Acts 12 · Verse 17

Acts 12:17

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Acts 12:17, King James Version

Acts 12:17 in other translations

BSBPeter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.
WEBBut he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
ASVBut he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.
YLTand having beckoned to them with the hand to be silent, he declared to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison, and he said, ‘Declare to James and to the brethren these things;' and having gone forth, he went on to another place.
DARBYAnd having made a sign to them with his hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison; and he said, Report these things to James and to the brethren. And he went out and went to another place.
BBEBut he made a sign to them with his hand to be quiet, and gave them an account of how the Lord had taken him out of prison. And he said, Give the news to James and the brothers. And then he went away.
WebsterBut he beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go, show these things to James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

What does Acts 12:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 12:12-17

12-17. he came to the house of Mary, &c.--who "must have had a house of some pretensions to receive a large number; and, accordingly, we read that her brother Barnabas (Col 4:10) was a person of substance (Ac 4:37). She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution" [Webster and Wilkinson]. To such a house it was natural that Peter should come. mother of…

Read the full comment on Acts 12:12-17 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. But he beckoning, etc. To prevent the noise, and tumult, and transport which was likely to be produced. His wish was, not that there should be clamorous joy, but that they should listen in silence to what God had done. It was sufficient to awe the soul, and produce deep, grateful feeling. A noise might excite the neighbouring Jews, and produce danger. But religion is calm and peaceful; and its great scenes and surprising deliverances are rather fitted to awe the soul, to produce calm, sober, and grateful contemplation, than the noise of rejoicing, and the shoutings of exultation. The consciousness of the presence of God, and of his mighty power, does not produce rapturous disorder and tumult, but holy, solemn, calm, grateful emotion.

Go, shew these things, etc. Acquaint them that their prayer is heard, and that they may rejoice also at the mercy of God.

Unto James. James the son of Alpheus, commonly called the Less. Note, Acts 12:2, 1:13, Mt 10:2.

(c) "beckoning" Acts 13:16 (*) "peace" "Be silent" (1) "declared" "related" (2) "shew" "report"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Declared - how the Lord had brought him out of the prison - He still persisted in the belief that his deliverance was purely supernatural. It seems that some modern critics could have informed him of his mistake. See Act 12:11. Show these things unto James, and to the brethren - That is, in one word, show them to the Church, at the head of which James undoubtedly was; as we may clearly understand by the part he took in the famous council held at Jerusalem, relative to certain differences between the believing Jews and Gentiles. See Act 15:13-21. There is still no supremacy for Peter. He who was bishop or overseer of the Church at Jerusalem was certainly at the head of the whole Church of God at this time; but James was then bishop or inspector of the Church at Jerusalem, and, consequently, was the only visible head then upon earth. He departed - into another place - Some popish writers say that he went to Rome, and founded a Christian Church there. Those who can believe any thing may believe this. Where he went we know not; but it is probable that he withdrew for the present into a place of privacy, till the heat of the inquiry was over relative to his escape from the prison; for he saw that Herod was intent on his death.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 12:12-19

God's providence leaves room for the use of our prudence, though he has undertaken to perform and perfect what he has begun. These Christians continued in prayer for Peter, for they were truly in earnest. Thus men ought always to pray, and not to faint. As long as we are kept waiting for a mercy, we must continue praying for it. But sometimes that which we most earnestly wish for, we are most backward to believe…

Read the full comment on Acts 12:12-19 →

Acts 12:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

κατασείσαςkataseisasHaving made a signG2678
δὲdethenG1161
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
τῇtēawith theG3588
χειρὶcheirihandG5495
σιγᾶν,siganto be silent,G4601
διηγήσατοdiēgēsatohe relatedG1334
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
πῶςpōshowG4459
ὁhotheG3588
κύριοςkuriosLordG2962
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἐξήγαγενexēgagenhad broughtG1806
ἐκekout ofG1537
τῆςtēstheG3588
φυλακῆς·phulakēsprison;G5438
εἶπένeipenHe saidG2036
τε·tethen;G5037
ἀπαγγείλατεapangeilatedo reportG518
ἸακώβῳIakōbōto JamesG2385
καὶkaiandG2532
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
ἀδελφοῖςadelphoisbrothersG80
ταῦτα.tautathese things.G3778
καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐξελθὼνexelthōnhaving gone outG1831
ἐπορεύθηeporeuthēhe wentG4198
εἰςeistoG1519
ἕτερονheteronanotherG2087
τόπον.¶toponplace.G5117

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 12:17

  • Acts 21:40

    And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

  • Acts 13:16

    Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

  • Acts 19:33

    And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

  • Acts 15:13

    And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

  • Acts 21:18

    And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

  • Galatians 2:12

    For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

  • Galatians 1:19

    But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

  • Galatians 2:9

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • John 11:54

    Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

  • Matthew 10:23

    But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:7

    After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

  • John 8:59

    Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
beckoning.
13:16; 19:33; 21:40; Lu 1:22; Joh 13:24
declared.
Ps 66:16; 102:20,21; 107:21,22; 116:14,15; 146:7
James.
15:13; 21:18; 1Co 15:7; Ga 1:19; 2:9,12; Jas 1:1
And he.
16:40; Mt 10:23; Joh 7:1; 8:59; 10:40; 11:54

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 12:16

    But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

  • Acts 12:17

    But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

  • Acts 12:18

    Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

Read all of Acts 12

Acts 12:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas él haciéndoles con la mano señal de que callasen, les contó cómo el Señor le había sacado de la cárcel. Y dijo: Haced saber esto á Jacobo y á los hermanos. Y salió, y partió á otro lugar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et leur ayant fait signe de la main de se taire, il leur raconta comment le Seigneur l’avait fait sortir de la prison; et il dit: Rapportez ces choses à Jacques et aux frères. Et sortant, il s’en alla en un autre lieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er aber winkte ihnen mit der Hand zu schweigen, und erzählte ihnen,wie der Herr ihn aus dem Gefängnis herausgeführt habe; und er sprach: Verkündet dies Jakobus und den Brüdern. Und er ging hinaus und zog an einen anderen Ort.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Annuens autem eis manu ut tacerent, narravit quomodo Dominus eduxisset eum de carcere, dixitque: Nuntiate Jacobo et fratribus hæc. Et egressus abiit in alium locum.