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

7And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

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

• And he wentἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• out and continued to followἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• that what was beingγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• by the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• was realἀληθήςalēthēs · trueG227
• but thoughtδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• he was seeingβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• a visionὅραμαhorama · visionG3705

Cross-references for Acts 12:9

• Acts 26:19“So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,
• Genesis 6:22Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
• John 2:5His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
• Hebrews 11:8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
• Acts 10:3About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!”
• Acts 11:5“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me,
• Genesis 45:26They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream.
• 2 Corinthians 12:1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of 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