Bible Strands
Acts 12:7
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The angel of the Lord addresses Peter in his prison cell on the night before his scheduled trial. He taps Peter on the side to wake him and commands immediate action.
The words — ἰδοὺ (idou) translates literally as "behold," marking a sudden divine intervention. φῶς (phōs) means "a light," which the text records as shining into the cell to accompany the angel's appearance.
The thread — The text parallels Acts 5:19, where an angel opens prison doors, and Acts 16:26, where chains fall automatically. It aligns with Psalm 146:7, which states the Lord sets prisoners free.
Why it lands — The text records that physical bonds break without human action when divine command is issued. It requires the reader to acknowledge that deliverance originates from external intervention, not personal effort.
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, 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.
Cross-references
- Acts 16:26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
- Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
- Psalms 146:7 He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,
- Psalms 105:18 They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons,
- Psalms 142:6 Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
- Genesis 19:15 At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.”
- Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
- Psalms 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.
- Acts 27:23 For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
- Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me