Acts 12:9
in Acts 12So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.
KJV
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
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This verse in Acts 12
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThis is very natural given the astonishing extraordinariness of what had happened, because the extraordinariness of the signs strikes the beholder. Peter thought he was seeing a vision, yet he was girding himself and putting on his sandals. What else could he have felt but …
This site's exposition
So Peter followed him out
on Acts 12:9-10
Peter was unaware that the angel's work was real, thinking he was only seeing a vision, the word used of his trance in 10:17. The iron gate leading to the city opened for them by itself, with no human hand named.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
And he wist not that it was true that was done by the Angel, but thought he saw a vision: well he might, by reason of the excessive greatness of the things taking place. Do you mark what a thing it is for a miracle to be excessive? how it amazes the beholder? how it will not let the thing be believed? For if Peter thought he saw a vision, though he had girded himself and put on his shoes, what would have been the case with another?
And he wist not that it was true. If he thought it was true that was happening, he would have been astonished, he would not have remembered all the circumstances: but now, seeming to be in a dream, he was free from perturbation.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel; but thought he saw a vision. The Lord would have the pleasure come to him all at once, and that he should first be at liberty, and then be sensible of what had happened. The circumstance also of the chains having fallen off from his hands, is a strong argument of his not having fled.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And he went out and followed him,....
Those whose bonds are loosed by the power of divine grace must have their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (3.) He must cast his garments about him, and come away as he was, and follow the angel; and he might go with a great deal of courage and cheerfulness who had a messenger from heaven for his guide and guard.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And wist not - Knew not. That it was true - That it was real. But thought he saw a vision - He supposed that it was a representation made to his mind similar to what he had seen before. Compare Act 10:11-12. It was so astonishing, so unexpected, so wonderful, that he could not realize that it was true.
FANCY, not fact! A dream! A delusion! That would be the world's estimate of the most blessed Christian experience. "Fanaticism" is the name by which they call it. But call it by whatever name you please, the Divine Grace that interposes and rescues a sinner from the Law's threats, from Satan's tyranny, from the malice of men, and the fears of one's own heart is matter of abundant joy. Then let it be witnessed by a life of undeviating principle and devoted service of God— sneer who may—suspect it who will—it is a noble triumph.
FANCY, not fact! A dream! A delusion! That would be the world's estimate of the most blessed Christian experience. "Fanaticism" is the name by which they call it. But call it by whatever name you please, the Divine Grace that interposes and rescues a sinner from the Law's threats, from Satan's tyranny, from the malice of men, and the fears of one's own heart is matter of abundant joy. Then let it be witnessed by a life of undeviating principle and devoted service of God— sneer who may—suspect it who will—it is a noble triumph. Such triumphs of Grace we have among us, and there are many who can witness to the fact. Still, dear Friends, not infrequently does it happen that you, whose salvation is our joy, of whom we speak with the utmost assurance, are yourselves in straits, exercised with fights without and fears within. And you are unable to satisfy your own consciences that the work is Divine. Observe now that Peter was brought out of prison by a great miracle, and yet it seemed to him as a vision or a dream. I need not recapitulate the circumstances. I have just read them in your hearing. This much I propose. First, let me endeavor to draw out some reflections from the narrative. And then, secondly, I shall take up the text itself and try to show you that there is no illusion, whatever you may think, in the mighty operations of the Lord. To begin—the first remark we think we are justified in making is this, that if ever our enemies can get hold of us, they will be quite sure to hold us as fast as they can. When Herod had been able to apprehend Peter, he was not content with ordinary means of keeping him in custody. He has Peter put into the strongest prison in Jerusalem. To make assurance doubly sure, he is chained not to one soldier, but to two. He was too great a prize to be readily lost.
He - wist not - He knew not; from the Anglo-Saxon, to know. He supposed himself to be in a dream.
The words behind it
18 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 |
| ἐξελθὼν | exelthon | having gone forth | G1831 → | 216 times |
| ἠκολούθει | ekolouthei | he was following | G190 → | 90 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ᾔδει | edei | did know | G1492 → | 374 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἀληθές | alethes | real | G227 → | |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τὸ | to | what | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γινόμενον | ginomenon | is happening | G1096 → | 667 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγγέλου, | angelou | angel, | G32 → | 175 times |
| ἐδόκει | edokei | he was thinking | G1380 → | 62 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὅραμα | horama | a vision | G3705 → | 12 times |
| βλέπειν. | blepein | to see. | G991 → | 132 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐξελθὼνhaving gone forth
exelthonG1831 →216 times
ἠκολούθειhe was following
ekoloutheiG190 →90 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ᾔδειdid know
edeiG1492 →374 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἀληθέςreal
alethesG227 →
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
τὸwhat
toG3588 →19766 times
γινόμενονis happening
ginomenonG1096 →667 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀγγέλου,angel,
angelouG32 →175 times
ἐδόκειhe was thinking
edokeiG1380 →62 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὅραμαa vision
horamaG3705 →12 times
βλέπειν.to see.
blepeinG991 →132 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
Psalms 126:1When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
it leads to
- Hosea 6:11
Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, when I restore My people from captivity.
- Joel 3:1
“Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,
- Psalms 85:1
You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.
- Jeremiah 31:8–10
Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They…
- Psalms 123:1
I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
- Hosea 6:11
Through
Hebrews 11:8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
it leads to
- Genesis 12:1–4
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
- Acts 7:2–4
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
- Genesis 12:1–4
Through
Acts 10:3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
it leads to
- Daniel 9:20–21
While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—
- Daniel 9:20–21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
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About Acts
This page draws on 9 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); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 526: “No Illusion” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 26; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.