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Acts 12 Bible study: Now I truly know

Peter "didn’t know" that what the angel did "was real", and thought he saw a vision (12:9); then he said, "Now I truly know" (12:11). In the Greek, know is one verb in both verses, and Strong's gives truly as from the word behind real.

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“Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.”
Acts 12:5 · World English Bible

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“In Acts 12:12, many were gathered together and praying at the house of Mary when Peter came there.”

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What's really going on

Kept, and prayed for

In the text

"Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword." (12:1-2). "When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread." (12:3). He put Peter in prison, "intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover" (12:4). Then the chapter says, "Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him." (12:5) (tap kept, prayer). Here is what almost everyone misses: on the night Herod was about to bring him out, "Guards in front of the door kept the prison." (12:6), and in the Greek, kept is one verb in 12:5 and 12:6. Peter is kept, and the prison is kept, and between the two the chapter sets the prayer: "but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him" (12:5).

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Acts 12

That was a taste

The rest of Acts 12 is waiting in Favor

  • "Now I truly know"
  • An angel of the Lord, twice
  • Out of prison, before
  • Mary, and John who was called Mark
  • The word of God grew
  • Lines and notes in other chapters
  • 13 questions as you read
  • 13 more Greek words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
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The Greek word behind it

τηρέωtereosay tay-REH-o

Thayer: "to attend to carefully, take care of", and he lists 12:5 where he gives "properly, to guard", of "a prisoner". "Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him." (12:5). The next verse has the verb again: "Guards in front of the door kept the prison." (12:6). Later in Acts the WEB gives it as kept in custody, of Paul: "that Paul should be kept in custody" (24:23). Favor's John 8 studies it where the WEB has keep.

For your group

Acts 12 Bible study questions

  1. 1"constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him" (12:5). Who do you know in a hard place that you could pray for this week?
  2. 2When Rhoda said that Peter was at the gate, they said to her, "You are crazy!" (12:15). When have you found good news hard to believe?
  3. 3"But the word of God grew and multiplied." (12:24). Where have you seen God's word at work in a hard time?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Acts 12 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

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Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home