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 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.” Peter went out and kept following him—he didn’t know that what was happening with the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10After they passed a first guard and a second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself. They went out and walked along a narrow street. Suddenly the angel left him. 11When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for real that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Judean people were expecting.”

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“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
• Genesis 6:22So Noah did according to all that God commanded him; he did so exactly.
• John 2:5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
• Hebrews 11:8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
• Acts 10:3About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
• Acts 11:5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision—something like a great sheet coming down, being lowered from heaven by its four corners, and it came right to me.
• Genesis 45:26They told him saying, “Joseph is still alive and he is ruler of the whole land of Egypt!” His heart went numb, for he did not believe them.
• Psalms 126:1A Song of Ascents. When Adonai restored the captives of Zion, it was as if we were dreaming.
• 2 Corinthians 12:1I must go on boasting—though it does no good, I will go on to visions and revelations of 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