Acts 12

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

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 to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

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.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

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 one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

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 me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

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.

And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

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 these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

And when 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.

And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.

And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

What does Acts 12:18 mean?

Explanation

Acts 12:18 describes the reaction of the soldiers the morning after the miraculous escape of the apostle Peter from prison.

The verse emphasizes the astonishment and confusion among the soldiers when they discovered that Peter was no longer in his cell, despite being heavily guarded and secured.

The phrase "no small stir" suggests a great amount of agitation and uproar as they sought to understand what had happened. This event directly follows the narrative where an angel of the Lord frees Peter from his chains and escorts him out of the prison without waking the guards.

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Historical Context

The Book of Acts is traditionally attributed to Luke, a companion of the apostle Paul, and was likely written in the early Christian era, around 70-90 AD.

The historical context of Acts 12 is the persecution of the early Christian church by Herod Agrippa I, the king appointed by the Romans to govern Judea.

Herod, seeking to please the Jewish authorities, had already executed James, the brother of John, and he had Peter arrested as well.

The miraculous escape of Peter occurs during the time of the Passover, a significant Jewish festival, which adds to the narrative's dramatic tension.

Theological Insights

This verse is rich with theological significance.

Several insights include:

The sovereignty of God: Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable human power and persecution, God is able to deliver His people.
The power of prayer: The church had been fervently praying for Peter's release (Acts 12:5), showing the efficacy of communal prayer.
Angelic intervention: Belief in angels as messengers and actors on God's behalf is affirmed by this miraculous event.

Different theological traditions might emphasize various aspects of the story, such as divine providence over the affairs of humans or the intercessory role of the saints and angels within the framework of God’s will.

Practical Applications

From a practical standpoint, Acts 12:18 can be used to encourage the faithful in several ways:

It serves as a reminder to trust in God’s power and timing in seemingly impossible situations.
It illustrates the importance of community and intercessory prayer.
It encourages believers to be steadfast in faith even when facing adversity or persecution.

Cross-References

[Acts 12:5-17](/new-testament/acts/12/5/what-does-acts-12-5-mean) – These verses give the full account of Peter’s arrest, the church’s prayers, and his miraculous escape.
Acts 5:19 – Earlier in Acts, an angel also frees the apostles from prison.
Acts 16:25-26 – Paul and Silas are freed from prison through an earthquake, another example of divine intervention.
Psalm 34:7 – This psalm reflects the protection provided by angels: "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

Language Study

The phrase "no small stir" comes from the Greek words "ouk oligē tarachē," with "ouk" meaning "not," "oligē" translating to "little" or "small," and "tarachē" meaning "disturbance" or "uproar." The use of this phrase is a classic example of litotes, a rhetorical device that uses double negatives for understatement to emphasize the magnitude of the disturbance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of miraculous escapes and divine intervention is not unique to Christianity.

Many ancient mythologies and religions have stories of gods or supernatural forces intervening on behalf of individuals. For example, in Greco-Roman mythology, gods would often interfere in human affairs to aid heroes or favored individuals.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the events described in Acts 12:18 can be difficult to classify, as they involve supernatural occurrences that defy natural explanations.

These events are matters of faith and are typically addressed within the realm of personal or religious belief systems rather than scientific scrutiny.

Commentaries

John Calvin, a prominent theologian of the Protestant Reformation, interpreted this event as highlighting the power and providence of God over the plots of the wicked.
Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that the consternation of the keepers underscores God's ability to confound human powers when delivering His servants.
Modern commentaries might focus on the historical reliability of the Acts narrative or view this story as a testimony to the resilience and divine favor on the early Christian community.

Acts 12

Acts 12

What does Acts 12:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 12:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?