Acts 12:7 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:6-17

One instance of the manner of Divine working. When we read the "mighty works" of Jesus or of those commissioned by him, whether apostles or angels, it is an easy thing to permit our attention to be diverted from anything else contained in them, under the influence of the fascination of the power which they display. For this very thing is often done, and the moral quality: the moral beauty, and even the moral imitableness of what we call the miracle, is ignored. The loss is as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:7

An angel for the angel, A.V. (see note on Acts 5:19 ); stood by him for came upon him, A.V. (comp. Luke 2:9 ); cell for prison, A.V.; awoke him for raised him up, A.V. ( ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ) ; rise for arise, A.V. Cell. The word οἴκημα , a dwelling, was used by the Athenians as an euphemism for a prison. It only occurs here in the New Testament, though it is a common Greek word. His chains fell off from his hands , showing that each hand bad been chained to a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 12:7-10

Miraculous deliverances. The series of miracles wrought by our Lord during his ministry, and the miracles associated with the history and work of his apostles, require to be very carefully compared, Sometimes miracles were wrought by the apostles as agents, and sometimes for them as teachers whose ministry it was important to preserve. And yet, when God would secure the deliverance of his imperiled servants, he did not always employ miraculous agencies. Paul and Sirius were imprisoned... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:7

And, behold, the angel of the Lord - See the notes on Acts 5:19.Came upon him - Greek: was present with him; stood near him ἐπέστη epestē.And a light shined in the prison - Many have supposed that this was lightning. But light, and splendor, and shining apparel are commonly represented as the accompaniments of the heavenly beings when they visit the earth, Luke 2:9; Luke 24:4; compare Mark 9:3. It is highly probable that this light was discerned only by Peter; and it would be to him an... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 12:7-10

Acts 12:7-10. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him Greek, επεστη , stood over him; and a light shined in the prison Εν τω οικηματι , in the house, the whole house in which he was confined; and he smote Greek, παταξας , having smote, Peter on the side He awoke him; saying, Arise up quickly. And, in that moment, his chains With which his right arm was bound to one of the soldiers, and his left to the other, fell off The soldiers, in the mean time, being by a... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 12:1-25

Events in Jerusalem (12:1-25)Back in Jerusalem the church was experiencing much difficulty. The Jews in general were becoming restless concerning the free mixing between Jewish and Gentile Christians, and were angry at the apostles for encouraging it. The governor at that time, Herod Agrippa I (a grandson of Herod the Great), knew it was not wise to let the Jews become too excited. Therefore, in an effort to please them he took action against the apostles by having one of them, James, executed... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 12:7

behold . Greek. idou. App-133 . came upon = stood over. light . Greek. phos. App-130 . prison . Greek. oikema, dwelling. Only here. The Revised Version reads "cell". That was Peter's dwelling-place. The angel of the Lord there. Peter on the side = Peter's side. raised . . . up . Greek. egeiro. App-178 . Arise up . Greek. anistemi. App-178 . quickly = in (Greek. en) or with speed. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 12:7

And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.Several things entered into Peter's deliverance. (1) There was a prayer meeting, mentioned later in Luke's narrative here, but already going on, and for days previously. (2) There was a messenger, in this case an angel of the Lord; but always there is a messenger when people are to be saved. "How shall they... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 12:7

Acts 12:7. The angel of the Lord— An angel of the Lord. Instead of smote Peter on the side, Dr. Heylin reads, touched Peter on the side. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 12:7

7-11. the angel of the Lord—rather, "an angel." came upon him —so in Luke 2:9, expressive of the unexpected nature of the visit. smote Peter on the side . . . Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off . . . Gird thyself . . . And so he did . . . Cast thy garment—tunic, which he had thrown off for the night. read more