Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 12:10

διελθόντες δὲ πρώτην φυλακὴν καὶ δευτέραν, and when they were past the first and second ward, i.e. the warders, who were stationed one nearer to the inner door of the prison and another at some further distance away.

ἦλθαν ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην κ.τ.λ., they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city. This description, with the words which immediately follow about the street into which they came, make it probable that the prison in which Peter was kept was in the midst of the city.

αὐτομάτη, of its own accord, i.e. without any human agency. Cf. the description of the fire which appeared to the Egyptians when they were oppressing the holy nation (Wis 17:6), διεφαίνετο δ' αὐτοῖς μόνον αὐτομάτη πυρὰ φόβου πλήρης.

ἀπέστη ὁ ἄγγελος�' αὐτοῦ, the angel departed from him, giving no more aid now that the Apostle could make his way without supernatural assistance. Cf. Chrysostom’s words, τὰ μέν τοι ἔνδον γενόμενα θαυμασιώτερα ἦν, τοῦτο δὲ λοιπὸν�. ὅτε οὐδὲν κώλυμα ἦν τότε�.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 12:10

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