Acts 12:17

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

15They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place. 18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.

Acts 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

• motioningκατασείωkataseiō · to signalG2678
• to them with his handχείρcheir · handG5495
• to be silentσιγάωsigaō · be silentG4601
• he describedδιηγέομαιdiēgeomai · to relate fullyG1334
• to them howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• had ledἐξάγωexagō · to lead outG1806
• him out of the prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
• And he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Reportἀπαγγέλλωapaggellō · to announceG518
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• JamesἸάκωβοςIakōbos · JamesG2385
• the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• Thenκαίkai · andG2532
• he leftἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• and wentπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
• to anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
• placeτόποςtopos · placeG5117

Cross-references for Acts 12:17

• Acts 13:16Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
• Acts 19:33Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
• Acts 21:40When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned to the people with his hand; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying,
• Luke 1:22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.
• John 13:24So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”
• Psalms 66:16Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
• Psalms 102:20To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
• Psalms 107:21Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men!
• Psalms 116:14I shall pay my vows to the Lord, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people.
• Psalms 146:7Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.
• Acts 15:13After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me.
• Acts 21:18And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
• 1 Corinthians 15:7then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
• Galatians 1:19But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
• Galatians 2:9and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
• James 1:1James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: 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

• Herod
• James
• Jerusalem
• Minister, Christian
• Persecution
• Peter
• Prayer
• Prisoners
• Prudence
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

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

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