Acts 12 14

Acts 12:14 kjv

And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

Acts 12:14 nkjv

When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.

Acts 12:14 niv

When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"

Acts 12:14 esv

Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.

Acts 12:14 nlt

When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 14 Meaning

Acts 12:14 describes Rhoda, a servant girl at Mary's house, recognizing Peter's voice outside the gate. Overcome with overwhelming joy at this miraculous discovery, she forgot to open the gate. Instead, driven by her excitement, she immediately ran inside to tell the gathered believers that Peter was standing at the door. The verse captures a moment of human astonishment and the initial, disbelieving reaction to God's intervention.

Acts 12 14 Context

Acts 12 opens with intensified persecution of the early church by King Herod Agrippa I. He executed James, the brother of John, with the sword. Seeing that this pleased the Jewish authorities, he then arrested Peter during the Passover week with the intention of bringing him to public trial and execution after the festival. Peter was kept under heavy guard. However, the church, demonstrating fervent faith, gathered at the house of Mary (mother of John Mark) for continuous prayer for Peter. Meanwhile, on the night before his intended trial, an angel miraculously released Peter from prison, removing his chains and leading him past sleeping guards and through fortified gates. Peter then makes his way to Mary's house, where the church is still praying for him, and knocks on the outer gate, leading directly to the events of verse 14. This verse thus stands at the climax of God's miraculous intervention, contrasting divine power with human disbelief.

Acts 12 14 Word analysis

• And when she knew: (Καὶ γνοῦσα - Kai gnousa). The participle "gnousa" (from ginosko) implies a clear and definite recognition. It wasn't a guess; she was certain it was him. This certainty despite not seeing him highlights the familiarity of Peter's voice to her.
• Peter's voice: (τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ Πέτρου - tēn phōnēn tou Petrou). Recognition by voice alone is a strong indicator of intimate acquaintance. In a time before modern identification methods, one's voice was a distinctive identifier, especially within a close community like the early church, where people met regularly.
• she opened not the gate: (οὐκ ἤνοιξεν τὴν θύραν - ouk ēnoixen tēn thyran). This phrase is a powerful anticlimax, showing her practical duty was momentarily overridden by intense emotion. The normal expectation for a doorkeeper is to open the gate when someone knocks.
• for gladness: (ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς - apo tēs charas). The Greek "chara" signifies profound, often spiritually rooted joy. Her reaction stemmed from an overwhelming and unexpected delight at hearing the voice of someone they were likely praying for fervently, someone who was supposed to be in prison, possibly facing death. This level of joy is tied to the miraculous.
• but ran in: (ἀλλὰ δραμοῦσα - alla dramousa). Instead of acting, she reacted by communicating. This active participle denotes urgency and immediacy in her physical response to her emotional state, prioritizing the announcement over the direct act of opening.
• and told: (ἀπήγγειλεν - apēngeilen). This verb means "to report, announce, proclaim." It suggests bringing news, in this case, a life-changing, incredible report to those assembled, framing her message as a significant declaration.
• how Peter stood before the gate: (τὸν Πέτρον ἑστάναι πρὸ τοῦ πυλῶνος - ton Petron hestanai pro tou pylōnos). She accurately conveyed his physical presence at the entrance (pylōnos - outer gate or porch), still in the vulnerable position of waiting, adding dramatic irony as she leaves him there. This details the "what" (Peter is here) and "where" (at the gate), without giving an explanation as to "how."
• she knew Peter's voice... ran in, and told: This group of words encapsulates Rhoda's singular and pivotal role in this drama. Her specific action (or non-action) sets up the humorous disbelief and further affirmation of God's miraculous power to the praying believers, who at first couldn't conceive their prayers had been answered in such a dramatic way. Her response is intensely human and serves as a natural bridge between the miracle and the community's reaction.

Acts 12 14 Bonus section

• Rhoda's Name: The name Rhoda (Ῥόδη, Rhodē) means "rose" in Greek. This seemingly minor detail provides a touch of descriptive imagery and speaks to the commonality of Greek names even among servants in the Roman-Hellenistic world.
• The Door and the Disciples' Disbelief: Rhoda's reaction directly foreshadows and triggers the subsequent scene of the assembled believers' initial disbelief (Acts 12:15). Her unbridled joy serves to highlight their slower, more pragmatic reaction, adding depth to the narrative of how humans cope with divine intervention.
• Significance of Peter's Voice: That Rhoda recognized Peter's voice and not his appearance suggests Peter might have been obscured by darkness or the design of the outer gate area. It underscores the intimacy and frequency of Peter's interactions with Mary's household and the gathered church.
• The Unlocked Door and Waiting Prisoner: The irony of Peter having been freed from a secured prison by an angel, only to be left waiting outside a bolted door by a joyous servant, subtly emphasizes God's sovereign control over even the most trivial human actions.

Acts 12 14 Commentary

Acts 12:14 is a beautiful glimpse into the human side of a divine miracle. Rhoda, a simple servant girl whose name means "rose" in Greek, becomes a pivotal, if momentarily flustered, character. Her "forgetting" to open the gate for sheer joy is a vivid illustration of a deeply human response to answered prayer and the shock of unexpected good news. It highlights the profound faith and fervent prayers of the early church community for Peter's safety, yet also their struggle with disbelief when those prayers were answered beyond expectation. This verse perfectly sets the scene for the comical yet poignant interaction that follows, underscoring that even the most devout can find miraculous interventions hard to fully accept immediately. Rhoda's role, despite its briefness, demonstrates that God can use anyone, regardless of status, in His great plans, often through their earnest reactions to His mighty works. It reminds believers that joy can be so overwhelming it can momentarily displace practical action.