Acts 12:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Peter followed him out, but he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ἐξελθὼν, ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ· καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ἀληθές ἐστιν τὸ γινόμενον διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου· ἐδόκει δὲ ὅραμα βλέπειν.

Transliteration

And exelthōn, ēkolouthei autō; and not ēdei that alēthes estin to ginomenon dia tou angelou; edokei de horama blepein.

Grammar Details

• *exelthōn*: aorist active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having gone out
• *ēkolouthei*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular - was following
• *autō*: dative, masculine, singular - him
• *ēdei*: pluperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular - had known/knew
• *alēthes*: nominative, neuter, singular, adjective - true/real
• *estin*: present active indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *to ginomenon*: present middle/passive participle, nominative, neuter, singular - the thing happening
• *dia*: preposition + genitive - through/by means of
• *tou angelou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of the angel
• *edokei*: imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular - was thinking/supposing
• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and
• *horama*: accusative, neuter, singular - vision
• *blepein*: present active infinitive - to see/behold

Word Meanings

• *exelthōn*: having gone out/come out
• *ēkolouthei*: was following (continuous action)
• *ēdei*: knew/was aware
• *to ginomenon*: what was happening/taking place
• *edokei horama blepein*: was thinking he saw a vision/supposed he was seeing a vision

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he went out, and followed; {G846} and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And he came oute and folowed him and wist not that it was truthe which was done by the angell but thought he had sene a vision.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And he wente out, and folowed him, and wyst not, that it was trueth that was done by ye angell, but thoughte he had sene a vision.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  So Peter came out and followed him, and knewe not that it was true, which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he came out and folowed hym, and wyse not that it was trueth which was done by the Angel, but thought he had seene a vision.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  And he went out and followed him. He didn't know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and having gone forth, he was following him, and he knew not that it is true that which is done through the messenger, and was thinking he saw a vision,

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he went out after him; and he was not certain if what was done by the angel was a fact, for it seemed to him that he was seeing a vision.

• World English Bible (2000)

  And he went out and followed him. He didn't know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 126:1 : 1 When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like those who dream.
• John 2:5 : 5 His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever He tells you.'
• Acts 9:10 : 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He replied, "Here I am, Lord."
• Acts 10:3 : 3 One afternoon, about three o’clock, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying, 'Cornelius.'
• Acts 10:17 : 17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked for Simon’s house and stood at the gate.
• Acts 11:5 : 5 'I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw in a trance a vision: something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.
• Acts 26:19 : 19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
• 2 Cor 12:1-3 : 1 Boasting is indeed not profitable for me. But I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows—was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know; God knows—
• Heb 11:8 : 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
• Gen 6:22 : 22 And Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.
• Gen 45:26 : 26 They told him, 'Joseph is still alive! He is even ruling over all the land of Egypt!' But Jacob was stunned and did not believe them.