Acts 12:17

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

But {G1161} he, beckoning {G2678} unto them {G846} with the hand {G5495} to hold their peace {G4601}, declared {G1334} unto them {G846} how {G4459} the Lord {G2962} had brought {G1806} him {G846} out of {G1537} the prison {G5438}. And {G1161} he said {G2036}, Go shew {G518} these things {G5023} unto James {G2385}, and {G2532} to the brethren {G80}. And {G2532} he departed {G1831}, and went {G4198} into {G1519} another {G2087} place {G5117}.

Motioning to them with his hand to be quiet, he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison and said, “Tell all this to Ya‘akov and the brothers.” Then he left and went elsewhere.

Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.

Commentary

Acts 12:17 (KJV) describes the immediate aftermath of Peter's miraculous liberation from prison, where he recounts his astonishing escape to a group of praying believers before departing for safety.

Context

This verse follows the dramatic account of King Herod Agrippa I's persecution of the early church, which included the execution of James, the brother of John (Acts 12:2), and the imprisonment of Peter. While Peter was chained between two soldiers, awaiting execution, an angel of the Lord appeared and led him out of the prison through miraculously opening doors (Acts 12:7-11). Peter then made his way to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many believers were gathered, earnestly praying for him (Acts 12:12). His sudden appearance caused disbelief and immense joy among them, leading to the commotion Peter addresses in this verse.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Deliverance: The core message is God's powerful hand at work. Peter's escape was not by human strength or cunning, but a direct act of the Lord, demonstrating that God is able to deliver His servants from impossible situations. This reinforces the theme of God's protection over His people.
  • The Power of Prayer: The believers' fervent prayers were a direct catalyst for Peter's release. While the text doesn't explicitly state the release was *because* of their prayers, the juxtaposition strongly implies a connection, highlighting the importance and efficacy of persistent prayer in the face of adversity.
  • Sharing Testimony: Peter's immediate action was to "declare how the Lord had brought him out." This emphasizes the importance of sharing personal testimonies of God's faithfulness, which serves to glorify God and strengthen the faith of others.
  • Leadership and Communication: Peter specifically instructs them to inform "James, and to the brethren." James, the brother of Jesus, was a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13), indicating the need for clear communication within the early Christian community, especially concerning significant events and leadership.
  • Prudence and Continued Persecution: Peter's departure "into another place" highlights the ongoing threat of persecution. Despite the miraculous deliverance, wisdom dictated a temporary withdrawal from the immediate danger, showing a balance between faith in God's power and practical discretion.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "beckoning unto them with the hand" translates the Greek word kataseiō (κατασείω), which implies a forceful or emphatic motion to quiet a crowd. It's not just a gentle wave, but a gesture meant to command attention and silence amidst excitement. Peter "declared" (ἀπαγγέλλω - apangellō) to them, meaning he reported or announced the full account of his escape, a formal and clear communication of the divine intervention he experienced.

Practical Application

Acts 12:17 offers several timeless lessons. First, it reminds believers that even in the direst circumstances, God's power is not limited, and He can deliver beyond human expectation. Second, it encourages fervent and believing prayer, assuring us that our prayers can have profound effects. Third, it underscores the value of sharing our experiences of God's faithfulness with others, as these testimonies build up the body of Christ and bring glory to God. Finally, it illustrates the importance of wise leadership and communication within the church, and the need for discernment in balancing faith with practical steps for safety and continued ministry.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 21:40

    And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto [them] in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

  • Acts 13:16

    Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with [his] hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

  • Acts 19:33

    And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

  • Acts 15:13

    And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me:

  • Acts 21:18

    And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

  • Galatians 2:9

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • Galatians 1:19

    But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
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