God’s Word Translation
Acts 12:10
10They passed the first and second guardposts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter.
Acts 12:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
- New International Version (NIV)They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Context of Acts 12:10
8The angel told him, “Put your shoes on, and get ready to go!” Peter did this. Then the angel told him, “Put your coat on, and follow me.” 9Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He didn’t realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guardposts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter. 11When Peter came to his senses, he said, “Now I’m sure that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people are expecting to happen to me.” 12When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered at her home and were praying.
Read all of Acts 12Acts 12:10 word by word
διελθόντες δὲ πρώτην φυλακὴν καὶ δευτέραν ἦλθαν ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τὴν σιδηρᾶν τὴν φέρουσαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἥτις αὐτομάτη ἠνοίγη αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐξελθόντες προῆλθον ῥύμην μίαν καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέστη ὁ ἄγγελος ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Whenδέde · thenG1161
- they were pastδιέρχομαιdierchomai · to pass throughG1330
- the firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the secondδεύτεροςdeuteros · secondlyG1208
- wardφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
- they cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the ironσιδήρεοςsidēreos · ironG4603
- gateπύληpulē · gateG4439
- that leadethφέρωpherō̄ · to bear/leadG5342
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
- whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- openedἀνοίγωanoigō · to openG455
- to themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- of his own accordαὐτόματοςautomatos · by itselfG844
- they went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
- and passed on throughπροέρχομαιproerchomai · to go beforeG4281
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- streetῥύμηrhumē · laneG4505
- forthwithεὐθέωςeutheōs · immediatelyG2112
- the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- departedἀφίστημιaphistēmi · to leaveG868
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
Cross-references for Acts 12:10
- Acts 12:4After capturing Peter, Herod had him thrown into prison with sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Herod wanted to bring Peter to trial in front of the people after Passover.
- Genesis 40:3He put them in the prison of the captain of the guard, the same place where Joseph was a prisoner.
- Genesis 42:17Then he put them in jail for three days.
- Numbers 15:34They kept him in custody until they decided what to do with him.
- Isaiah 21:8The watchman called, “Sir, I stand on the watchtower every day. Every night, I stand guard at my post.
- Acts 5:19But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.
- Acts 16:26Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the jail. All the doors immediately flew open, and all the prisoners’ chains came loose.
- Isaiah 45:1This is what the Lord says about Cyrus, his anointed one: I have held him by his right hand so he could conquer the nations ahead of him, strip kings of their power, and open doors ahead of him so that the gates would not be shut.
- John 20:19That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you!”
- Revelation 3:7“To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write: The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens ⌞a door⌟ that no one can shut, and who shuts ⌞a door⌟ that no one can open, says:
Commentaries on Acts 12:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10The first and - second ward - It is supposed that ancient Jerusalem was surrounded by three walls: if so, then passing through the gates of these three walls successively is possibly what is meant by the expression in the text. The prison in which he was confined might have been that which was at the outer wall. Iron gate - This was in the innermost wall of the three, and was strongly plated over with iron, for the greater security. In the east, the gates…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10The first and second ward - The word which is here rendered “ward” ́ phulakēnproperly denotes “the act of guarding”; but it is most commonly used to denote “a prison, or place of confinement.” In this place it seems to denote the guard itself - the soldiers stationed at intervals in the entrance into the prison. These were passed silently, probably a deep sleep having been sent on them to facilitate the escape of Peter. The iron gate - The outer gate…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 12:10
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries