New International Version
Acts 12:7
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.
Acts 12:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.
Context of Acts 12:7
5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6The 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. Suddenly 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. 9Peter 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.
Read all of Acts 12Acts 12:7 word by word
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη καὶ φῶς ἔλαμψεν ἐν τῷ οἰκήματι· πατάξας δὲ τὴν πλευρὰν τοῦ Πέτρου ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἀνάστα ἐν τάχει. καὶ ἐξέπεσαν αὐτοῦ αἱ ἁλύσεις ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- came uponἐφίστημιephistēmi · to approachG2186
- a lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
- shinedλάμπωlampō · to shineG2989
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the prisonὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the prisonοἴκημαoikēma · cellG3612
- andδέde · thenG1161
- he smoteπατάσσωpatassō · to strikeG3960
- PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
- on the sideπλευράpleura · sideG4125
- and raisedἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Ariseἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
- quicklyτάχοςtachos · speedG5034
- chainsἅλυσιςhalusis · chainG254
- fell offἐκπίπτωekpiptō · to fall outG1601
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- handsχείρcheir · handG5495
Cross-references for Acts 12:7
- Acts 12:23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
- Acts 5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.
- Acts 10:30Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me
- Acts 27:23Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
- 1 Kings 19:5Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
- Psalms 34:7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
- Psalms 37:32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;
- Isaiah 37:30“This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: “This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
- Daniel 6:22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
- Hebrews 1:14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Acts 9:3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
- 2 Samuel 22:29You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.
- Ezekiel 43:2and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.
- Micah 7:9Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.
- Habakkuk 3:4His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.
- Revelation 18:1After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
Commentaries on Acts 12:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Smote Peter on the side - He struck him in such a way as was just sufficient to awake him from his sleep. His chains fell off from his hands - The chains mentioned above, by which he was bound to the two soldiers.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7And, behold, the angel of the Lord - See the notes on Acts 5:19. Came upon him - Greek: was present with him; stood near him ̓́ epestēAnd a light shined in the prison - Many have supposed that this was lightning. But light, and splendor, and shining apparel are commonly represented as the accompaniments of the heavenly beings when they visit the earth, Luke 2:9; Luke 24:4; compare Mark 9:3. It is highly probable that this light was discerned only by…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 12:7
In the dictionaries
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
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