New International VersionBut Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
New Living TranslationMeanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
English Standard VersionBut Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
Berean Standard BibleBut Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
Berean Literal BibleBut Peter continued knocking. And having opened it, they saw him and were amazed.
King James BibleBut Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
New King James VersionNow Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
New American Standard BibleBut Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
NASB 1995But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
NASB 1977But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
Legacy Standard BibleBut Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were astounded.
Amplified BibleBut [meanwhile] Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were completely amazed.
Christian Standard BiblePeter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
Holman Christian Standard BiblePeter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
American Standard VersionBut Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
Contemporary English VersionBut Peter kept on knocking, until finally they opened the gate. They saw him and were completely amazed.
English Revised VersionBut Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationBut Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door, they were shocked to see him.
Good News TranslationMeanwhile Peter kept on knocking. At last they opened the door, and when they saw him, they were amazed.
International Standard VersionMeanwhile, Peter kept on knocking and knocking. When they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed.
NET BibleNow Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished.
New Heart English BibleBut Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
Webster's Bible TranslationBut Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
Weymouth New TestamentMeanwhile Peter went on knocking, until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he, and were filled with amazement. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
World English BibleBut Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Peter was continuing knocking, and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished,
Berean Literal BibleBut Peter continued knocking. And having opened it, they saw him and were amazed.
Young's Literal Translation and Peter was continuing knocking, and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Peter continued knocking: and having opened, they saw him, and were moved. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him, and were astonished.
Catholic Public Domain VersionBut Peter was persevering in knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him and were astonished.
New American BibleBut Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded.
New Revised Standard VersionMeanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut Simon Peter continued knocking at the door; and they went out, and saw him, and were astonished.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd Shimeon was knocking at the gate and they went out and saw him and they marveled among themselves. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut Peter continued to knock; and when they had opened the door, they saw him, and were astonished.
Godbey New TestamentBut Peter remained knocking: and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished.
Haweis New TestamentBut Peter continued knocking: and they opened the door and saw him, and were astonished.
Mace New Testamentas Peter still continued knocking, they let him in, and seeing it was he, they were extremely surpriz'd:
Weymouth New TestamentMeanwhile Peter went on knocking, until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he, and were filled with amazement.
Worrell New TestamentBut Peter continued knocking; and, opening, they saw him, and were amazed.
Worsley New TestamentBut Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door, they saw him, and were astonished.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Rescue of Peter… 15“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16ButPeterkept onknocking,andwhen they opened the doorand sawhim,they were astounded.17Peter 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.…
Cross References Matthew 7:7-8Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 24:36-37While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” / But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
John 20:19-20It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. / After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Acts 5:19-20But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, / “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
Acts 16:26-27Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. / When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
Acts 10:17-18While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate. / They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
Acts 9:39-41So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. / Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. / Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.
Acts 4:31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 2:2-4Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. / They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. / And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1 Samuel 3:11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of all who hear it will tingle.
2 Kings 4:33-36So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. / Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. / Elisha turned away and paced back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched himself out over the boy again, and the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. ...
Genesis 18:10-15Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent. / And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. / So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” ...
Genesis 21:6-7Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” / She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Exodus 14:31When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.
Judges 6:22-23When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” / But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”
Treasury of Scripture But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. Jump to Previous AmazedAmazementAstonishedBlowsContinuedContinuingDoorFilledFullKeptKnockingLastMeanwhileOpenOpenedPeterReallyWonderJump to Next AmazedAmazementAstonishedBlowsContinuedContinuingDoorFilledFullKeptKnockingLastMeanwhileOpenOpenedPeterReallyWonderActs 12 1.King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter;6.whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church.20.Herod in his pride taking to himself the honor due to God,23.is stricken by an angel, and dies miserably.24.After his death, the word of God prospers.25.Saul and Barnabas return to Antioch.But Peter kept on knockingPeter's persistence in knocking reflects his urgency and determination to rejoin the believers after his miraculous escape from prison. This act of knocking can be seen as a metaphor for prayer and seeking God's intervention, as Jesus taught in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Peter's continuous knocking also highlights the reality of his physical presence, countering any notion that his appearance was merely a vision or ghost, as some might have thought. and when they opened the door and saw him
The opening of the door signifies the moment of revelation and recognition. The believers inside were gathered in prayer, likely interceding for Peter's safety, as indicated earlier in the chapter. This moment parallels the resurrection appearances of Jesus, where His followers initially struggled to recognize Him until He revealed Himself. The act of opening the door can also symbolize the opening of hearts to the miraculous works of God, as seen inRevelation 3:20, where Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting to be invited in. they were astounded
The astonishment of the believers underscores the unexpected nature of God's intervention. Despite their prayers, they were not fully prepared for such a miraculous answer, reflecting a common human tendency to doubt even while praying for divine help. This reaction is reminiscent of the disciples' amazement when Jesus calmed the storm inMark 4:41, highlighting the theme of God's power surpassing human understanding. The astonishment also serves to authenticate the miracle, as the witnesses were genuinely surprised by Peter's presence, reinforcing the truth of his divine deliverance. Persons / Places / Events 1. PeterOne of Jesus' original twelve apostles, Peter is a central figure in the early Christian church. In this passage, he has just been miraculously freed from prison by an angel. 2. The House of MaryThis is the location where the early Christians were gathered in prayer. Mary, the mother of John Mark, owned the house, which served as a meeting place for believers. 3. RhodaA servant girl who first hears Peter knocking and, in her excitement, forgets to open the door, instead running to tell the others. 4. The Early ChurchThe group of believers gathered in prayer, demonstrating the communal and prayerful nature of the early Christian community. 5. JerusalemThe city where these events take place, a central location for the early church and the spread of the Gospel. Teaching Points The Power of Persistent PrayerThe early church was engaged in fervent prayer for Peter, demonstrating the importance of persistent and communal prayer in times of crisis. God's Miraculous DeliverancePeter's release from prison is a testament to God's power and willingness to intervene in seemingly impossible situations. Faith in ActionDespite their prayers, the believers were initially incredulous at Peter's release, reminding us to have faith that God hears and answers our prayers. Community and FellowshipThe gathering at Mary's house underscores the importance of community and fellowship among believers, especially in times of trial. Expect the UnexpectedGod's answers to prayer can be surprising and beyond our expectations, encouraging us to remain open to His plans. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Acts 12:16?
2.How does Acts 12:16 demonstrate the power of persistent prayer in our lives?
3.What can we learn from Peter's persistence in Acts 12:16 for our faith?
4.How does Acts 12:16 connect with Jesus' teachings on prayer in Matthew 7:7?
5.How should we respond when God answers prayers in unexpected ways, like in Acts 12:16?
6.What role does community play in witnessing God's miracles, as seen in Acts 12:16?
7.How does Acts 12:16 demonstrate the power of prayer in early Christianity?
8.What does Peter's miraculous escape in Acts 12:16 reveal about divine intervention?
9.Why were the believers in Acts 12:16 initially skeptical of Peter's presence?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 12?
11.Who was Rhoda in the Bible?
12.Does God provide evidence of answering prayers?
13.Why would Acts 14:27 assert God 'opened a door of faith to the Gentiles' when earlier passages (e.g., Acts 10) already describe Gentile inclusion?
14.In Acts 12:7-10, how can the chains supernaturally fall off Peter's wrists and prison doors open on their own without any guards noticing?What Does Acts 12:16 Mean But Peter kept on knockingPeter has just been miraculously freed from Herod’s prison, yet finds himself shut out of a house full of praying believers (Acts 12:5). • Persistence: He “kept on knocking,” refusing to give up. That echoes Jesus’ call to “keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking” (Matthew 7:7; cf.Luke 18:1–8). • Confidence: Peter knows the Lord brought him here (Acts 12:11), so he waits patiently for the door God will surely open. • Invitation: This steady knocking pictures Christ Himself, who says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20). The Lord often uses our persistence to awaken faith in others.
and when they opened the doorAt last someone responds. Their action turns a moment of confusion into a moment of revelation. • Faith in motion: Opening the door required leaving their place of comfort and stepping toward the unknown—an illustration ofJames 2:17, “faith without deeds is dead.” • Divine timing: God answers prayer in precise moments. Just as the believers open the door, they meet the answer they had been pleading for (Acts 12:5–12). • Partnership: God frees Peter, yet people must still open the door. The Lord delights to involve His children in the fulfillment of His promises.
and saw himThe gathered church expected something, but not this. • Proof of deliverance: Peter’s physical presence validates God’s intervention (Acts 12:7–10). Like the disciples meeting the risen Christ and recognizing Him “in the breaking of bread” (Luke 24:31), seeing makes the miracle undeniable. • Testimony established: Their own eyes confirm the story they will soon share (Acts 12:17). Personal experience turns abstract doctrine into living witness.
they were astounded• Surprised by answered prayer: They had been “earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5), yet the reality of the answer overwhelms them—much like the psalmist who declared, “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream” (Psalm 126:1). • Overflowing wonder: God often exceeds expectations—“to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). • Humbling reminder: Their astonishment underscores human limitations; even strong believers struggle to grasp the full reach of God’s power.
summaryActs 12:16 captures a vivid sequence: persistent knocking, a door opened in faith, undeniable sight, and overwhelming wonder. It invites believers to keep praying and acting, confident that God hears, delivers, and still amazes His people beyond their expectations. Verse 16.- Opened for opened the door, A.V.; they... and for and... they, A.V.; amazed for astonished, A.V. (see Acts 8:9, note).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Butδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.PeterΠέτρος(Petros)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4074:Peter, a Greek name meaning rock. Apparently a primary word; a rock; as a name, Petrus, an apostle.kept onἐπέμενεν(epemenen)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1961:(a) I remain, tarry, (b) I remain in, persist in. From epi and meno; to stay over, i.e. Remain.knocking,κρούων(krouōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2925:To knock, beat a door with a stick, to gain admittance. Apparently a primary verb; to rap.andδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.[when] they opened [the door],ἀνοίξαντες(anoixantes)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 455:To open. From ana and oigo; to open up.they sawεἶδαν(eidan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3708:Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.himαὐτὸν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.were amazed.ἐξέστησαν(exestēsan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1839:From ek and histemi; to put out of wits, i.e. Astound, or become astounded, insane.
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NT Apostles: Acts 12:16 But Peter continued knocking (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
