Christian Standard Bible
Acts 12:7
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.
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 the church was praying fervently to God for him. 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. Suddenly 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.” 9So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he 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 12:23At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.
- Acts 5:19But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,
- Acts 10:30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in dazzling clothing stood before me
- Acts 27:23For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me
- 1 Kings 19:5Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”
- Psalms 34:7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.
- Psalms 37:32The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous and intends to kill him;
- Isaiah 37:30“‘This will be the sign for you: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what grows from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
- Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”
- Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?
- Acts 9:3As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
- 2 Samuel 22:29Lord, you are my lamp; the Lord illuminates my darkness.
- Ezekiel 43:2and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice sounded like the roar of a huge torrent, and the earth shone with his glory.
- Micah 7:9Because I have sinned against him, I must endure the Lord’s fury until he champions my cause and establishes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see his salvation.
- Habakkuk 3:4His brilliance is like light; rays are flashing from his hand. This is where his power is hidden.
- Revelation 18:1After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries