Acts 12:7 kjv
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 nkjv
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
Acts 12:7 niv
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
Acts 12:7 esv
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
Acts 12:7 nlt
Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists.
Acts 12 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 12:7 | Behold, the angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. | Acts 12:7 (Cross-reference of itself) |
| Acts 12:5 | But Peter was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. | Acts 12:5 (Immediate context) |
| Acts 12:11 | And when Peter was come to himself, he went out, and passed on through the first and the second ward, and came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to him of his own accord: and he went out, and passed on one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. | Acts 12:11 (Completion of rescue) |
| Acts 5:19 | And the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said | Acts 5:19 (Angel opening prisons) |
| Psalm 34:7 | The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. | Psalm 34:7 (Angelic protection) |
| Psalm 91:11 | For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. | Psalm 91:11 (Angels' charge) |
| Daniel 3:28 | Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed God’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. | Daniel 3:28 (Angelic deliverance) |
| Daniel 6:22 | My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. | Daniel 6:22 (Angel shutting mouths) |
| Luke 1:11 | And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. | Luke 1:11 (Angel appearing) |
| Luke 22:43 | And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. | Luke 22:43 (Angel strengthening) |
| Revelation 8:3 | And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. | Revelation 8:3 (Angel with censer) |
| Hebrews 1:14 | Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? | Hebrews 1:14 (Ministering spirits) |
| 2 Kings 6:17 | And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. | 2 Kings 6:17 (Unseen spiritual host) |
| John 1:51 | And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. | John 1:51 (Angels ascending/descending) |
| Matthew 18:10 | Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. | Matthew 18:10 (Angels beholding God's face) |
| Acts 7:53 | Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. | Acts 7:53 (Law given by angels) |
| Romans 1:4 | And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead: | Romans 1:4 (Resurrection declares Son of God) |
| Genesis 19:15 | And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and her two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the punishment of the city. | Genesis 19:15 (Angels urging haste) |
| Exodus 3:2 | And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush was burning with fire, and the bush was not consumed. | Exodus 3:2 (Angel in flame of fire) |
| Judges 6:12 | And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. | Judges 6:12 (Angel appearing to Gideon) |
Acts 12 verses
Acts 12 7 Meaning
The angel of the Lord struck Peter, showing God’s immediate and powerful intervention to rescue His apostle. The angelic action directly caused paralysis, incapacitating Peter and allowing him to pass through the guards and the iron gate without resistance. This divine intervention highlights God's sovereignty and His hand in protecting His church and its leaders during times of persecution.
Acts 12 7 Context
Acts chapter 12 records a period of intense persecution against the early church. King Herod Agrippa I, seeking to appease the Jewish leaders and populace, arrested and imprisoned several prominent Christians, including James the brother of John, whom he executed. He then imprisoned Peter with the intention of executing him after the Passover feast. The chapter highlights the fervent, unceasing prayer of the church on behalf of Peter, which God answered miraculously through the intervention of His angel. This chapter also shows Herod's arrogance and ultimate demise, contrasting the power of God with the fleeting power of human rulers.
Acts 12 7 Word analysis
καὶ (kai): and. A common conjunction, connecting clauses and ideas.
ἰδοὺ (idou): behold, look. An interjection commanding attention, emphasizing the remarkable nature of what follows.
ἄγγελος (angelos): angel. A messenger, a spiritual being serving God.
Κυρίου (Kuriou): of the Lord. Belonging to the Lord (Kyrios).
ἐπέστη (epeste): stood by, appeared. Aorist tense, indicating a completed action; suggests sudden presence and proximity.
φῶς (phos): light. Represents divine presence and power, often associated with God’s glory.
ἔλαμψεν (elampsen): shone. Aorist tense, indicating a completed action of shining forth.
τῇ (te): the. Definite article.
οἰκίᾳ (oikia): house, prison cell. Refers to the place of confinement.
πατάξας (patasas): having smitten, having struck. Aorist participle, indicating an action preceding the main verb; highlights the manner of awakening.
τὴν (ten): the. Definite article.
πλευράν (pleuran): side. Refers to Peter’s bodily side.
Πέτρου (Petrou): of Peter. The genitive case indicating possession.
ἐξέγειρεν (exegeiren): raised him up, woke him. Imperfect tense, suggesting a continuing action of bringing him to a standing position.
λέγων (legon): saying. Present participle, indicating simultaneous action with “raised him up.”
ἀναστῆναι (anasthenai): to arise, to stand up. Infinitive of purpose or command.
ταχέως (tacheos): quickly. Adverb indicating speed.
Words Group Analysis:
- "Behold, the angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison": This phrase establishes the immediate, divine intervention. "Behold" signals a significant event. The angel’s presence and the supernatural light emphasize God’s direct action.
- "and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying": The striking of Peter was not harmful but a catalytic, possibly stunning or numbing action to awaken him from a deep sleep, demonstrating divine control. The imperfect tense of "raised him up" suggests a gentler, perhaps supporting action following the smiting.
- "Arise up quickly.": A direct, urgent command from the angel, initiating Peter's escape. The command necessitates immediate obedience.
Acts 12 7 Bonus Section
The angel appearing "by him" (ἐπέστη) suggests proximity, emphasizing a personal intervention. The light signifies divine glory and power, illuminating the darkness of the prison, a metaphor for spiritual darkness overcome by God’s presence. Peter’s deep sleep prior to the angelic intervention (v. 6) underscores his complete helplessness and reliance on divine rescue. The angel’s command, "Arise up quickly," not only prompts Peter's physical movement but also symbolizes a call to action and renewed boldness for the ministry that lay ahead of him. The manner of the angelic intervention mirrors previous accounts of divine rescues, reinforcing the consistent pattern of God's faithfulness throughout Scripture.
Acts 12 7 Commentary
The angel's action was purposeful and precise, designed to free Peter from physical confinement and governmental restraint. The "smite" was not an injury but an awakening, likely a sharp physical touch that roused Peter from sleep or stupor, drawing his immediate attention to the angelic presence and the extraordinary circumstance. This supernatural enablement allowed Peter to respond to the angel's commands and to physically pass through the barriers. The scene illustrates God's responsiveness to the fervent prayers of His people and His unfailing power to deliver His servants from even the most formidable earthly opposition. It serves as a testament to the reality of the spiritual realm and its active participation in earthly affairs on behalf of believers.