King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
Complete Jewish Bible:
“You’re out of your mind!” they said to her. But she insisted it was true. So they said, “It is his angel.”
Berean Standard Bible:
“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
American Standard Version:
And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, It is his angel.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G1161} they said{G2036} unto{G4314} her{G846}, Thou art mad{G3105}. But{G1161} she constantly affirmed{G1340} that it was{G2192} even so{G3779}. Then{G1161} said they{G3004}, It is{G2076} his{G846} angel{G32}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 18:10
- Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Luke 24:11
- And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Mark 16:14
- ¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Luke 24:37
- But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:38
- And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Acts 26:24
- ¶ And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Mark 16:11
- And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Acts 12:15
Acts 12:15 is a verse set within the context of the early Christian church's persecution under King Herod Agrippa I. The apostle Peter has been imprisoned, and the church is earnestly praying for his release. The verse in question occurs during a prayer meeting at the house of John Mark's mother, Mary. When Peter is miraculously freed from prison by an angel and arrives at the door of the house where the disciples are gathered, a servant girl named Rhoda recognizes his voice. Overjoyed, she runs to tell the others, leaving Peter outside.
The themes present in this verse include faith, divine intervention, and the early Christians' understanding of angels. When Rhoda announces Peter's arrival, the disciples initially doubt her, suggesting she is "mad" or mistaken. Their reaction reflects a mix of skepticism and perhaps a protective instinct to temper expectations in the face of danger and previous disappointments. Rhoda, however, remains insistent ("constantly affirmed"), demonstrating her unwavering belief in the miracle she has witnessed. The disciples then suggest that it might be Peter's "angel," a concept rooted in Jewish and early Christian thought that understood angels as spiritual representations or guardians of individuals.
Historically, this verse captures the tension and excitement of the early church as it navigates the miraculous and the mundane, the supernatural interventions of God, and the human limitations of doubt and disbelief. It also highlights the role of women in the early church, as Rhoda is the first to recognize the answer to their prayers, and the communal aspect of early Christian worship and petition. Acts 12:15 thus encapsulates the interplay between faith and doubt, the expectation of divine aid, and the nascent church's theological understanding of angelic beings.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G4314
There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πρός
Transliteration: prós
Pronunciation: pros
Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G3105
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μαίνομαι
Transliteration: maínomai
Pronunciation: mah'-ee-nom-ahee
Description: middle voice from a primary (to long for; through the idea of insensate craving); to rave as a "maniac":--be beside self (mad). - Strong's Number: G1340
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: διϊσχυρίζομαι
Transliteration: diïschyrízomai
Pronunciation: dee-is-khoo-rid'-zom-ahee
Description: from διά and a derivative of ἰσχυρός; to stout it through, i.e. asservate:--confidently (constantly) affirm. - Strong's Number: G2192
There are 628 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔχω
Transliteration: échō
Pronunciation: skheh'-o
Description: a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use. - Strong's Number: G3779
There are 206 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὕτω
Transliteration: hoútō
Pronunciation: hoo'-toce
Description: adverb from οὗτος; in this way (referring to what precedes or follows):--after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like(-wise), no more, on this fashion(-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what. - Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: G2076
There are 812 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐστί
Transliteration: estí
Pronunciation: es-tee'
Description: third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle. - Strong's Number: G32
There are 228 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἄγγελος
Transliteration: ángelos
Pronunciation: ang'-el-os
Description: from (probably derived from ἄγω; compare ἀγέλη) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor:--angel, messenger.