Acts 12:7

7 Suddenly an angel of ADONAI stood there, and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Kefa's side and woke him. "Hurry! Get up!" he said; and the chains fell off his hands.

Acts 12:7 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 12:7

And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him
Suddenly and at once, and stood by him; this was one of the ministering spirits sent forth by Christ, to minister to a servant of his:

and a light shined in the prison;
the Syriac version renders it, "in the whole house"; and the word that is used does signify an habitation, or a dwelling house properly, but is used also by the Greek writers ^F6 for a prison: this was an uncommon light produced by the angel, partly as an emblem of the presence, majesty, and power of God, who was present, to work a great deliverance; and partly for the use of Peter, that when being awaked he might see to rise and walk by:

and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up;
he touched him on that side which lay uppermost, or punched him on it, in order to awake him, and raise him out of his sleep:

saying arise up quickly;
without delay, make haste:

and his chains fell off from his hands;
from both his hands, and were left with the soldiers, between whom he slept; which must be ascribed to an almighty power, which caused them to drop off.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Vid Harpocratian Lex. p. 212.

Acts 12:7 In-Context

5 So Kefa was being held under watch in prison, but intense prayer was being made to God on his behalf by the Messianic community.

6 The night before Herod was going to bring him to trial, Kefa was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains; and guards were at the door, keeping watch over the prison.

7 Suddenly an angel of ADONAI stood there, and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Kefa's side and woke him. "Hurry! Get up!" he said; and the chains fell off his hands.

8 The angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals," and he did. "Throw on your robe," he said, "and follow me!"

9 Going out, Kefa followed him but did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real - he thought he was seeing a vision.