Acts 12:1-19

Acts 12:1-19

[1] Now  about  that  time  Herod  the king  stretched forth  his hands  to vex  certain  of  the church.  [2] And  he killed  James  the brother  of John  with the sword.  [3] And  it  the Jews,  he proceeded further  to take  Peter  also.  (Then  the days  of unleavened bread.)  [4] And  when he had apprehended  him, he put  him in  prison,  and delivered  him to four  quaternions  of soldiers  to keep  him;  intending  after  Easter  him  forth  to the people.  [5] Peter  therefore  was kept  in  prison:  but  prayer  made  of  the church  unto  God  him.  [6] And  when  Herod  would  him  forth,  the same  night  Peter  sleeping  between  two  soldiers,  bound  with two  chains:  and  the keepers  before  the door  kept  the prison.  [7] And,  behold,  the angel  of the Lord  came upon  him, and  a light  shined  in  the prison:  and  he smote  Peter  on the side,  him  up,  saying,  Arise up  quickly.  And  his  chains  fell off  from  his hands.  [8] the angel  said  unto  him,  and  bind on  sandals.  And  so  he did.  And  he saith  unto him,  thy garment  about  and  follow  [9] And  he went out,  and followed  and  wist  not  that  true  which  was done  by  the angel;  but  thought  he saw  a vision.  [10] When  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  street;  and  forthwith  the angel  departed  from  him.  [11] And  when Peter  was come  to  himself,  he said,  Now  I know  of a surety,  that  the Lord  hath sent  his  angel,  and  hath delivered  out of  the hand  of Herod,  and  from all  the expectation  of the people  of the Jews.  [12] And  when he had considered  the thing, he came  to  the house  of Mary  the mother  of John,  whose surname was  Mark;  where  many  gathered together  praying.  [13] And  knocked at  the door  of the gate,  a damsel  came  to hearken,  named  Rhoda.  [14] And  when she knew  Peter's  voice,  she opened  not  the gate  for  gladness,  but  ran in,  and told how  Peter  stood  before  the gate.  [15] And  they said  unto  her,  Thou art mad.  But  she constantly affirmed  that it was  even so.  Then  his  angel.  [16] But  Peter  continued  knocking:  and  when they had opened  him,  they were astonished.  [17] But  he, beckoning  unto them  with the hand  to hold their peace,  declared  unto them  how  the Lord  had brought  him  out of  the prison.  And  he said,  Go shew  unto James,  and  to the brethren.  And  he departed,  and went  into  another  place.  [18] Now  as soon as it was  day,  no  small  stir  among  the soldiers,  what  was become  of Peter.  [19] And  Herod  had sought for  him,  and  found him  not,  he examined  the keepers,  and commanded  that they should be put to death.  And  he went down  from  Judaea  to  Caesarea,  and there abode. 

What does Acts 12:1-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"Peter"s rescue from prison is an unusually vivid episode in Acts even when simply taken as a story about Peter. Because it is not connected with events in the chapters immediately before and after it, however, it may seem rather isolated and unimportant for Acts as a whole. Yet it becomes more than a vivid account of an isolated miracle when we probe below the surface, for this story is an echo of other stories in Luke -Acts and in Jewish Scripture. An event that is unique, and vividly presented as such, takes on the importance of the typical when it reminds us of other similar events. It recalls the power of God to rescue those chosen for God"s mission, a power repeatedly demonstrated in the past." [1]