Acts 12:18

18 At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. "Where is Peter? What's happened to 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 All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.
17 Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, "Tell James and the brothers what's happened." He left them and went off to another place.
18 At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. "Where is Peter? What's happened to Peter?"
19 When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: "Off with their heads!" Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea.
20 But things went from bad to worse for Herod. Now people from Tyre and Sidon put him on the warpath. But they got Blastus, King Herod's right-hand man, to put in a good word for them and got a delegation together to iron things out. Because they were dependent on Judea for food supplies, they couldn't afford to let this go on too long.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.