Acts 12:9

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. AND HE WENT OUT, AND FOLLOWED [HIM], [ autoo (G846) is probably not genuine, though, of course, understood]; AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE WHICH WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION - so little did the apostle look for deliverance!...

9._He knew not that it was true. _He did not think that it was a vain or false visor, as Satan doth oftentimes delude men with jugglings; but_true _is taken in this place for that which is done naturally and after the manner of men. For we must note the contrariety [antithesis] that is between the thing itself and the vision. Furthermore, though he think that it is a vision, yet doth he willingly obey; whereby his obedience is proved, whilst that being content with the commandment of the angel alone, he doth not inquire nor reason what he must de, but doth that which he is commanded to do....

6-11 A peaceful conscience, a lively hope, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit, can keep men calm in the full prospect of death; even those very persons who have been most distracted with terrors on that account. God's time to help, is when things are brought to the last extremity. Peter was assured that the Lord would cause this trial to end in the way that should be most for his glory. Those who are delivered out of spiritual imprisonment must follow their Deliverer, like the Israelites when they went out of the house of bondage. They knew not whither they went, but knew whom they followed. When God will work salvation for his people, all difficulties in their way will be overcome, even gates of iron are made to open of their own accord. This deliverance of Peter represents our redemption by Christ, which not only proclaims liberty to the captives, but brings them out of the priso...

Verse Acts 12:9. _HE - WIST NOT_] He _knew_ not; from the Anglo-Saxon, [A.S.], _to know_. He supposed himself to be in a dream....

AND WIST NOT - Knew not. THAT IT WAS TRUE - That it was real. BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION - He supposed that it was a representation made to his mind similar to what he had seen before. Compare Acts 10:11. It was so astonishing, so unexpected, so wonderful, that he could not realize that it was true....

EXPOSITION ACTS 12:1 _Put _for _stretched, _A.V.;_ afflict _for _vex, _A.V. The phrase, ABOUT THAT TIME, as in Acts 19:23, points to what had just before been related (Meyer). The interposition of the narrative in this chapter between Acts 11:20 and Acts 12:25 evidently implies that the bulk or rather the chief of the events narrated happened in the interval. Which of the events was the chief in the mind of the narrator with reference to his general narrative, and what are the coincidences which he wished to note, it is not easy to say with certainty. The narrative in this c

AND HE WENT OUT AND FOLLOWED HIM,.... He came out from between the two soldiers, and out of that apartment in the prison, in which he was, and followed the angel where he led him: AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE THAT WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; not that he thought the angel was a mere apparition, and all this that was done was a delusion; but he did not know whether this was matter of fact, or whether it was, not represented to him in a visionary way, as what could be, or would be done: BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION; imagined he was in a dream or a trance, and only saw these things in a vision, and that they were not really done, the whole was so amazing and astonishing....

ANGEL See note, (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _...

ACTS 12:8-9 Between verses Acts 12:8 and Acts 12:9 copG67 adds the sentence, “But he [the angel] seized him [Peter] and drew him along and took him out, and Peter followed.”...

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The great Persecution by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1)._ 2. The miraculous deliverance of Peter (Acts 12:6). 3. The Presumption and Judgment of Herod (Acts 12:18). 4. Barnabas and Saul returning to Jerusalem (Acts 12:24). With this chapter we reach the conclusion of the second part of this book. Jerusalem had heard the second offer concerning the Kingdom, and mercy was ready even for the murderers of the Prince of Life. But that offer was rejected. Stephen's testimony followed by his martyrdom marked the close of that second offer to the city where our Lord had been crucified. Then broke out a great p