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 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

4So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 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. 7Now 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. 8Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment 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 the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
• Deuteronomy 32:26I would have said, “I will dash them in pieces, I will make the memory of them to cease from among men,”
• 1 Samuel 23:26Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.
• Psalms 3:5I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
• Psalms 4:8I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
• Isaiah 26:3You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
• Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
• Hebrews 13:6So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
• Acts 21:33Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done.
• Acts 28:20For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
• Jeremiah 40:4And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.”
• Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
• 2 Timothy 1:16The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
• Acts 5:23saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
• Matthew 28:4And the guards shook for fear of him, 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
• Chain
• Constantly
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply
• Prayer
• Raise
• Vex
• Acts of the Apostles

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