Acts 12:6

Acts 12:6 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.

Context of Acts 12:6

4When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution]. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church. The very night before Herod was to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries were in front of the door guarding the prison. 7Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared [beside him] and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter’s side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off his hands. 8The angel said to him, “Prepare yourself and strap on your sandals [to get ready for whatever may happen].” And he did so. Then the angel told him, “Put on your robe and follow me.”

Acts 12:6 word by word

ὅτε δὲ ἤμελλεν προαγαγεῖν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἡρῴδης, τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ ἦν ὁ Πέτρος κοιμώμενος μεταξὺ δύο στρατιωτῶν δεδεμένος ἁλύσεσιν δυσίν, φύλακές τε πρὸ τῆς θύρας ἐτήρουν τὴν φυλακήν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• Herodὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
• wouldμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• have broughtπροάγωproagō · to go/bring beforeG4254
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• the sameἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• nightνύξnux · nightG3571
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• sleepingκοιμάωkoimaō · to sleepG2837
• betweenμεταξύmetaxu · between/meanwhileG3342
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• soldiersστρατιώτηςstratiōtēs · soldierG4757
• boundδέωdeō · to bindG1210
• chainsἅλυσιςhalusis · chainG254
• andτεte · and/bothG5037
• the keepersφύλαξphulax · guard; keeperG5441
• beforeπρόpro · beforeG4253
• the doorθύραthura · doorG2374
• keptτηρέωtēreō · to keep: guardG5083
• the prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438

Cross-references for Acts 12:6

• Genesis 22:14So Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be seen and provided.”
• Deuteronomy 32:26I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces [scattering them far away], I will remove the memory of them from men,”
• 1 Samuel 23:26Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to capture them.
• Psalms 3:5I lay down and slept [safely]; I awakened, for the Lord sustains me.
• Psalms 4:8In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
• Isaiah 26:3You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
• Hebrews 13:6So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
• Acts 21:33Then the commander came up and arrested Paul, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
• Acts 28:20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel (the Messiah, the resurrection) that I am bound with this chain.”
• Jeremiah 40:4But now, listen carefully, [because of your innocence] I am freeing you today from the chains which are on your hands. If you would prefer to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you [carefully]; but if you would prefer not to come with me to Babylon, then do not do so. Look, all the land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right (convenient) for you to go.”
• Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should.
• 2 Timothy 1:16The Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and showed me kindness [comforting and reviving me like fresh air] and he was not ashamed of my chains [for Christ’s sake];
• Acts 5:23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened [the doors], we found no one inside.”
• Matthew 28:4The guards shook, paralyzed with fear [at the sight] of him and became like dead men [pale and immobile].

Commentaries on Acts 12:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Sleeping 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-11Verses 6-11 A peaceful conscience, a lively hope, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit, can keep men calm in the full prospect of death; even those very persons who have been most distracted with terrors on that account. God's time to help, is when things are brought to the last extremity. Peter was assured that the Lord would cause this trial to end in the way that should be most for his glory. Those who are delivered out of spiritual imprisonment…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-19God, through an angel, guided Peter out of prison. Peter reunited with his praying friends, and God sent him to continue proclaiming the good news about Jesus. The message advanced by God's power, even when the church and apostles faced strong opposition and discouragement.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. prayer was made without ceasing--rather, "instant," "earnest," "urgent" (Margin); as in Lu 22:44; Ac 26:7; and 1Pe 4:8 (see Greek). of the church unto God for him--not in public assembly, for it was evidently not safe to meet thus; but in little groups in private houses, one of which was Mary's (Ac 12:12). And this was kept up during all the days of unleavened bread.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 12:6

• Chains
• Herod
• Jerusalem
• Minister, Christian
• Miracles
• Persecution
• Peter
• Prayer
• Prisoners
• Rulers
• Soldiers

In the dictionaries

• Peter
• Herod
• Herod, Herod Antipas
• Herod, Herod the Great
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• Chain
• Constantly
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply
• Prayer

Commentaries on Acts 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings