Bible Strands
Acts 12:13
He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter stands outside the outer gate of Mary’s house while a prayer meeting is underway, and a servant girl named Rhoda approaches to answer his arrival.
The words — κρούσαντος (krousantos) indicates the continuous action of knocking, and πυλῶνος (pulōnos) specifies the outer gate structure rather than an interior door.
The thread — The pattern of knocking at a guarded threshold runs through Luke 13:25, Acts 12:16, and John 18:16, where outsiders repeatedly seek entry at a closed passage.
Why it lands — The text records a physical action meeting a specific human response, requiring the reader to note how a named servant processes an unexpected visitor before the gathered believers can verify the event.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
Cross-references
- Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
- Acts 12:16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
- John 18:16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.