Tree of Life Version
Acts 12:6
6Now that very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping—bound with two chains between two soldiers, while guards before the gate were keeping watch over the prison.
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 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.
Context of Acts 12:6
4After seizing him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads with four soldiers each to guard him. He was intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer for him was being offered fervently to God by Messiah’s community. Now that very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping—bound with two chains between two soldiers, while guards before the gate were keeping watch over the prison. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He poked Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up! Quick!” And the chains fell off his hands. 8Then the angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” and he did so. Then he tells him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
Read all of Acts 12Acts 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 22:14Abraham named that place, Adonai Yireh,—as it is said today, “On the mountain, Adonai will provide.”
- Deuteronomy 32:26I would have said, ‘I will hack them to pieces, make the memory of them cease from mankind,’
- 1 Samuel 23:26Then, while Saul was advancing on one side of the mountain, David and his men were on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to elude Saul. Meanwhile Saul and his men were closing-in on David and his men to seize them.
- Psalms 3:5I cry out to Adonai with my voice, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah
- Psalms 4:8You have put joy in my heart— more joy than when their grain and new wine overflow.
- Isaiah 26:3You keep in perfect peace one whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
- Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
- Hebrews 13:6so that with confidence we say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What will man do to me?”
- Acts 21:33Then the commander came up, arrested Paul, ordered him to be bound with two chains, and began investigating what he had done.
- Acts 28:20For this reason, therefore, I have requested to see you and to speak with you—since it is for the hope of Israel that I am bearing this chain.”
- Jeremiah 40:4But now behold, I am freeing you this day from the chains that are on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, stop. Look, the whole land is before you—wherever it seems good and right to you to go, there go.”
- Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak boldly, the way I should.
- 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.
- Acts 5:23saying, “We found the prison locked with maximum security and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened up, we found no one inside.”
- Matthew 28:4And those keeping watch were shaken 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
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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