The Meaning of Acts 12:18 Explained

Acts 12:18

KJV: Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

YLT: And day having come, there was not a little stir among the soldiers what then was become of Peter,

Darby: And when it was day there was no small disturbance among the soldiers, what then was become of Peter.

ASV: Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  as soon as it was  day,  there was  no  small  stir  among  the soldiers,  what  was become  of Peter. 

What does Acts 12:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 12:13-25 - Beyond Their Faith
Mark's mother was evidently a woman of property, as her house was large enough to receive the many who felt that prayer was the key to open Peter's prison. Rhoda is Rose. Her portrait has charmed every generation. It is so lifelike and natural. How good for every servant-maid to love the devotional meeting, and to be welcomed to it! Christianity had introduced a new spirit into the world. How often our deliverances seem too good to be true! These praying friends of Peter would not believe the maid, though she told them that their prayers were answered. This proves that while their faith was very imperfect, their request was granted. When we believe not, God remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself, 2 Timothy 2:13. The James mentioned in Acts 12:17 was the brother of our Lord, and afterward head of the church in Jerusalem, Acts 15:13. See James 1:1.
What a contrast between Peter's deliverance and Herod's death! Be not afraid of the reproach of men, for "the moth shall eat them up like a garment," Isaiah 51:8. During these happenings Paul and Barnabas were in Jerusalem, and in after years their minds must often have reverted to them. Probably Paul's remembrance of this incident inspired his constant request for prayer in his own behalf, Ephesians 6:18-20.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 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

Greek Commentary for Acts 12:18

As soon as it was day [Γενομενης ημερας]
Genitive absolute, day having come. [source]
No small stir [ταραχος ουκ ολιγος]
Litotes Furneaux suggests that Manaen, the king‘s foster-brother and a Christian (Acts 13:1), was the “angel” who rescued Peter from the prison. That is not the way that Peter looked at it. What was become of Peter (τι αρα ο Πετρος εγενετο — tōi ara ho Petros egeneto). An indirect question with the aorist indicative retained. Αρα — Ara adds a syllogism (therefore) to the problem as in Luke 1:66. The use of the neuter τι — tōi (as in Acts 13:25) is different from τις — tis though nominative like Πετρος — Petros literally, “what then Peter had become,” “what had happened to Peter” (in one idiom). See the same idiom in John 21:21 (ουτος δε τι — houtos de tōi). But this one what (verb γενησεται — genēsetai not used). [source]
What was become of Peter [τι αρα ο Πετρος εγενετο]
An indirect question with the aorist indicative retained. Αρα — Ara adds a syllogism (therefore) to the problem as in Luke 1:66. The use of the neuter τι — tōi (as in Acts 13:25) is different from τις — tis though nominative like Πετρος — Petros literally, “what then Peter had become,” “what had happened to Peter” (in one idiom). See the same idiom in John 21:21 (ουτος δε τι — houtos de tōi). [source]
But this one what [verb γενησεται]
(verb γενησεται — genēsetai not used). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 12:18

Luke 1:66 What then [τι αρα]
With all these supernatural happenings they predicted the marvellous career of this child. Note Τι — Ti what, not Τις — Tis who. Cf. Acts 12:18. [source]
Acts 19:23 No small stir [ταραχος ουκ ολιγος]
Same phrase in Acts 12:18 and nowhere else in the N.T. Litotes. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 12:18 mean?

Having come now day there was disturbance no small among the soldiers what then [of] - Peter has become
Γενομένης δὲ ἡμέρας ἦν τάραχος οὐκ ὀλίγος ἐν τοῖς στρατιώταις τί ἄρα Πέτρος ἐγένετο

Γενομένης  Having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἡμέρας  day 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ἦν  there  was 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
τάραχος  disturbance 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τάραχος  
Sense: commotion, stir (of mind).
οὐκ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
ὀλίγος  small 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὀλίγος  
Sense: little, small, few.
στρατιώταις  soldiers 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: στρατιώτης  
Sense: a (common) soldier.
ἄρα  then  [of] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἄρα  
Sense: therefore, so then, wherefore.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
ἐγένετο  has  become 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 12:18?

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