Christian Standard Bible
Acts 12:6
6When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.
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
4After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8“Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.”
Read all of Acts 12Acts 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 22:14And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.”
- Deuteronomy 32:26“I would have said: I will cut them to pieces and blot out the memory of them from mankind,
- 1 Samuel 23:26Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
- Psalms 3:5I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me.
- Psalms 4:8I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.
- Isaiah 26:3You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.
- Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Hebrews 13:6Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Acts 21:33Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.
- Acts 28:20For this reason I’ve asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.”
- Jeremiah 40:4Now pay attention: Today I am setting you free from the chains that were on your hands. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look — the whole land is in front of you. Wherever it seems good and right for you to go, go there.”
- Ephesians 6:20For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
- 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
- Acts 5:23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
- Matthew 28:4The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.
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
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries