other. This was a common mode of securing prisoners among the Romans. See abundant authorities for this quoted in Lardner’s Credibility, part 1, chapter 10: section 9, London edition, 1829, vol. i. p. 242, 243, etc. And the keepers ... - See Act 12:4. Two soldiers were stationed at the door. We may see now that every possible precaution was used to ensure the safe custody of Peter: (1) He was in prison. (2) He was under the charge of sixteen men, who could relieve each other when weary, and thus every security was given that he could not escape by inattention on their part. (3) He was bound fast between two men. […]
The words behind it
28 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅτε | hote | When | G3753 → | 103 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἤμελλεν | emellen | was about | G3195 → | 109 times |
| προαγαγεῖν | proagagein | to bring forth | G4254 → | 20 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἡρῴδης, | herodes | Herod, | G2264 → | 43 times |
| τῇ | tea | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νυκτὶ | nukti | night | G3571 → | 61 times |
| ἐκείνῃ | ekeine | that [one] | G1565 → | 260 times |
| ἦν | en | was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Πέτρος | petros | Peter | G4074 → | 155 times |
| κοιμώμενος | koimomenos | sleeping | G2837 → | 18 times |
| μεταξὺ | metaxu | between | G3342 → | 9 times |
| δύο | duo | two | G1417 → | 133 times |
| στρατιωτῶν | stratioton | soldiers | G4757 → | 26 times |
| δεδεμένος | dedemenos | bound | G1210 → | 43 times |
| ἁλύσεσιν | halusesin | with chains | G254 → | 11 times |
| δυσίν, | dusin | two, | G1417 → | 133 times |
| φύλακές | phulakes | guards | G5441 → | 3 times |
| τε | te | also | G5037 → | 213 times |
| πρὸ | pro | before | G4253 → | 47 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θύρας | thuras | door | G2374 → | 39 times |
| ἐτήρουν | eteroun | were watching | G5083 → | 70 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φυλακήν. | phulaken | prison. | G5438 → | 47 times |
ὅτεWhen
hoteG3753 →103 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ἤμελλενwas about
emellenG3195 →109 times
προαγαγεῖνto bring forth
proagageinG4254 →20 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
Ἡρῴδης,Herod,
herodesG2264 →43 times
τῇin the
teaG3588 →19766 times
νυκτὶnight
nuktiG3571 →61 times
ἐκείνῃthat [one]
ekeineG1565 →260 times
ἦνwas
enG1510 →2333 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ΠέτροςPeter
petrosG4074 →155 times
κοιμώμενοςsleeping
koimomenosG2837 →18 times
μεταξὺbetween
metaxuG3342 →9 times
δύοtwo
duoG1417 →133 times
στρατιωτῶνsoldiers
stratiotonG4757 →26 times
δεδεμένοςbound
dedemenosG1210 →43 times
ἁλύσεσινwith chains
halusesinG254 →11 times
δυσίν,two,
dusinG1417 →133 times
φύλακέςguards
phulakesG5441 →3 times
τεalso
teG5037 →213 times
πρὸbefore
proG4253 →47 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
θύραςdoor
thurasG2374 →39 times
ἐτήρουνwere watching
eterounG5083 →70 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
φυλακήν.prison.
phulakenG5438 →47 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Hebrews 13:6So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
it leads to
- Psalms 118:6–9
The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Psalms 27:1–3
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Psalms 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
- Psalms 118:6–9
Through
Acts 21:33The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:20
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:20
Through
2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
it leads to
- Acts 28:20
So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 4:19
Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus.
- Acts 28:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12.6-7; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 26; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.