New King James Version
Acts 12:7
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.
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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- 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 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
5Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6And 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. 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. 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.” 9So 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.
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 12:23Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
- Acts 5:19But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
- Acts 10:30So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
- Acts 27:23For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
- 1 Kings 19:5Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
- Psalms 34:7The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
- Psalms 37:32The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.
- Isaiah 37:30“This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.
- Daniel 6:22My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
- Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
- Acts 9:3As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
- 2 Samuel 22:29“For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.
- Ezekiel 43:2And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.
- Micah 7:9I will bear the indignation of the Lord, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.
- Habakkuk 3:4His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.
- Revelation 18:1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries