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Author: Ron Graham

Book of Acts

Acts 12:1-17
—Verse by verse

This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 12:1-17. These verses describe James’s death, Peter’s imprisonment and escape.

James dies, Peter is imprisoned and escapes.

Acts 12:1-17

¶“1Now about that time, King Herod laid hands on some of the church to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death by the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he also arrested Peter. This happened during the days of unleavened bread.” (Acts 12:1-3).

¶“4When Herod had Peter arrested, he sent him to prison, with four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was intending to bring him before the people after the Passover. 5So Peter was kept in the prison, but the church prayed fervently to God for Peter. 6Now on the very night that Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison secure.” (Acts 12:4-6).

¶“7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and woke him up. He said, 'Quickly! Stand up!' and the chains fell from Peter’s hands. 8The angel said to him, 'Get dressed and put your sandals on.' Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, 'Put on your cloak, and follow me.' 9Peter followed the angel out, but he did not know that the angel’s actions were real. Peter thought he was seeing a vision. 10When they'd passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. The gate opened for them by itself. They went out, and down one street, and then the angel departed from Peter.” (Acts 12:7-10).

¶“11When Peter came to himself, he said, 'Now I truly know that the Lord has sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.' 12Having realised this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so excited with joy that she didn't open the gate. She ran inside, and told everyone that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15They said to her, 'You're crazy!' But she insisted that what she said was true. They said, 'It must be his angel.' ” (Acts 12:11-15).

¶“16Meanwhile Peter kept knocking. When they opened up, they saw him, and were amazed. 17But he made a sign with his hand to be silent. He told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, 'Tell these things to James, and to the brethren.' Then he departed, and went to another place.” (Acts 12:16-17).

1 Herod Persecutes the Apostles

Verses 1-3

¶ "Now about that time, King Herod laid hands on some of the church to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death by the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he also arrested Peter. This happened during the days of unleavened bread." (Acts 12:1-3).

Verses 4-6

¶ "When Herod had Peter arrested, he sent him to prison, with four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was intending to bring him before the people after the Passover. So Peter was kept in the prison, but the church prayed fervently to God for Peter. Now on the very night that Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison secure." (Acts 12:4-6).

2 An Angel Leads Peter Out of Prison

Verses 7-10

¶ "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and woke him up. He said, “Quickly! Stand up!” and the chains fell from Peter’s hands. The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put your sandals on.” Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.” Peter followed him out, but he did not know that the angel’s actions were real. Peter thought he was seeing a vision. When they'd passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. The gate opened for them by itself. They went out, and down one street, and then the angel departed from Peter." (Acts 12:7-10).

3 Peter Visits the Disciples, Then Flees

Verses 11-15

¶ "When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” Having realised this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so excited with joy that she didn't open the gate. She ran inside, and told everyone that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It must be his angel.”" (Acts 12:11-15).

Verses 16-17

¶ "But Peter kept knocking. When they opened up, they saw him, and were amazed. But he made a sign with his hand to be silent. He told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brethren.” Then he departed, and went to another place." (Acts 12:16-17).


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