Acts 12:17But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to James, and to the brothers." Then he departed, and went to another place.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~44 AD. Dawn. Peter quickly recounts his escape before fleeing the city for his safety...
The emotion here: urgent gratitude mixed with ongoing fear
The original word
katangellō (κατήγγειλεν) — to announce thoroughly, proclaim fully what happened
Why it matters
James the brother of Jesus led the Jerusalem church after this, not James the apostle who was executed
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 12:17
Peter's hand gesture for silence shows he's still in mortal danger and must leave immediately
Common misconceptionPeople think Peter was being humble by leaving quickly, but he was fleeing for his life - Herod would hunt him down.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 12:17
Bible Genome reading
Acts 12:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 12:17 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Peter. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is celebratory. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include deliverance, testimony. Notable phrases: the Lord had brought him out; tell these things to James. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
What does Acts 12:17 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "grateful"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.