Acts 12 10

Acts 12:10 kjv

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 nkjv

When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Acts 12:10 niv

They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

Acts 12:10 esv

When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.

Acts 12:10 nlt

They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 10 Meaning

Acts 12:10 describes the culmination of Peter's miraculous escape from prison. After passing two levels of human guards without incident, he and the accompanying angel reach the ultimate physical barrier – a heavy iron city gate. This gate, an seemingly impenetrable fortress, spontaneously opens for them, allowing them to step out into the city streets. Once Peter is undeniably free and past all immediate threats from his captors, the angel's mission is complete, and it departs, leaving Peter to navigate his newfound freedom by faith. The verse powerfully demonstrates God's sovereign power over all human attempts at containment and His faithfulness in delivering His servants.

Acts 12 10 Context

Acts 12 unfolds with intense persecution of the early church initiated by King Herod Agrippa I. Driven by a desire for popular approval, Herod had James, the brother of John, executed by sword – a significant loss to the apostolic circle. Emboldened by Jewish leaders' approval of this act, Herod then seized Peter, intending to execute him after the Passover festival. Peter was held in a highly secured Roman prison, chained between two soldiers, with guards at the door, awaiting a public trial and execution.

The church responded not with despair, but with earnest, persistent prayer (Acts 12:5). The night before his scheduled execution, an angel dramatically appeared to Peter in his cell (Acts 12:7-8). The preceding verses describe the angel's miraculous intervention, waking Peter, loosing his chains, and leading him past the inner prison guards. Acts 12:10 marks the final and most imposing physical barrier to freedom – the heavily fortified iron city gate. For the original audience, living under Roman rule, such a meticulously detailed escape narrative served as a powerful testimony to God's omnipotence and a direct counter-narrative to the prevailing human and political powers that sought to suppress Christianity. It subtly argues that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human might or security.

Acts 12 10 Word analysis

• When they were past: This signifies a successful traversal of preceding obstacles, implying an unbroken chain of divine assistance that overcame the first two guard posts without drawing any attention. It highlights the sequence and completion of each stage of the escape.
• the first and the second guard: (Ancient Greek: φυλακή - phylakē, meaning "guard, watch"). This indicates two distinct levels of human security within the prison system, specifically implying different sets of sentinels Peter passed. His passage through these inner rings of protection was unhindered and unnoticed by the human guards.
• they came unto: Indicates progression towards the next and final obstacle. The directness emphasizes that no detours or complications occurred.
• the iron gate (Ancient Greek: σιδηρᾶν πύλην - sidēran pylēn): "Sidēran" (iron) highlights the formidable, robust, and seemingly impregnable nature of the gate, much stronger than wooden or bronze doors. "Pylēn" (gate) specifically refers to a large city gate, the final barrier from prison into the wider urban environment. This wasn't merely a door; it was a substantial, secure point of entry/exit for the entire walled city district, a significant engineering and defensive structure of its time. Symbolically, it represented the ultimate physical confinement.
• that leadeth unto the city: This phrase clarifies the gate's function and location, emphasizing that once this barrier was breached, Peter would be outside the immediate prison complex and into the public thoroughfare, ensuring his complete release from custody.
• which opened (Ancient Greek: ἤνοιξεν - ēnoixen): This verb, in the active voice, highlights the event of opening. Coupled with the subsequent phrase, it underlines a miraculous, agent-driven action, not a natural or human-assisted one.
• to them of his own accord (Ancient Greek: αὐτομάτη - automatē): This is a pivotal word, meaning "of itself, automatically, spontaneously, without human effort or intervention." It directly negates any natural explanation or human assistance for the gate's opening. This miracle was purely divine, an act of God's power. It underscores the effortlessness of God's intervention against human barriers.
• and they went out: A simple, direct statement of freedom and exit. Peter, accompanied by the angel, completed their passage through the prison.
• and passed on through one street: This signifies not just freedom, but immediate and safe movement away from the prison area, further into the city's labyrinth, ensuring Peter's continued separation from his captors and obscuring his whereabouts.
• and forthwith (Ancient Greek: εὐθέως - eutheōs): Meaning "immediately, straightway." This precise temporal indicator signifies the instantaneity of the angel's action.
• the angel departed from him: This marks the completion of the angelic assignment. Once Peter was clearly and safely outside the prison system, the specific task of physical liberation was accomplished. It shows the purpose-driven nature of this divine intervention, leaving Peter to proceed by faith once the supernatural aid for the impossible obstacle was no longer required.

Acts 12 10 Bonus section

• The progressive narrative of Peter overcoming increasingly complex and secure obstacles (chains, two guards, iron gate) emphasizes God's comprehensive control and the meticulous nature of the deliverance, ruling out any "luck" or human error explanation for the original readers.
• The "iron gate" serves as the final, most potent symbol of human confinement, crafted for strength and security, but utterly powerless before the unseen hand of God. This detail implicitly refutes any reliance on human strength or ingenuity to control God's will.
• The narrative here echoes similar themes in Old Testament deliverance, such as the parting of the Red Sea (Exo 14) or the fall of Jericho's walls (Jos 6), where massive, seemingly impassable barriers yield to divine command.
• This passage powerfully demonstrates that while human authorities can plot evil and exert control, their power has a defined limit that God can effortlessly transgress for His redemptive purposes.

Acts 12 10 Commentary

Acts 12:10 serves as the dramatic crescendo to Peter's escape, painting a vivid picture of divine power effortlessly overcoming human security. The meticulous recounting of guards, chains, and especially the "iron gate," underscores the near-impossibility of Peter's natural escape, setting the stage for a compelling display of God's omnipotence. The gate opening "of his own accord" (automatē) is the verse's theological fulcrum; it declares that no human lock, no king's decree, no physical fortification can thwart the purposes of the Almighty. This spontaneous opening bypasses all human means – no key, no force, no negotiation.

The angel's subsequent departure is equally significant. It marks the precise boundary of divine intervention; Peter was escorted through the impossible barriers, but once out, he was expected to walk by faith, demonstrating personal responsibility even in the face of miraculous help. This moment reminds believers that God's direct, miraculous aid is often strategic and temporary, preparing them for the next stage of their journey, where their own faith and obedience will be tested. It's a testament to God's careful, powerful, yet precise, involvement in the lives of His children, showing He works until the specific, impossible task is completed.