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Acts 12 · a question people ask

"It is his angel." (12:15). What did they mean?

In the text

The chapter doesn't explain. It gives their words and what came next. When Rhoda said that Peter was standing in front of the gate, "They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”" (12:15). "But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed." (12:16). Acts says no more about what they meant, and these notes add nothing from outside the Bible.

The verses

“When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.”
Acts 12:14-16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 12

Acts 12: 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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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions