Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 12:10
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
10. When they were past the first and the second ward ] i.e. the warders, who were stationed one nearer to the inner door of the prison and another at some further distance away.
they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto [into] the city ] This description, with the words which immediately follow about the street into which they came, make it probable that the prison in which Peter was kept was in the midst of the city.
which opened to them of his own accord ] It is better to discard in sentences like the present the old English form “his” and read “its.” “His” was good and almost the only English use when the A. V. was made, but is now obsolete.
For the expression “of its own accord” cp. Lev 25:5, “That which groweth of its own accord;” Wis 17:6 , “A fire kindled of itself,” where, as here, what is meant is that there was no human agency employed in what was done.
the angel departed from him ] Leaving the other steps, in which supernatural aid was unnecessary, to be taken by the Apostle of himself.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The first and second ward – The word which is here rendered ward phulaken properly denotes the act of guarding; but it is most commonly used to denote a prison, or place of confinement. In this place it seems to denote the guard itself – the soldiers stationed at intervals in the entrance into the prison. These were passed silently, probably a deep sleep having been sent on them to facilitate the escape of Peter.
The iron gate – The outer gate, Secured with iron, as the doors of prisons are now.
That leadeth unto the city – Or rather into eis the city. The precise situation of the prison is unknown. It is supposed by some (compare Lightfoot on this place) that the prison was between two walls of the city, and that the entrance to the prison was immediately from the inner wall, so that the gate opened directly into the city.
Of his own accord – Itself. It opened spontaneously, without the application of any force or key, thus showing conclusively that Peter was delivered by miraculous interposition.
And passed on through one street – Until Peter was entirely safe from any danger of pursuit, and then the angel left him. God had effected his complete rescue, and now left him to his own efforts as usual.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. The first and – second ward] It is supposed that ancient Jerusalem was surrounded by three walls: if so, then passing through the gates of these three walls successively is possibly what is meant by the expression in the text. The prison in which he was confined might have been that which was at the outer wall.
Iron gate] This was in the innermost wall of the three, and was strongly plated over with iron, for the greater security. In the east, the gates are often thus secured to the present day. Pitts says so of the gates of Algiers; and Pocock, of some near Antioch. Perhaps this is all that is meant by the iron gate. One of the quaternions of soldiers was placed at each gate.
Which opened – of his own accord] Influenced by the unseen power of the angel.
The angel departed from him.] Having brought him into a place in which he no longer needed his assistance. What is proper to God he always does: what is proper to man he requires him to perform.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The first and the second ward; guard or sentinels.
The iron gate that leadeth unto the city; the outermost gate that led out of the prison into the city, not that the prison itself was out of the city.
Which opened to them of his own accord: God worketh a series of miracles in their fit place and time; he could have done them all together, and have opened his iron gate beforehand, when he conducted Peter through the first, then through the second watch; but it is good for Peter, and us, to be convinced that we stand every moment in need of Gods conduct and deliverance.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. first and the second ward . . .the iron gate that leadeth unto the cityWe can only conjecturethe precise meaning of all this, not knowing the position of theprison.
passed on through one street;and forthwith the angel departed from himwhen he had placedhim beyond pursuit. Thus “He disappointeth the devices of thecrafty, so that their heads cannot perform their enterprise”(Job 5:12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When they were past the first and the second ward,…. Or watch, which were set within the prison, and might be some of the quaternions of soldiers to whom Peter was delivered; two of them were with him, and others might be placed at these two wards for further security; and these circumstances make the deliverance the more wonderful and remarkable; the watch must either be asleep, or their eyes were holden, or the angel and Peter passed by so swiftly that they were unobserved:
they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city: which was not one of the gates of the city, as if the prison was without the walls of it; but was the great and strong gate of the prison, which for the security of the prisoners was made of iron, and this gate led directly into the city of Jerusalem:
which opened to them of his own accord; as the gates of the temple are said to do g, forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem: this was done by a divine power; and because no human creature had any hand in it, it is said to be done of its own accord:
and they went out. The Cambridge copy of Beza’s adds, “they went down seven steps”; that is, from the prison into the city:
and passed on through one street; what street this was is not certain; there were several streets in Jerusalem: [See comments on Ac 9:11] and forthwith the angel departed from him: he being now safe and out of danger, he left him to himself, to betake himself to what house he should think fit.
g T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 39. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When they were past (). Second aorist active participle of , transitive with in composition.
The first and the second ward ( ). It is not clear to what this language refers. Some take it to mean single soldiers, using in the sense of a guard (one before the door, one at the iron gate). But it seems hardly likely that the two soldiers with whom Peter had been stationed are meant. Probably the “first ward” means the two soldiers of the quaternion stationed by the door and the second ward some other soldiers, not part of the sixteen, further on in the prison by the iron gate. However understood, the difficulties of escape are made plain.
Unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city ( ). Note the triple use of the article (the gate the iron one the one leading into the city). For this resumptive use of the article see Robertson, Grammar, pp. 762, 764. This iron gate may have opened from a court out into the street and effectually barred escape.
Opened to them ( ). Second aorist passive indicative of , the usual later form though (first aorist passive) occurs also, was opened.
Of its own accord (). Old compound adjective (, self, obsolete , to desire eagerly, feminine form though masculine also used as feminine). In the N.T. only here and Mr 4:28. It was a strange experience for Peter. The Codex Bezae adds here “went down the seven steps” ( ), an interesting detail that adds to the picture.
One street ( ). The angel saw Peter through one of the narrow streets and then left him. We have no means of knowing precisely the location of the prison in the city. On “departed” () see on verse 7.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Ward [] . Better, watch : the soldiers on guard. Explanations of the first and second watch differ, some assuming that the first was the single soldier on guard at the door of Peter’s cell, and the second, another soldier at the gate leading into the street. Others, that two soldiers were at each of these posts, the two in Peter’s cell not being included in the four who made up the watch.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “When they were past the first and the second ward,” (dielthondes de proten phulaken kai deuteran) “Then passing through the first and the second prison cells,” or door chambers where the other two guards were stationed.
2) “They came unto the iron gate,” (elthan epi ten pilen ten sideran) “They came upon (face to face with) the iron gate,” the outer (last gate-door) from within.
3) “That leadeth unto the city; (tenpherousan eis ten polin) “That is leading into (at the entrance into) the city of Jerusalem,” proper.
4) “Which opened to them of his own accord:” (hetis automate enoige autois) “Which automated (opened of itself) to them” as they approached it, by the power of the lead-angel of Peter.
5) “And they went out and passed on through one street (kai ekselthontes proelthon hurmen mian) “And they went out (of the prison area) passing through or down one street,” safely removed from the prison.
6) “And forthwith the angel departed from him,” (kai eutheos apeste ho angelos ap’ autou) “And suddenly, instantly, or immediately the angel departed from him,” his work being done, Peter having been set free by an angel for a second similar experience, as formerly with the twelve, Act 5:18-19. The angel departed.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10. When they were past. God was able to have carried Peter away in the turning of an hand; (758) but he overcometh diverse straits one after another, that the glory of the miracle might be the greater. So he created the world in six days, (Gen 1:0.) not because he had any need of space of thee, but that he might the better stay us in the meditating upon his works, (Exo 20:11,) for he applieth the manner of doing unto our capacity, and unto the increase of faith. If Peter had at a sudden been carried unto the house where the brethren were assembled, then should one only deliverance have been acknowledged, but now we see, as it were with our eyes, that he was delivered more than ten times.
(758) “ Momento uno,” in one moment.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) When they were past the first and the second ward.It would seem from this that Peter had been placed in the innermost dungeon, and had to pass the two court-yards. Lightfoot supposes the prison to have been between the inner and outer walls of the city, the direction of Peters movements being from the outer to the inner.
The iron gate.The touch of topographical precision may be noticed as characteristic of St. Luke.
Passed on through one street.The word implies one of the narrow streets or lanes of the city. (See Note on Mat. 6:2.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. First and the second ward The terms ward and guard are but different forms of the same word. The first guard was the two keepers of the four to whom Peter was chained; the second was the two of the quaternion at the door of his particular room or cell; having passed both he would come to the great outside iron gate of the whole prison building, which let them into the street.
Of his (its) own accord Striking emblem how God may cause obstacles to move themselves out of the way of those who tread the path of his assignment.
Passed on through one street One street’s length, by which Peter was brought to a locality which he could recognise.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city; which opened to them of its own accord, and they went out, and passed on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.’
If it was a dream it was a good dream. Out they went past the first and second guard, both not interfering and seemingly unconscious of their passing, until they came to the iron gates that led out of the castle into the city. And the gate ‘opened of its own accord’. That was how it appeared to Peter. Again we are being impressed with the ease with which God had it all arranged. All man’s attempts to thwart God were as nothing. So they passed out and into one street and then moved into the next. And there the angel left him. He was free. None could bind the representative of the Kingly Rule of God.
Here we may stop and pause for a moment and possibly ask ourselves, was this angel (messenger) of the Lord a heavenly visitant or an earthly one? It actually does not really matter. Whoever it was, it was undoubtedly of God. But while nothing has been said that could not be true of an earthly and carefully planned rescue by a group of sympathisers (but with heavenly assistance), who possessed the necessary keys and had drugged the guards, as described by someone who was half asleep at the time, the mention of the ‘angel of the Lord’ is against it. The ‘angel of the Lord’ is usually a very specific divine figure. But the description of the whole incident is itself evidence of the genuineness of the story, with its picture of a dazed Peter doing just as he was told, and then suddenly finding himself alone. It rings true.
Whether the deliverer was earthly or heavenly is a question we must decide for ourselves. We may make our own choice. What we do know is that God was behind it, and that when God does such work we can only look on in awe, and leave to Him the method that He uses. I am reminded here of another saint of God, the Sadhu Sundar Singh. He too was imprisoned because of his Christian witness, knowing no one, and with no hope of escape or rescue, until awoken at the dead of night by a stealthy figure whom he thought to be an angel, who led him out to safety. But this visitant then whispered ere he left him, ‘the Sanyasi mission’, and he later learned that the whispered words of this ‘messenger of God’ was a member of a secret group of Indian Christians who, he discovered, claimed to trace their origins back to Thomas the Apostle. But who could doubt that he too was a messenger sent from God, and an ‘angel of God?
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 12:10. When they were past the first and the second ward, The first and second watch, where the guards were placed to secure the prison. Heylin renders it very agreeably to the Greek, the first and second guard. It was usual among the Easterns to plate over their gates with thick iron. Pitts tells us, that Algiers has five gates; and some of these have two, some three other gates within them; and some of them are plated all over with thick iron: and Bishop Pocock tells us the same of some gates not far from Antioch. The angel having conducted St. Peter into the street left him; for when things are within men’s own power, it is folly and presumption to expect extraordinary assistance.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
Ver. 10. When they were passed ] God could have delivered him all at once; but he knew that cito data cito vilescunt, Lightly come by is lightly set by. He would have us also to weigh well the several passages and circumstances of our deliverance, that he may have the honour of all. Hence those catalogues in Scripture, with an enumeration of particulars. See Trapp on “ Act 12:8 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10 .] The first and second watch or guard cannot mean the two soldiers to whom he was chained, on account of above: but are probably the other two, one at the door of the chamber, the other at the outer door of the building. Then ‘the iron gate leading into the city’ was that outside the prison buildings, forming the exit from the premises. The situation of the prison is uncertain, but seems to have been in the city. The additional clause in D (see var. readd.) is remarkable, and can hardly be other than genuine.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 12:10 . : “ward,” perhaps the best translation here with so often used of traversing a place. The first ward might be the place outside the cell where the other soldiers of the quaternion were on guard, and the second ward might refer to some other part of the prison or fortress Antonia (see Blass in loco ) where sentinels were stationed. Weiss apparently takes the expression to refer to the two , Act 12:6 , cf. 1Ch 26:16 . : specially noted since such a gate, when shut, would effectually bar their way; but it opened , only here in N.T. and in Mar 4:28 , cf. Lev 25:5 ; Lev 25:11 , 2Ki 19:29 , Wis 17:6 , and in classical writers the striking parallel, Hom., Iliad , ver. 749 (Wendt, Blass); Virgil, neid , vi., 81 (Wetstein). : only here in N.T., but quite usual in classical Greek. If the narrative means that immediately they were out of the prison they were in the street (so Weiss), evidently the prison was in the city, and . would simply mean the open town, in contrast to the confined prison-house (so Weiss and Wendt, 1899). Blass decides for the tower of Antonia on account of . , see critical notes. : for remarkable addition in [251] see critical notes. : used several times in Acts, but only once, see Act 10:16 . : when there were no further hindrances to the Apostle’s flight, then the angel departed (Chrys.).
[251] Codex Claromontanus (sc. vi.), a Grco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
When, &c. Now, having passed through.
ward = prison. Greek. phulake, as in verses: Act 12:4, Act 12:5, Act 12:6, Act 4:17.
unto = upon. Greek. epi.
opened = was opened.
of his own accord = automatically. Greek. automatos. Elsewhere only in Mar 4:28.
street. Greek. rhume. See note on Act 9:11.
forthwith = immediately. Greek. eutheos.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] The first and second watch or guard cannot mean the two soldiers to whom he was chained, on account of above: but are probably the other two, one at the door of the chamber, the other at the outer door of the building. Then the iron gate leading into the city was that outside the prison buildings, forming the exit from the premises. The situation of the prison is uncertain, but seems to have been in the city. The additional clause in D (see var. readd.) is remarkable, and can hardly be other than genuine.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 12:10. , and the second) in which also there appears to have been a portion of the soldiers.-, of its own accord) so that neither Peter applied his hand to it, nor did lie see any hand applied to it by the angel.- , one street) lest there should be any doubt on Peters part what house he should repair to: Act 12:12.-, departed) For by this time Peter was sufficient to take care of himself.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
the first: Act 12:4, Gen 40:3, Gen 42:17, Num 15:34, Isa 21:8
which: Act 5:19, Act 16:26, Isa 45:1, Isa 45:2, Joh 20:19, Joh 20:26, Rev 3:7
Reciprocal: Mat 17:8 – they saw
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
0
Act 12:10. First and second ward were the two soldiers stationed some distance apart to guard the prison. (See notes at verse 4.) The same supernatural power that loosened the chains unknown to the soldiers in the prison (verse 7), enabled them to pass these other soldiers unseen. The iron gate was what closed the outer wall of the entire prison structure. Opened of his own accord. The Lord was still working in the case and miraculously removing all the barriers to Peter’s freedom. Passed through one street. The angel remained with Peter until they were safely out of reach of the prison officers and guardsmen, then disappeared.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
See notes one verse 7
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Luke related this incident as though God was orchestrating Peter’s release (cf. Act 5:18-20; Act 16:23-29). There is no reason to take the account as anything less than this. Once outside the prison and left alone by his angelic guide Peter realized that his release was genuine. God did here for Peter what He had done for the Israelites in leading them out of their Egyptian prison in the Exodus. God’s enemies can never frustrate His plans (Mat 16:18).
Why did God allow Herod to kill James but not Peter?
"The answer is that this is the sovereign will of God. He still moves like this in the contemporary church. I have been in the ministry for many years, and I have seen the Lord reach in and take certain wonderful members out of the church by death. And then there are others whom He has left. Why would He do that? If He had asked me, from my viewpoint as the pastor, I would say that He took the wrong one and He left the wrong one! But life and death are in the hands of a sovereign God. . . . This is His universe, not ours. It is God’s church, not ours. The hand of a sovereign God moves in the church." [Note: McGee, 4:562.]