Acts 12:7
in Acts 12Suddenly 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 wrists.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 12
Commentary
10 notes on this verseHe says that it shone so that they could both see and hear Peter and not think it a vision. The phrase "quickly [ἐν τάχει]" does not mean making a noise, but persuading not to delay. [CHRYSOSTOM]
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.
This site's exposition
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared
An angel of the Lord opened the prison doors for the apostles at 5:19, and here the same rescue comes to Peter alone. Light attends the angel as it did for the shepherds at Luke 2:9. Sixteen soldiers are matched by one messenger.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
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.
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.
The Medieval Church2 voices
But why did a light shine in the prison? So that Peter could both see and hear the Angel and so that he would not think it was an imagination. The Angel even struck him — so soundly was he sleeping. As for the expression …
And striking the side of Peter, he raised him up. The striking of the side is a commemoration of the passion of Christ, from whose wound our salvation flowed. And to us, too, who are held by the chains of pressures, the apostle Peter himself …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And, behold, the angel of the Lord - See the notes on Act 5:19. Came upon him - Greek: was present with him; stood near him ἐπέστη epestē. And a light shined in the prison - Many have supposed that this was lightning. But light, and splendor, and shining apparel are commonly represented as the accompaniments of the heavenly beings when they visit the earth, Luk 2:9; Luk 24:4; compare Mar 9:3. It is highly probable that this light was discerned only by Peter; and it would be to him an undoubted proof of the divine interposition in his behalf.
Smote Peter on the side - He struck him in such a way as was just sufficient to awake him from his sleep. His chains fell off from his hands - The chains mentioned above, by which he was bound to the two soldiers.
The words behind it
31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἰδοὺ | idou | behold | G2400 → | 200 times |
| ἄγγελος | angelos | an angel | G32 → | 175 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | of [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἐπέστη | epeste | stood by | G2186 → | 21 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| φῶς | phos | a light | G5457 → | 72 times |
| ἔλαμψεν | elampsen | shone | G2989 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οἰκήματι· | oikemati | cell; | G3612 → | |
| πατάξας | pataxas | Having struck | G3960 → | 10 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλευρὰν | pleuran | side | G4125 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Πέτρου | petrou | of Peter | G4074 → | 155 times |
| ἤγειρεν | egeiren | he woke up | G1453 → | 142 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| λέγων· | legon | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ἀνάστα | anasta | do rise up | G450 → | 107 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τάχει. | tachei | speed. | G5034 → | 8 times |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐξέπεσαν | exepesan | fell | G1601 → | 10 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| αἱ | hai | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁλύσεις | haluseis | chains | G254 → | 11 times |
| ἐκ | ek | off | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χειρῶν. | cheiron | hands. | G5495 → | 175 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἰδοὺbehold
idouG2400 →200 times
ἄγγελοςan angel
angelosG32 →175 times
κυρίουof [the] Lord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
ἐπέστηstood by
epesteG2186 →21 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
φῶςa light
phosG5457 →72 times
ἔλαμψενshone
elampsenG2989 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
οἰκήματι·cell;
oikematiG3612 →
πατάξαςHaving struck
pataxasG3960 →10 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
πλευρὰνside
pleuranG4125 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Πέτρουof Peter
petrouG4074 →155 times
ἤγειρενhe woke up
egeirenG1453 →142 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
λέγων·saying;
legonG3004 →1325 times
ἀνάσταdo rise up
anastaG450 →107 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
τάχει.speed.
tacheiG5034 →8 times
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐξέπεσανfell
exepesanG1601 →10 times
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
αἱthe
haiG3588 →19766 times
ἁλύσειςchains
haluseisG254 →11 times
ἐκoff
ekG1537 →911 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
χειρῶν.hands.
cheironG5495 →175 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
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.
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 12:10
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…
- Acts 4:31
Through
Psalms 146:7He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,
it leads to
- Psalms 103:6
The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
- Psalms 68:6
God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
- Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…
- Psalms 103:6
Through
Acts 5:19But 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 16:26
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
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); Bede, Commentary on Acts; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; 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.