Acts 12:9 net — Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he…

NET Bible

"Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision."

— Acts 12:9, NET Bible

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Acts 12:9 in Other Translations

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Acts 12 — Context

6

On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.

7

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying,“Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8

The angel said to him,“Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. Then the angel said to him,“Put on your cloak and follow me.”

9

Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

10

After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him.

11

When Peter came to himself, he said,“Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.”

12

When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.

Acts 12:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Acts 12:9 say?
Acts 12:9 in the NET Bible reads: “Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.”
Where is Acts 12:9 in the Bible?
Acts 12:9 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Acts, chapter 12, verse 9.
Who wrote Acts?
Acts is traditionally attributed to Luke. It was written c. AD 62–64.
What is the book of Acts about?
Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel — the story of how the message of the risen Jesus moved out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Through Peter, Paul, and many ordinary believers, the Holy Spirit builds the early church across the Roman world.
What are the major themes of Acts?
Acts explores themes including Holy Spirit, Mission, Church Growth, Persecution, Gospel to the Gentiles. These themes shape the meaning and context of Acts 12:9.
What translation should I read Acts 12:9 in?
Acts 12:9 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Acts 12:9?
Acts 12:9 reads (NET): “Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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