Acts 12:18

18 Now [when] day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers [as to] what then had become of Peter.

Acts 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 12:18

Now as soon as it was day
When it was morning; as soon as there was any light in the prison, by which the guards could discern one another and their prisoners:

there was no small stir among the soldiers:
the two between whom Peter slept, and the rest of the quaternions that were employed in the wards to keep watch; who were now all in an uproar, and in the utmost concern and fright:

what was become of Peter;
whether he was in any other part of the prison, by what means he could escape, and whither he was gone.

Acts 12:18 In-Context

16 But Peter was continuing to knock, and [when they] opened [the door] they saw him and were astonished.

17 But motioning to them with [his] hand to be silent, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these [things] to James and to the brothers," and he departed [and] went to another place.

18 Now [when] day came, there was not a little commotion among the soldiers [as to] what then had become of Peter.

19 And [when] Herod had searched for him and did not find [him], he questioned the guards [and] ordered [that they] be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea [and] stayed [there].

20 Now he was very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. So they came to him with one purpose, and [after] persuading Blastus, {the king's chamberlain}, they asked for peace, because their country was supported with food from the king's country.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("came")