But the angel of the Lord
Or "of God", as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, whether
Michael, as some have thought, or Gabriel, or what particular
angel, is not material to know. However, it was a good angel, an
elect angel, one of those ministering spirits sent by God to
minister to the heirs of promise; one of those angels that excel
in strength, as appears by what he did: for he
by night opened the prison doors;
where the apostles were put, and which had more doors than one,
and these strong and close shut, and guarded by keepers; but were
easily opened by the angel. It was very likely at, or towards the
evening, when the apostles were taken, and therefore they were
committed to prison, there to lie all night, till next morning,
when the sanhedrim would meet together to consult what to do with
them:
and brought them forth;
out of the prison, leading them out at the doors he had opened
for them:
and said;
the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions add, "to them"; that
is, to the apostles, as follows.