Apostlagärningarna 12:7

Svenska Bibel

Då stod plötsligt en Herrens ängel där, och ett sken lyste i rummet. Och han stötte Petrus i sidan och väckte honom och sade: »Stå nu strax upp»; och kedjorna föllo ifrån hans händer.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the angel: Acts 12:23, Acts 5:19, Acts 10:30, Acts 27:23, Acts 27:24, 1 Kings 19:5, 1 Kings 19:7, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 37:32, Psalms 37:33, Isaiah 37:30, Daniel 6:22, Hebrews 1:14

and a: Acts 9:3, 2 Samuel 22:29, Ezekiel 43:2, Micah 7:9, Habakkuk 3:4, Habakkuk 3:11, Revelation 18:1

Arise: Genesis 19:15, Genesis 19:16, Isaiah 60:1, Ephesians 5:14

And his: The two chains with which his hands were fastened to those of the two soldiers between whom he slept. This, it appears, was the Roman method of securing a prisoner, and seems to be what is intimated in Acts 12:6. Acts 12:6, Acts 2:24, Acts 16:26, Psalms 105:18-20, Psalms 107:14, Psalms 116:16, Psalms 142:6, Psalms 142:7, Psalms 146:7, Daniel 3:24, Daniel 3:25

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 1:3 - angel Ecclesiastes 5:8 - higher than they Isaiah 51:14 - captive Jeremiah 40:1 - bound Daniel 3:28 - hath sent Daniel 9:21 - touched Matthew 18:10 - their Acts 12:11 - that the

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 f 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.

f Vid Harpocratian Lex. p. 212.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And, behold, the angel of the Lord - See the notes on Acts 5:19.

Came upon him - Greek: was present with him; stood near him ἐπέστη epestē.

And a light shined in the prison - Many have supposed that this was lightning. But light, and splendor, and shining apparel are commonly represented as the accompaniments of the heavenly beings when they visit the earth, Luke 2:9; Luke 24:4; compare Mark 9:3. It is highly probable that this light was discerned only by Peter; and it would be to him an undoubted proof of the divine interposition in his behalf.

And he smote Peter on the side - This was, doubtless, a gentle blow or stroke to arouse him from sleep.

And his chains ... - This could have been only by divine power. No natural means were used, or could have been used without arousing the guard. It is a sublime expression of the ease with which God can deliver from danger, and rescue his friends. Compare Acts 16:26.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 12:7. Smote Peter on the side — He struck him in such a way as was just sufficient to awake him from his sleep.

His chains fell off from his hands. — The chains mentioned above, by which he was bound to the two soldiers.