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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.

Context of Acts 12:6

4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 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. 7Suddenly 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. 8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.

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 22:14So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
• Deuteronomy 32:26I said I would scatter them and erase their name from human memory,
• 1 Samuel 23:26Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them,
• Psalms 3:5I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
• Psalms 4:8In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
• Isaiah 26:3You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
• Hebrews 13:6So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
• Acts 21:33The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
• Acts 28:20For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
• Jeremiah 40:4But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.”
• Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
• 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
• Acts 5:23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
• Matthew 28:4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

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