Acts 12 16

Acts 12:16 kjv

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

Acts 12:16 nkjv

Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Acts 12:16 niv

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Acts 12:16 esv

But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

Acts 12:16 nlt

Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 16 Meaning

Acts 12:16 describes the moment Peter, miraculously released from prison, continued knocking on the door of Mary’s house. When the prayer meeting attendees finally opened the door, they saw Peter standing there and were utterly amazed, indicating their shock and disbelief despite having prayed earnestly for his release.

Acts 12 16 Context

Acts chapter 12 details a period of intense persecution against the early church by King Herod Agrippa I. He executed James, the brother of John, with the sword, pleasing the Jewish leaders. Seeing their approval, Herod then arrested Peter, intending to execute him after the Passover festival. Peter was heavily guarded in prison, yet the church gathered together to pray "earnestly" for him. Miraculously, an angel appeared to Peter, waking him, unchaining him, and guiding him past sleeping guards and an iron gate that opened by itself. Peter realized he was truly free and, understanding it was the Lord's doing, went directly to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many believers were gathered, continuing to pray for him. Rhoda, a servant girl, answered Peter's knock, but upon recognizing his voice, was so overcome with joy and astonishment that she ran back inside to tell the others, leaving Peter still outside knocking. This sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of Acts 12:16. The historical context reflects Roman-controlled Judea, where local rulers like Herod Agrippa I held significant power, and early Christian communities often met in house churches.

Acts 12 16 Word analysis

• But (Δὲ, De): This conjunction serves as a mild contrast or transition. Here, it contrasts Peter's steadfast presence and action with Rhoda's immediate, joyful, but also somewhat unpractical, response of leaving him at the door. It redirects the narrative focus back to Peter.
• Peter (Πέτρος, Petros): The apostle, miraculously delivered by God. His appearance symbolizes the triumph of divine intervention over human oppression and the power of corporate prayer.
• continued (ἐπέμενεν, epemenen): From epimeno, meaning "to remain, to abide, to persevere, to persist." This is in the imperfect tense, signifying ongoing, repeated, or persistent action. Peter didn't knock once and leave; he kept at it. This highlights his determination, perhaps his full understanding that he was really there, or his patience given the internal commotion.
• knocking (κρούων, krouōn): A present active participle of krouō, meaning "to strike, to knock." This emphasizes the continuous nature of his knocking. Combined with epemenen, it paints a picture of insistent, unwavering action. He needed to be let in.
• and when they had opened (ἀνοίξαντες δὲ, anoixantes de): The aorist participle of anoigō, meaning "to open." This implies a definite, completed action that happened after a period of discussion and possibly some delay inside (from the previous verses, where they argued with Rhoda). The delay emphasizes their initial skepticism.
• and saw him (εἶδαν αὐτὸν, eidan auton): Eidan is the aorist indicative of horao, "to see." This is a direct, immediate, and undeniable visual confirmation of Peter's physical presence. It moves beyond Rhoda's voice recognition to tangible proof.
• they were astonished (ἐξέστησαν, exestēsan): From existēmi, "to put out of place, to amaze, astonish, confound, lose one's mind." This is a strong, powerful verb signifying extreme amazement, to the point of being utterly bewildered, shocked, or beside oneself. It conveys a deep sense of disorientation and an inability to comprehend what was happening. This highlights the ironic gap between their fervent prayers and their capacity to believe the answer.

Words-group analysis:

• "But Peter continued knocking:" This phrase powerfully conveys Peter's agency and determination. Having just been miraculously released, his act of persistently knocking suggests a faith grounded in his recent divine encounter. He knew he was real and needed to gain entry, regardless of the commotion inside. It’s a contrast to the inner group’s doubt.
• "and when they had opened, and saw him," This marks the critical juncture of the narrative. The action of "opening" leads directly to the undeniable reality of "seeing him." This sequence emphasizes the transition from speculative belief (or disbelief) to concrete evidence. The physical manifestation of Peter directly challenged their previous assumptions, making the miracle tangible.
• "they were astonished." This culmination highlights the profound impact of Peter's appearance. The choice of exestēsan ("were astonished" or "bewildered") over a milder term like "surprised" emphasizes their absolute disbelief and shock. It reflects the paradox of humans praying fervently for a miracle but struggling to believe it when it materializes before their very eyes, showcasing human frailty in the face of divine power.

Acts 12 16 Bonus section

The strong term ἐξέστησαν (exestēsan) used to describe the astonishment of the believers carries a sense of almost being "out of their minds" or disoriented. This suggests their initial explanation of Rhoda seeing Peter's angel or spirit was a widely held belief, providing an acceptable, albeit supernatural, explanation for inexplicable events. Their profound shock when confronted with Peter's physical reality highlights the significant cognitive dissonance between their belief in God's general power and their specific doubt regarding a prayer that they had fervently offered for that precise situation. This entire incident subtly champions the reality of the resurrected Christ (whose followers would have faced similar disbelief), asserting physical presence over spiritual apparitions.

Acts 12 16 Commentary

Acts 12:16 encapsulates a profound irony and a powerful truth about God's work. Peter's persistent knocking contrasts sharply with the disbelief inside the house, where fervent prayers had just been offered for his very deliverance. Despite praying for this outcome, the community was "astonished" to see him, revealing the gap between intellectual prayer and actual belief in the miraculous. This highlights human limitations in fully grasping divine power and faithfulness, often underestimating God's ability to act far beyond what we can ask or imagine. The verse underscores God's commitment to answering the earnest prayers of His people, even when their faith struggles to embrace the answer. It serves as a gentle rebuke to their (and often our) doubt, while glorifying God's perfect timing and power.