Acts 12:10
What does Acts 12:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 12:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 12:10 means
They pass the first and second guard undetected, then reach the iron gate leading to the city. It opens “of its own accord,” a quiet yet profound testimony that God makes a way where none exists. After exiting and proceeding one street, the angel departs. The Lord provides just enough guidance to bring Peter to safety, then withdraws, leaving him to walk by sight again. This measured help teaches that God’s presence is real even when unseen later. The chain of impossibilities—guards, chains, iron gate—falls before divine power, underscoring that no human barrier can withstand the Lord’s purpose.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they had gone past the first and second watchmen they came to the iron door into the town, which came open by itself: and they went out and down one street; and then the angel went away.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and having passed through a first ward, and a second, they came unto the iron gate that is leading to the city, which of its own accord did open to them, and having gone forth, they went on through one street, and immediately the messenger departed from him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street. And immediately the angel departed from him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And having passed through a first and second guard, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city, which opened to them of itself; and going forth they went down one street, and immediately the angel left him.
Context
This verse brings the rescue to its external climax. The narrative catalogs successive obstacles being removed without struggle. The angel’s departure after one street transitions the story from angelic intervention to Peter’s personal realization. Verse 11 will record Peter “coming to himself” and acknowledging God’s deliverance. The reader, having seen the miraculous steps, is primed to hear Peter’s confession and then watch him seek the praying community in verse 12.
v.9And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.
v.10This passage
v.11And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 42:17
And he put them all together into ward three days.
- Acts 16:26
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one’s bands were loosed.
- Acts 12:4
And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.
- Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:
- Isaiah 21:8
And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;
- Genesis 40:3
And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
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