Acts 12:7
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Acts 12:7 in other translations
| BSB | Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. |
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| WEB | And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. |
| ASV | And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. |
| YLT | and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the buildings, and having smitten Peter on the side, he raised him up, saying, ‘Rise in haste,' and his chains fell from off his hands. |
| DARBY | And lo, an angel of the Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands. |
| BBE | And a great light was seen shining in the room, and an angel of the Lord came to Peter and, touching him on his side so that he came out of his sleep, said, Get up quickly. And his chains came off his hands. |
| Webster | And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. |
What does Acts 12:7 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 12:7-11
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Came upon him. Greek, was present with him; stood near him, επεστη
And a light shined in the prison. Many have supposed that this was lightning. But light, and splendour, and shining apparel, are commonly represented as the accompaniments of the heavenly beings when they visit the earth, Lk 2:9, 24:4. Comp. Mk 9:3. It is highly probable that this light was discerned only by Peter; and it would be to him an undoubted proof of the Divine interposition in his behalf.
And he smote Peter on the side. This was doubtless a gentle blow or stroke to arouse him from sleep.
And his chains, etc. This could have been only by Divine power. No natural means were used, or could have been used without arousing the guard. It is a sublime expression of the ease with which God can deliver from danger, and rescue his friends. Comp. Acts 16:26.
(b) "his chains" Acts 16:26
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 12:7 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Acts 12:7
- 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.
- Acts 5:19
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
- Psalms 146:7
Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
- Psalms 105:18-20
Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
- Psalms 142:6-7
Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
- Psalms 34:7
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
- Genesis 19:15-16
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
- Acts 27:23-24
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
- Psalms 107:14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
- Acts 10:30
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
- Luke 24:4
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
- Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
23; 5:19; 10:30; 27:23,24; 1Ki 19:5,7; Ps 34:7; 37:32,33; Isa 37:30
Da 6:22; Heb 1:14
and a.
9:3; 2Sa 22:29; Eze 43:2; Mic 7:9; Hab 3:4,11; Re 18:1
Arise.
Ge 19:15,16; Isa 60:1; Eph 5:14
And his.The two chains with which his hands were fastened to those of the two soldiers between whom he slept. This, it appears, was the Roman method of securing a prisoner, and seems to be what is intimated in ver. 6.
6; 2:24; 16:26; Ps 105:18-20; 107:14; 116:16; 142:6,7; 146:7
Da 3:24,25
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Acts 12:6
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.
- Acts 12:7
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
- Acts 12:8
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Acts 12:7 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y he aquí, el ángel del Señor sobrevino, y una luz resplandeció en la cárcel; é hiriendo á Pedro en el lado, le despertó, diciendo: Levántate prestamente. Y las cadenas se le cayeron de las manos. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et voici, un ange du ✶Seigneur survint, et une lumière resplendit dans la prison; et frappant le côté de Pierre, il le réveilla, disant: Lève-toi promptement. Et les chaînes tombèrent de ses mains. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und siehe, ein Engel des Herrn stand da, und ein Licht leuchtete in dem Kerker; und er schlug Petrus an die Seite, weckte ihn und sagte: Stehe schnell auf! Und die Ketten fielen ihm von den Händen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Et ecce angelus Domini astitit, et lumen refulsit in habitaculo: percussoque latere Petri, excitavit eum, dicens: Surge velociter. Et ceciderunt catenæ de manibus ejus. |