God’s Word Translation
Acts 12:17
17Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, “Tell James and the other believers about this.” Then he left and went somewhere else.
Acts 12:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
- New International Version (NIV)Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
Context of Acts 12:17
15The people told her, “You’re crazy!” But she insisted that Peter was at the door. They said, “It has to be his angel.” 16But Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see him. Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, “Tell James and the other believers about this.” Then he left and went somewhere else. 18In the morning the soldiers were in an uproar over what had happened to Peter. 19Herod searched for Peter but couldn’t find him. So he questioned the guards and gave orders to have them executed. Then Herod left Judea and went to Caesarea, where he stayed for a while.
Read all of Acts 12Acts 12:17 word by word
κατασείσας δὲ αὐτοῖς τῇ χειρὶ σιγᾶν, διηγήσατο αὐτοῖς πῶς ὁ κύριος αὐτὸν ἐξήγαγεν ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς· εἶπέν τε· ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰακώβῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ταῦτα. καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἐπορεύθη εἰς ἕτερον τόπον.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- he, beckoningκατασείωkataseiō · to signalG2678
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- with the handὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- with the handχείρcheir · handG5495
- to hold their peaceσιγάωsigaō · be silentG4601
- declaredδιηγέομαιdiēgeomai · to relate fullyG1334
- howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- had broughtἐξάγωexagō · to lead outG1806
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
- he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Go shewἀπαγγέλλωapaggellō · to announceG518
- these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- unto JamesἸάκωβοςIakōbos · JamesG2385
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- to the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- he departedἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
- and wentπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
- placeτόποςtopos · placeG5117
Cross-references for Acts 12:17
- Acts 13:16Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me.
- Acts 19:33Some people concluded that Alexander was the cause, so the Jews pushed him to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand to quiet the people because he wanted to defend himself in front of them.
- Acts 21:40The officer gave Paul permission to speak. So Paul stood on the stairs of the barracks and motioned with his hand for the people to be quiet. When the mob was silent, Paul spoke to them in the Hebrew language.
- Luke 1:22When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. So they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He motioned to them but remained unable to talk.
- John 13:24Simon Peter motioned to that disciple and said, “Ask Jesus whom he’s talking about!”
- Psalms 66:16Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for me.
- Psalms 102:20He heard the groans of the prisoners and set free those who were condemned to death.
- Psalms 107:21Let them give thanks to the Lord because of his mercy. He performed his miracles for Adam’s descendants.
- Psalms 116:14I will keep my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
- Psalms 146:7He brings about justice for those who are oppressed. He gives food to those who are hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.
- Acts 15:13After they finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me.
- Acts 21:18The next day Paul went with us to visit James. All the spiritual leaders were present.
- 1 Corinthians 15:7Next he appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles.
- Galatians 1:19I didn’t see any other apostle. I only saw James, the Lord’s brother.
- Galatians 2:9James, Cephas, and John (who were recognized as the most important people) acknowledged that God had given me this special gift. So they shook hands with Barnabas and me, agreeing to be our partners. It was understood that we would work among the people who are not Jewish and they would work among Jewish people.
- James 1:1From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To God’s faithful people who have been scattered. Greetings.
Commentaries on Acts 12:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Declared - how the Lord had brought him out of the prison - He still persisted in the belief that his deliverance was purely supernatural. It seems that some modern critics could have informed him of his mistake. See Acts 12:11. Show these things unto James, and to the brethren - That is, in one word, show them to the Church, at the head of which James undoubtedly was; as we may clearly understand by the part he took in the famous council held at…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17But he, beckoning - To prevent the noise, and tumult, and transport which was likely to be produced. His wish was, not that there should be clamorous joy, but that they should listen in silence to what God had done. It was sufficient to awe the soul, and produce deep, grateful feeling. A noise might excite the neighboring Jews, and produce danger. Religion is calm and peaceful; and its great scenes and surprising deliverances are rather suited to awe…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-19Verses 12-19 God's providence leaves room for the use of our prudence, though he has undertaken to perform and perfect what he has begun. These Christians continued in prayer for Peter, for they were truly in earnest. Thus men ought always to pray, and not to faint. As long as we are kept waiting for a mercy, we must continue praying for it. But sometimes that which we most earnestly wish for, we are most backward to believe. The Christian law of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-17Rhoda was very surprised when Peter appeared, so she left him standing at the closed door. She and the other Christians thought God's answer to their prayers was amazing (12:5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1712-17. he came to the house of Mary, &c.--who "must have had a house of some pretensions to receive a large number; and, accordingly, we read that her brother Barnabas (Col 4:10) was a person of substance (Ac 4:37). She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution" [Webster and Wilkinson]. To such a house it was natural that Peter should come. mother of John ... Mark--so called to distinguish…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 12:17
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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