Acts 12:11

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

And {G2532} when Peter {G4074} was come {G1096} to {G1722} himself {G1438}, he said {G2036}, Now {G3568} I know {G1492} of a surety {G230}, that {G3754} the Lord {G2962} hath sent {G1821} his {G846} angel {G32}, and {G2532} hath delivered {G1807} me {G3165} out of {G1537} the hand {G5495} of Herod {G2264}, and {G2532} from all {G3956} the expectation {G4329} of the people {G2992} of the Jews {G2453}.

Then Kefa came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod’s power and from everything the Judean people were hoping for.”

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

Commentary on Acts 12:11 (KJV)

Acts 12:11 describes the moment of profound realization for the Apostle Peter immediately following his miraculous escape from prison. After being led out by an angel, Peter, still disoriented, finally comprehends the reality of his freedom, acknowledging it as a divine intervention.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set against a backdrop of intense persecution of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. King Herod Agrippa I, a politically shrewd ruler, sought to gain favor with the Jewish populace by persecuting Christians. He had already executed James, the brother of John (Acts 12:2), and had imprisoned Peter with the intention of executing him after the Passover festival. Peter's imprisonment was severe, involving chains and multiple guards, making human escape virtually impossible. The "expectation of the people of the Jews" refers to the popular desire among certain influential Jewish factions to see Peter executed, which Herod was keen to satisfy.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Intervention: The primary theme is God's direct and powerful intervention in human affairs. Peter's deliverance was not by human ingenuity or strength, but by "the Lord [who] hath sent his angel." This highlights God's active role in protecting His servants and advancing His kingdom.
  • Sovereignty of God: This event demonstrates God's ultimate authority over earthly rulers and their schemes. Despite Herod's power and the people's expectations, God's will prevailed, showcasing His control over life and death.
  • Answered Prayer: While not explicitly stated in this verse, Peter's miraculous release was a direct answer to the earnest prayers of the church (Acts 12:5). Peter's realization underscores the effectiveness of corporate prayer.
  • Clarity After Confusion: Peter's initial state of bewilderment ("when Peter was come to himself") gives way to absolute certainty ("Now I know of a surety"). This transition illustrates the process of understanding God's work, which sometimes only becomes clear after the event has transpired.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "when Peter was come to himself" translates the Greek genesthai en heautō, which literally means "to be in himself." This vividly conveys Peter's disorientation and dazed state during the angelic escort (Acts 12:7), suggesting he thought it was a vision or dream until he was truly free. His declaration, "Now I know of a surety," uses the Greek word alēthōs, meaning "truly" or "certainly," emphasizing his absolute conviction that this was a genuine and divine deliverance, not an illusion.

Related Scriptures

The theme of divine deliverance by an angel is echoed throughout scripture, such as when Daniel was saved from the lions' den or Psalm 34:7 declares the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. Peter's escape is one of the most dramatic examples of God's protective hand over His church during times of severe persecution.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful encouragement for believers facing seemingly impossible situations or intense opposition. It reminds us that God's power is not limited by human constraints or political forces. Just as Peter experienced a complete and miraculous deliverance, we can trust in God's faithfulness to intervene on our behalf according to His perfect will. It also highlights the importance of prayer, as God often works in response to the earnest petitions of His people. Even when outcomes seem bleak, God can surprise us with His profound and unexpected grace.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 6:22

    My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

  • Daniel 3:28

    ¶ [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

  • 2 Peter 2:9

    The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

  • Psalms 34:7

    The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

  • Acts 5:19

    But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

  • Psalms 33:18

    Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

  • Luke 15:17

    And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

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