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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Acts 12:9

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Angel (a Spirit);   Herod;   Jerusalem;   Minister, Christian;   Miracles;   Persecution;   Peter;   Prayer;   Prisoners;   Rulers;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Angels;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Miracle;   Peter;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Herod Agrippa I.;   Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Acts of the Apostles;   Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Angel;   Herod;   Prison, Prisoners;   Squad;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Herod;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels;   Herod;   Peter;   Prison;   Vision;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Herod, Family of;   New Testament;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Quaternion;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Persecution;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision.
King James Version (1611)
And hee went out, and followed him, and wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel: but thought he saw a vision.
King James Version
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
English Standard Version
And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
New American Standard Bible
And he went out and continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
New Century Version
So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision.
Amplified Bible
And Peter went out following the angel. He did not realize that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Legacy Standard Bible
And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking he was seeing a vision.
Berean Standard Bible
So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He only thought he was seeing a vision.
Contemporary English Version
Peter left with the angel, but he thought everything was only a dream.
Complete Jewish Bible
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.
Darby Translation
And going forth he followed [him] and did not know that what was happening by means of the angel was real, but supposed he saw a vision.
Easy-to-Read Version
So the angel went out and Peter followed. He did not know if the angel was really doing this. He thought he might be seeing a vision.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Peter came out and followed him, and knewe not that it was true, which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.
George Lamsa Translation
And he went out, and followed the angel, not knowing that what was done by the angel was true, but thought he saw a vision.
Good News Translation
Peter followed him out of the prison, not knowing, however, if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.
Lexham English Bible
And he went out and was following him. And he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking he was seeing a vision.
Literal Translation
And going out, he followed him, and did not know that this happening through the angel was real, but he thought he saw a vision.
American Standard Version
And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.
Bible in Basic English
And he went out after him; and he was not certain if what was done by the angel was a fact, for it seemed to him that he was seeing a vision.
Hebrew Names Version
He went out, and followed him. He didn't know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
International Standard Version
So he went out and began to follow him, not realizing that what was being done by the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.Psalm 126:1; Acts 10:3,17; 11:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And he went forth, and came after him; not knowing that what was done by the hand of the angel was reality, for he thought that he saw a vision.
Murdock Translation
And he went out and followed him, not knowing that what had been done by the angel was a reality; for he supposed, that he saw a vision.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he came out and folowed hym, and wyse not that it was trueth which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.
English Revised Version
And he went out, and followed; and he wist not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.
World English Bible
He went out, and followed him. He didn't know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And going out, he followed him. And he knew not, that it was real which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.
Weymouth's New Testament
So Peter went out, following him, yet could not believe that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he saw a vision.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he yede out, and suede hym; and he wiste not that it was soth, that was don bi the aungel; for he gesside hym silf to haue sey a visioun.
Update Bible Version
And he went out, and followed; and he didn't know that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he went out, and followed him, and knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
New English Translation
Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
New King James Version
So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
New Living Translation
So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was actually happening.
New Life Bible
Peter followed him out. He was not sure what was happening as the angel helped him. He thought it was a dream.
New Revised Standard
Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel's help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, coming out, he began following, and knew not that it was true which was coming about through means of the messenger; but supposed that, a vision, he was beholding.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And going out, he followed him. And he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision.
Revised Standard Version
And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he came oute and folowed him and wist not that it was truthe which was done by the angell but thought he had sene a vision.
Young's Literal Translation
and having gone forth, he was following him, and he knew not that it is true that which is done through the messenger, and was thinking he saw a vision,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he wente out, and folowed him, and wyst not, that it was trueth that was done by ye angell, but thoughte he had sene a vision.
Mace New Testament (1729)
so he went out after the angel without knowing that what the angel had done, was real; but thinking it was all a vision.
Simplified Cowboy Version
The angel led Pete out of the cell, but Pete didn't realize this was happening. He thought it was a vision the whole time.

Contextual Overview

5 All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously. 6 Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances! 7Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: "Hurry!" The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, "Get dressed. Put on your shoes." Peter did it. Then, "Grab your coat and let's get out of here." Peter followed him, but didn't believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming. 10Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That's when Peter realized it was no dream. "I can't believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to." 12Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary's house, the Mary who was John Mark's mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter's voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street. 15But they wouldn't believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. "You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn't believe her and said, "It must be his angel." All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away. Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! 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. At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. "Where is Peter? What's happened to Peter?" 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. 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. On the day set for their meeting, Herod, robed in pomposity, took his place on the throne and regaled them with a lot of hot air. The people played their part to the hilt and shouted flatteries: "The voice of God! The voice of God!" That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod's arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died. Meanwhile, the ministry of God's Word grew by leaps and bounds. Barnabas and Saul, once they had delivered the relief offering to the church in Jerusalem, went back to Antioch. This time they took John with them, the one they called Mark. 17Peter Under Heavy Guard That's when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John's brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter—all this during Passover Week, mind you—and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover. All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously. Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances! Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: "Hurry!" The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, "Get dressed. Put on your shoes." Peter did it. Then, "Grab your coat and let's get out of here." Peter followed him, but didn't believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming. Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That's when Peter realized it was no dream. "I can't believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to." Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary's house, the Mary who was John Mark's mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter's voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street. But they wouldn't believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. "You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn't believe her and said, "It must be his angel." All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away. Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! 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. 18At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. "Where is Peter? What's happened to Peter?" 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he went: Acts 26:19, Genesis 6:22, John 2:5, Hebrews 11:8

wist not: That is, he knew not; wist being the past tense of the obsolete verb to wis, from the Saxon wissan, in German wissen and Dutch wysen to think, imagine, know. Acts 10:3, Acts 10:17, Acts 11:5, Genesis 45:26, Psalms 126:1, 2 Corinthians 12:1-3

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:29 - wist Luke 24:11 - idle

Cross-References

Genesis 12:14
When Abram arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians took one look and saw that his wife was stunningly beautiful. Pharaoh's princes raved over her to Pharaoh. She was taken to live with Pharaoh.
Genesis 13:1
So Abram left Egypt and went back to the Negev, he and his wife and everything he owned, and Lot still with him. By now Abram was very rich, loaded with cattle and silver and gold.
Genesis 13:3
He moved on from the Negev, camping along the way, to Bethel, the place he had first set up his tent between Bethel and Ai and built his first altar. Abram prayed there to God .
Genesis 24:62
Isaac was living in the Negev. He had just come back from a visit to Beer Lahai Roi. In the evening he went out into the field; while meditating he looked up and saw camels coming. When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel and asked the servant, "Who is that man out in the field coming toward us?" "That is my master." She took her veil and covered herself.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he went out and followed him,.... He came out from between the two soldiers, and out of that apartment in the prison, in which he was, and followed the angel where he led him:

and wist not that it was true that was done by the angel; not that he thought the angel was a mere apparition, and all this that was done was a delusion; but he did not know whether this was matter of fact, or whether it was, not represented to him in a visionary way, as what could be, or would be done:

but thought he saw a vision; imagined he was in a dream or a trance, and only saw these things in a vision, and that they were not really done, the whole was so amazing and astonishing.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And wist not - Knew not.

That it was true - That it was real.

But thought he saw a vision - He supposed that it was a representation made to his mind similar to what he had seen before. Compare Acts 10:11-12. It was so astonishing, so unexpected, so wonderful, that he could not realize that it was true.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 12:9. He - wist not — He knew not; from the Anglo-Saxon, [A.S.], to know. He supposed himself to be in a dream.


 
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