Acts 5:19

19 But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.

Acts 5:19 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 5:19

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.

Acts 5:19 In-Context

17 The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action

18 by arresting the apostles and putting them in the city jail.

19 But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.

20 The angel told them, "Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life [in Christ]."

21 Early in the morning, after they had listened to the angel, the apostles went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is, all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles.