Acts 12:17 Meaning and Explanation
“But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Quieting them with a gesture, Peter recounts how the Lord brought him out, asks that James and the brethren be told, and slips away.
What Does Acts 12:17 Mean?
Joy in a doorway at midnight could wake a neighborhood, so Peter motions for silence and tells the story plainly: the Lord brought him out of the prison. The James he names is not the apostle just slain (verse 2) but another James, soon to be a chief voice in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13). Then Peter leaves the city for 'another place,' beyond Herod's reach.
Notice the order of a delivered man's duties: give God the credit, see that the church's leaders hear of it, then act with plain prudence. The miracle did not exempt Peter from wisdom — rescued men still take the back streets. Testimony first, then discretion; both are faithfulness, and neither cancels the other.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 12:17
What does Acts 12:17 mean?
Quieting them with a gesture, Peter recounts how the Lord brought him out, asks that James and the brethren be told, and slips away.