Acts 12:7
What does Acts 12:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 12:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 12:7 means
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appears; light fills the cell. The angel strikes Peter to wake him—this is no dream—and commands urgency: “Rise up quickly.” Instantly, the chains fall off. Each detail underscores divine initiative and power. Light invades darkness; bondage ends without human hands; the messenger rouses a sleeping saint to action. The touch and the command show God’s mercy meeting human weakness—Peter must be awakened and hurried along. The miracle is both physical and pastoral: God not only opens a way but also ensures His servant can take it. This moment answers the church’s prayer with unmistakable divine intervention.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And, 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And a great light was seen shining in the room, and an angel of the Lord came to Peter and, touching him on his side so that he came out of his sleep, said, Get up quickly. And his chains came off his hands.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the buildings, and having smitten Peter on the side, he raised him up, saying, `Rise in haste,' and his chains fell from off <FI>his<Fi> hands.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the room. And he, striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And lo, an angel of [the] Lord came there, and a light shone in the prison: and having smitten the side of Peter, he roused him up, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands.
Context
We move from the impossible setup of verse 6 to God’s decisive action. The appearance of the angel and the sudden loosening of chains are the first steps in a carefully guided escape. The emphasis falls on God’s power moving into a guarded cell. Verse 8 will continue with practical instructions, highlighting Peter’s cooperation. The narrative’s pace quickens, showing how swiftly God can alter a situation that seemed fixed just moments earlier.
v.6And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison.
v.7This passage
v.8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 2:9
And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
- Acts 27:23
For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve,
- Daniel 3:24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
- 1 Kings 19:5
And he lay down and slept under a juniper-tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
- Acts 10:30
And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,
- 2 Samuel 22:29
For thou art my lamp, O Jehovah; And Jehovah will lighten my darkness.
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