Acts 12:6

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

4When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him. On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”

Acts 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 22:14And Abraham called the name of that place “The Lord provides.” It is said to this day, “In the mountain of the Lord provision will be made.”
• Deuteronomy 32:26“I said, ‘I want to cut them in pieces. I want to make people forget they ever existed.
• 1 Samuel 23:26Saul went on one side of the mountain, while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, but Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men so they could capture them.
• Psalms 3:5I rested and slept; I awoke, for the Lord protects me.
• Psalms 4:8I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.
• Isaiah 26:3You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you.
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
• Hebrews 13:6So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
• Acts 21:33Then the commanding officer came up and arrested him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; he then asked who he was and what he had done.
• Acts 28:20So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.”
• Jeremiah 40:4But now, Jeremiah, today I will set you free from the chains on your wrists. If you would like to come to Babylon with me, come along and I will take care of you. But if you prefer not to come to Babylon with me, you are not required to do so. You are free to go anywhere in the land you want to go. Go wherever you choose.”
• Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
• 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.
• Acts 5:23“We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
• Matthew 28:4The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.

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

• Chains
• Herod
• Jerusalem
• Minister, Christian
• Miracles
• Persecution
• Peter
• Prayer
• Prisoners
• Rulers
• Soldiers

In the dictionaries

• Peter
• Herod
• Herod, Herod Antipas
• Herod, Herod the Great
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• Chain
• Constantly
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply
• Prayer

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