God’s Word Translation
Acts 12:7
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.
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 very hard to God for him. 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. Suddenly, 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.” 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.
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 12:23Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died.
- Acts 5:19But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.
- Acts 10:30Cornelius answered, “Four days ago I was praying at home. It was at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man dressed in radiant clothes stood in front of me.
- Acts 27:23I know this because an angel from the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood by me last night.
- 1 Kings 19:5Then he lay down and slept under the broom plant. An angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
- Psalms 34:7The Messenger of the Lord camps around those who fear him, and he rescues them.
- Psalms 37:32The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him.
- Isaiah 37:30“ ‘And this will be a sign for you, Hezekiah: You will eat what grows by itself this year, and the next year you will eat what comes up by itself. But in the third year you will plant and harvest, plant vineyards, and eat what is produced.
- Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they couldn’t hurt me. He did this because he considered me innocent. Your Majesty, I haven’t committed any crime.”
- Hebrews 1:14What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation.
- Acts 9:3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
- 2 Samuel 22:29O Lord, you are my lamp. The Lord turns my darkness into light.
- Ezekiel 43:2I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the sound of rushing water, and the earth was shining because of his glory.
- Micah 7:9I have sinned against the Lord. So I will endure his fury until he takes up my cause and wins my case. He will bring me into the light, and I will see his victory.
- Habakkuk 3:4His brightness is like the sunlight. Rays of light ⌞stream⌟ from his hand. That is where his power is hidden.
- Revelation 18:1After these things I saw another angel come from heaven. He had tremendous power, and his glory lit up the earth.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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