Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:9
He - wist not - He knew not; from the Anglo-Saxon, to know. He supposed himself to be in a dream. read more
Acts 12-18
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:10
The first and - second ward - It is supposed that ancient Jerusalem was surrounded by three walls: if so, then passing through the gates of these three walls successively is possibly what is meant by the expression in the text. The prison in which he was confined might have been that which was at the outer wall. Iron gate - This was in the innermost wall of the three, and was strongly plated over with iron, for the greater security. In the east, the gates are often thus secured to the... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:11
When Peter was come to himself - Every thing he saw astonished him; he could scarcely credit his eyes; he was in a sort of ecstasy; and it was only when the angel left him that he was fully convinced that all was real. Now I know - that the Lord hath sent his angel - The poor German divine is worthy of pity, who endeavored to persuade himself and his countrymen that all this talk about the angel was mere illusion; that Peter was delivered in a way which he could not comprehend, and... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:12
And when he had considered - When he had weighed every thing, and was fully satisfied of the Divine interposition, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, the author of the Gospel, where it appears many were gathered together making prayer and supplication, and probably for Peter's release. read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:13
As Peter knocked - The door was probably shut for fear of the Jews; and, as most of the houses in the east have an area before the door, it might have been at this outer gate that Peter stood knocking. A damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda - She came to inquire who was there. Rhoda signifies a rose; and it appears to have been customary with the Jews, as Grotius and others remark, to give the names of flowers and trees to their daughters: thus Susannah signifies a lily, Hadassah, a... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:15
It is his angel - It was a common opinion among the Jews that every man has a guardian angel, and in the popish Church it is an article of faith. The Jews also believed that angels often assumed the likeness of particular persons. They have many stories of the appearance of Elijah in the likeness of different rabbins. As αγγελος signifies in general a messenger, whether Divine or human, some have thought that the angel or messenger here means a servant or person which the disciples... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:17
Declared - how the Lord had brought him out of the prison - He still persisted in the belief that his deliverance was purely supernatural. It seems that some modern critics could have informed him of his mistake. See Acts 12:11 . Show these things unto James, and to the brethren - That is, in one word, show them to the Church, at the head of which James undoubtedly was; as we may clearly understand by the part he took in the famous council held at Jerusalem, relative to certain... read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:19
Commanded that they should be put to death - He believed, or pretended to believe, that the escape of Peter was owing to the negligence of the keepers: jailers, watchmen, etc., ordinarily suffered the same kind of punishment which should have been inflicted on the prisoner whose escape they were supposed to have favored. He went down from Judea to Caesarea - How soon he went down, and how long he stayed there, we know not. read more
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:20
Highly displeased with them of Tyre - On what account Herod was thus displeased is not related by any historian, as far as I have been able to ascertain. Josephus, who speaks of this journey of Herod to Caesarea, says nothing of it; and it is useless for us to conjecture. Having made Blastus - their friend - Blastus was probably a eunuch, and had considerable influence over his master Herod; and, to reach the master, it is likely they bribed the chamberlain. Desired peace - The... read more
Subscribe
Verse of the Day
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Daily Devotional
Subscribe to receive daily devotionals to help you grow in faith and walk closer with God.
Read on Mobile
Most Searched
Group of Brands
© 2026 Bibleportal.com All rights reserved.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 12:8
Gird thyself - It seems Peter had put off the principal part of his clothes, that he might sleep with more comfort. His resuming all that he had thrown off was a proof that every thing had been done leisurely. There was no evidence of any hurry; nor of any design to elude justice, or even to avoid meeting his accusers in any legal way. It appears that the two soldiers were overwhelmed by a deep sleep, which fell upon them from God. read more