John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 12:14
And when she knew Peter's voice ,.... often heard him preach and converse in the family: she opened not the gate for gladness , filled with joy to hear his voice, and that he was delivered from prison, and in haste to carry the welcome news to the company within, stayed not to open the gate, and let Peter in: but ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate : she went into the house in a great hurry, and related to them within, that Peter was at the door without. read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 12:13
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate , &c.; The lesser door in the great gate, or the door of the porch through which they entered into the house. So the Jews distinguish between פתח , "the door", and שער , "the gate"; see Judges 18:16 where the Septuagint use the same words as here. Kimchi F8 Sepher Shorash. rad. פתח says, "xtp, "the door" is what is of the gate, without the folding doors; for all is called שער , "the gate", whether within or without, with the... read more