Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 12:9

"And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision." — Acts 12:9 (ASV)

On the night before Agrippa’s show trial, “an angel of the Lord” appeared in the apostle’s cell and began to take charge of affairs. The “angel of the Lord” signifies God himself in his dealings with people (cf. Exodus 3:2, 7; Matthew 1:20, 24; 2:9; Acts 5:19; Acts 8:26; Acts 12:23; et al.). The angel awoke Peter, and as he stirred, the chains by which he was bound fell from his wrists. Then the angel, like a parent with a child awakened from sound sleep, carefully instructed the groggy apostle to get dressed. Then he ordered Peter to follow him, and they left the cell. But Peter, too sleepy to grasp the reality of what was happening, thought he was dreaming. Herod Agrippa I had planned to try Peter as the leader of the divisive minority in Palestine that identified itself with the crucified Jesus of Nazareth and then execute him as a warning to other followers of Jesus to stop their activities. Usually a prisoner was chained to only one guard, but in view of Agrippa’s intentions, the guard was doubled. The Christians in Jerusalem understood Agrippa’s intentions because he had earlier imprisoned some of them and killed James the son of Zebedee. Neither Peter nor his fellow believers were in any doubt about what the king had in mind. It was a crisis of great magnitude for the life of the early Christian community at Jerusalem. But while God does not promise deliverance from persecution and death, at crucial times he often steps in to act for the honor of his name and the benefit of his people. This was what now happened. Peter’s deliverance must be ascribed entirely to God, for it was in no way due to the apostle’s own efforts or those of the Christian community—apart, of course, from their prayers.