Acts 12:9

Acts 12:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
• New International Version (NIV)Peter 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So 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.

Context of Acts 12:9

7Suddenly, 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. 8Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. 11Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

Acts 12:9 word by word

καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἠκολούθει καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ἀληθές ἐστιν τὸ γινόμενον διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου, ἐδόκει δὲ ὅραμα βλέπειν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• and followedἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wistεἴδωeidō · to perceive: knowG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• it wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• trueἀληθήςalēthēs · trueG227
• which was doneγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• butδέde · thenG1161
• thoughtδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• he sawβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• a visionὅραμαhorama · visionG3705

Cross-references for Acts 12:9

• Acts 26:19“And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven.
• Genesis 6:22So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.
• John 2:5But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
• Hebrews 11:8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.
• Acts 10:3One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
• Acts 11:5“I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me.
• Genesis 45:26“Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it.
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
• 2 Corinthians 12:1This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.

Commentaries on Acts 12:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9He - wist not - He knew not; from the Anglo-Saxon, to know. He supposed himself to be in a dream.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And wist not - Knew not. That it was true - That it was real. But thought he saw a vision - He supposed that it was a representation made to his mind similar to what he had seen before. Compare Acts 10:11-12. It was so astonishing, so unexpected, so wonderful, that he could not realize that it was true.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 12:9

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Herod
• Jerusalem
• Minister, Christian
• Miracles
• Persecution
• Peter
• Prayer
• Prisoners
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Constantly
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply
• Prayer
• Raise
• Vex
• Acts of the Apostles
• Apostolic Age
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Herod

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