Amplified Bible
Acts 12:7
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.
Acts 12:7 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
Context of Acts 12:7
5So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church. 6The 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. Suddenly, 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.” 9And Peter went out following the angel. He did not realize that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Read all of Acts 12Acts 12:7 word by word
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη καὶ φῶς ἔλαμψεν ἐν τῷ οἰκήματι· πατάξας δὲ τὴν πλευρὰν τοῦ Πέτρου ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἀνάστα ἐν τάχει. καὶ ἐξέπεσαν αὐτοῦ αἱ ἁλύσεις ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- came uponἐφίστημιephistēmi · to approachG2186
- a lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
- shinedλάμπωlampō · to shineG2989
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the prisonὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the prisonοἴκημαoikēma · cellG3612
- andδέde · thenG1161
- he smoteπατάσσωpatassō · to strikeG3960
- PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
- on the sideπλευράpleura · sideG4125
- and raisedἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Ariseἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
- quicklyτάχοςtachos · speedG5034
- chainsἅλυσιςhalusis · chainG254
- fell offἐκπίπτωekpiptō · to fall outG1601
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- handsχείρcheir · handG5495
Cross-references for Acts 12:7
- Acts 12:23And at once an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory [and instead permitted himself to be worshiped], and he was eaten by worms and died [five days later].
- Acts 5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said,
- Acts 10:30Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me,
- Acts 27:23For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,
- 1 Kings 19:5He lay down and slept under the juniper tree, and behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”
- Psalms 34:7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience], And He rescues [each of] them.
- Psalms 37:32The wicked lies in wait for the righteous And seeks to kill him.
- Isaiah 37:30“This shall be the sign [of these things] to you [Hezekiah]: you are to eat this year what grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from the same, and in the third year you are to sow and harvest, and plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
- Daniel 6:22My God has sent His angel and has shut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime.”
- Hebrews 1:14Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]
- Acts 9:3As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ];
- 2 Samuel 22:29For You, O Lord, are my lamp; The Lord illumines and dispels my darkness.
- Ezekiel 43:2And behold, the glory and brilliance of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east; and His voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.
- Micah 7:9I will bear the indignation and wrath of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will behold His [amazing] righteousness and His remarkable deliverance.
- Habakkuk 3:4His brightness is like the sunlight; He has [bright] rays flashing from His hand, And there [in the sunlike splendor] is the hiding place of His power.
- Revelation 18:1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, possessing great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his splendor and radiance.
Commentaries on Acts 12:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Smote 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7And, behold, the angel of the Lord - See the notes on Acts 5:19. Came upon him - Greek: was present with him; stood near him ̓́ epestēAnd 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, Luke 2:9; Luke 24:4; compare Mark 9:3. It is highly probable that this light was discerned only by…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. 7-11See “Angels” Theme Note.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-117-11. the angel of the Lord--rather, "an angel." came upon him--so in Lu 2:9, expressive of the unexpected nature of the visit. smote Peter on the side ... Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off ... Gird thyself ... And so he did ... Cast thy garment--tunic, which he had thrown off for the night.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 12:7
In the dictionaries
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
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