Acts 12:9

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) And wist not that it was true . . .—The kind of introspective analysis of the Apostle’s consciousness suggests the thought that he was himself, possibly through some intermediate channel, St. Luke’s informant. As in the activity of somnambulism, the will directed the actions of the body, and yet was only half-conscious of what it did. It may be noted that his experience of the trance and vision narrated in Acts 10 would tend to suggest the impression that he was passing through phenomena of a like kind.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:6-11 A peaceful conscience, a lively hope, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit, can keep men calm in the full prospect of death; even those very persons who have been most distracted with terrors on that account. God's time to help, is when things are brought to the last extremity. Peter was assured that the Lord would cause this trial to end in the way that should be most for his glory. Those who are delivered out of spiritual imprisonment must follow their Deliverer, like the Israelites when they went out of the house of bondage. They knew not whither they went, but knew whom they followed. When God will work salvation for his people, all difficulties in their way will be overcome, even gates of iron are made to open of their own accord. This deliverance of Peter represents our redemption by Christ, which not only proclaims liberty to the captives, but brings them out of the prison-house. Peter, when he recollected himself, perceived what great things God had done for him. Thus souls delivered out of spiritual bondage, are not at first aware what God has wrought in them; many have the truth of grace, that want evidence of it. But when the Comforter comes, whom the Father will send, sooner or later, he will let them know what a blessed change is wrought.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And wist not - Knew not.

That it was true - That it was real.

But thought he saw a vision - He supposed that it was a representation made to his mind similar to what he had seen before. Compare Acts 10:11-12. It was so astonishing, so unexpected, so wonderful, that he could not realize that it was true.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. wist not that it was true; but thought he saw a vision—So little did the apostle look for deliverance!

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The greatnesss and suddenness of the deliverance was such, as it amazed him, it seemed incredible unto him: not that he questioned God’s power or godliness; but knowing that he was to suffer for Christ’s name’s sake, he might the rather not look for such a deliverance, and when it came, be as one that dreams, as Psalm 126:1: God therefore bringing his people to such extremities, that his salvation might be the more astonishing.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he went out and followed him,.... He came out from between the two soldiers, and out of that apartment in the prison, in which he was, and followed the angel where he led him:

and wist not that it was true that was done by the angel; not that he thought the angel was a mere apparition, and all this that was done was a delusion; but he did not know whether this was matter of fact, or whether it was, not represented to him in a visionary way, as what could be, or would be done:

but thought he saw a vision; imagined he was in a dream or a trance, and only saw these things in a vision, and that they were not really done, the whole was so amazing and astonishing.

Geneva Study Bible

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 12:9. ἐδόκει δὲ ὅραμα βλέπειν: even those who regard the narrative as unhistorical can scarcely say that the writer cannot understand how to distinguish between an actual fact and a vision; moreover, this same writer describes visions such as that of Peter, Acts 10:10, and of Paul, Acts 22:17, as ecstacies; once in Acts 26:19 Paul speaks of the appearance of Christ vouchsafed to him before Damascus as a vision, ὀπτασία, but this word is not confined to appearances which the narrators regard as visions, cf. Luke 1:22; Luke 24:23, cf. Beyschlag, Studien und Kritiken, p. 203, 1864; Witness of the Epistles (Longmans, 1892).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - Followed for followed him, A.V. and T.R.; he wist for wist, A.V. Acts 12:9