Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 12:14

"And when she knew Peter`s voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate." — Acts 12:14 (ASV)

She opened not the gate for gladness.—The slave, it would seem, had shared the anxiety and borne her part in the prayers of the Church; and the eager desire to tell the good news that their prayers had been answered overpowers her presence of mind. There is something characteristic of the writer in this analysis of a state of consciousness. (See Note on Acts 12:9, and Luke 24:14.)