Acts 12:10
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
Acts 12:10 in other translations
| BSB | They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him. |
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| WEB | When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. |
| ASV | And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him. |
| YLT | and having passed through a first ward, and a second, they came unto the iron gate that is leading to the city, which of its own accord did open to them, and having gone forth, they went on through one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him. |
| DARBY | And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left him. |
| BBE | And when they had gone past the first and second watchmen they came to the iron door into the town, which came open by itself: and they went out and down one street; and then the angel went away. |
| Webster | When they were past the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. |
What does Acts 12:10 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 12:7-11
7-11. 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.
Barnes' Notes
The iron gate. The outer gate, secured with iron, as the doors of prisons are now.
That leadeth unto the city. Or, rather, into εις the city. Jerusalem was surrounded by three walls. (See Lightfoot on this place.) The prison is supposed to have been situated between two of these walls. And it is probable that the entrance to the prison was immediately from the inner wall, so that this gate opened directly into the city.
Of his own accord. Itself. It opened spontaneously, without the application of any force, or key, thus showing conclusively that Peter was delivered by miraculous interposition.
And passed on through one street. Till Peter was entirely safe from any danger of pursuit, and then the angel left him. God had effected his complete rescue, and now left him to his own efforts as usual.
(@) "ward" "guard"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 12:6-11
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…
Acts 12:10 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Acts 12:10
- Acts 5:19
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
- Acts 16:26
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
- Isaiah 45:1-2
Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
- Numbers 15:34
And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
- Genesis 42:17
And he put them all together into ward three days.
- Genesis 40:3
And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
- John 20:19
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
- Isaiah 21:8
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
- Acts 12:4
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
- Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
- John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Acts 12:9
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.
- Acts 12:10
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
- Acts 12:11
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Acts 12:10 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y como pasaron la primera y la segunda guardia, vinieron á la puerta de hierro que va á la ciudad, la cual se les abrió de suyo: y salidos, pasaron una calle; y luego el ángel se apartó de él. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et ayant passé la première et la seconde garde, ils vinrent à la porte de fer qui conduit à la ville, et elle s’ouvrit à eux d’elle-même; et, étant sortis, ils allèrent jusqu’au bout d’une rue; et aussitôt l’ange se retira d’avec lui. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Als sie aber durch die erste und die zweite Wache gegangen waren, kamen sie an das eiserne Tor, das in die Stadt führte, welches sich ihnen von selbst auftat; und sie traten hinaus und gingen eine Straße entlang, und alsbald schied der Engel von ihm. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Transeuntes autem primam et secundam custodiam, venerunt ad portam ferream, quæ ducit ad civitatem: quæ ultro aperta est eis. Et exeuntes processerunt vicum unum: et continuo discessit angelus ab eo. |