Acts 12:9

Acts 12:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
• New International Version (NIV)Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

Context of Acts 12:9

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.” Peter 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. 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. 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.”

Acts 12:9 word by word

καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἠκολούθει καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ἀληθές ἐστιν τὸ γινόμενον διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου, ἐδόκει δὲ ὅραμα βλέπειν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• and followedἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wistεἴδωeidō · to perceive: knowG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• it wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• trueἀληθήςalēthēs · trueG227
• which was doneγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• butδέde · thenG1161
• thoughtδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• he sawβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• a visionὅραμαhorama · visionG3705

Cross-references for Acts 12:9

• Acts 26:19“At that point I did not disobey the vision I saw from heaven, King Agrippa.
• Genesis 6:22Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him.
• John 2:5His mother told the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
• Hebrews 11:8Faith led Abraham to obey when God called him to go to a place that he would receive as an inheritance. Abraham left his own country without knowing where he was going.
• Acts 10:3One day, about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He clearly saw an angel from God come to him and say, “Cornelius!”
• Acts 11:5“I was praying in the city of Joppa when I fell into a trance. I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners from the sky. The sheet came near me.
• Genesis 45:26They told him, “Joseph is still alive! Yes, he is ruler of Egypt.” Jacob was stunned and didn’t believe them.
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, it was as if we were dreaming.
• 2 Corinthians 12:1I must brag, although it doesn’t do any good. I’ll go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

Commentaries on Acts 12:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9He - wist not - He knew not; from the Anglo-Saxon, to know. He supposed himself to be in a dream.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And wist not - Knew not. That it was true - That it was real. But thought he saw a vision - He supposed that it was a representation made to his mind similar to what he had seen before. Compare Acts 10:11-12. It was so astonishing, so unexpected, so wonderful, that he could not realize that it was true.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 12:9

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Herod
• Jerusalem
• Minister, Christian
• Miracles
• Persecution
• Peter
• Prayer
• Prisoners
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Constantly
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply
• Prayer
• Raise
• Vex
• Acts of the Apostles
• Apostolic Age
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Herod

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