God’s Word Translation
Acts 12:6
6The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching 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 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. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying very hard to God for him. The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching the prison. 7Suddenly, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel nudged Peter’s side, woke him up, and said, “Hurry! Get up!” At that moment the chains fell from Peter’s hands. 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.”
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 22:14Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide. It is still said today, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
- Deuteronomy 32:26I said that I would cut them in pieces and erase everyone’s memory of them.
- 1 Samuel 23:26Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, and Saul and his men were going around ⌞the mountain⌟ toward David and his men, trying to capture them.
- Psalms 3:5I lie down and sleep. I wake up again because the Lord continues to support me.
- Psalms 4:8I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down because you alone, O Lord, enable me to live securely.
- Isaiah 26:3With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you.
- Philippians 4:6Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.
- Hebrews 13:6So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can mortals do to me?”
- Acts 21:33Then the officer went to Paul, grabbed him, and ordered him to be tied up with two chains. The officer asked who Paul was and what he had done.
- Acts 28:20That’s why I asked to see you and speak with you. I’m wearing these chains because of what Israel hopes for.”
- Jeremiah 40:4Today I’m removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I’ll look after you. But if you don’t want to come with me to Babylon, don’t come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want.
- Ephesians 6:20Because I have already been doing this as Christ’s representative, I am in prison. So pray that I speak about this Good News as boldly as I have to.
- 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord be merciful to the family of Onesiphorus. He often took care of my needs and wasn’t ashamed that I was a prisoner.
- Acts 5:23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. However, when we opened the doors, we found no one inside.”
- Matthew 28:4The guards were so deathly afraid of him that they shook.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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