Teks -- Acts 12:13 (NET)

12:13 When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Act 12:13 - When he knocked at the door of the gate

When he knocked at the door of the gate ( krousantos autou tēn thuran tou pulōnos ).

Genitive absolute with aorist active participle of krouō , common verb to knock or knock at. So from the outside (Luk 13:25). Pulōn here is the gateway or passageway from the door (thura ) that leads to the house. In Act 12:14it is still the passageway without the use of thura (door, so for both door and passageway).

Robertson: Act 12:13 - To answer

To answer ( hupakousai ).

To listen under before opening. First aorist active infinitive of hupakouō , common verb to obey, to hearken.

Robertson: Act 12:13 - A maid

A maid ( paidiskē ).

Portress as in Joh 18:17. A diminutive of pais , a female slave (so on an ostracon of second century a.d., Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East , p. 200).

Robertson: Act 12:13 - Rhoda.

Rhoda.

A rose. Women can have such beautiful names like Dorcas (Gazelle), Euodia (Sweet Aroma), Syntyche (Good Luck). Mark or Peter could tell Luke her name.

Vincent: Act 12:13 - Door of the gate

Door of the gate

The small outside door, forming the entrance from the street, and opening into the πυλών , or door way, the passage from the street into the court. Others explain it as the wicket, a small door in the larger one, which is less probable.

Vincent: Act 12:13 - A damsel

A damsel ( παιδίσκη )

Or maid. The word was used of a young female slave, as well as of a young girl or maiden generally. The narrative implies that she was more than a mere menial, if a servant at all. Her prompt recognition of Peter's voice, and her joyful haste, as well as the record of her name, indicate that she was one of the disciples gathered for prayer.

Vincent: Act 12:13 - Rhoda

Rhoda

Rose. The Jews frequently gave their female children the names of plants and flowers: as Susannah (lily); Esther (myrtle); Tamar (palm-tree). " God, who leaves in oblivion names of mighty conquerors, treasures up that of a poor girl, for his church in all ages" (Quesnel).

Wesley: Act 12:13 - The gate

At some distance from the house; to hearken - If any knocked.

JFB: Act 12:12-17 - he came to the house of Mary, &c.

Who "must have had a house of some pretensions to receive a large number; and, accordingly, we read that her brother Barnabas (Col 4:10) was a person of substance (Act 4:37). She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. To such a house it was natural that Peter should come.

JFB: Act 12:12-17 - mother of John . . . Mark

So called to distinguish him from the apostle of that name, and to distinguish her from the other Marys.

JFB: Act 12:12-17 - where many were gathered together praying

Doubtless for Peter's deliverance, and continuing, no doubt, on this the last of the days of unleavened bread, which was their last hope, all night in prayer to God.

JFB: Act 12:13 - came to hearken

Not to open; for neither was it a time nor an hour of night for that, but to listen who was there.

Clarke: Act 12:13 - As Peter knocked

As Peter knocked - The door was probably shut for fear of the Jews; and, as most of the houses in the east have an area before the door, it might have been at this outer gate that Peter stood knocking

Clarke: Act 12:13 - A damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda

A damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda - She came to inquire who was there. Rhoda signifies a rose; and it appears to have been customary with the Jews, as Grotius and others remark, to give the names of flowers and trees to their daughters: thus Susannah signifies a lily, Hadassah, a myrtle, Tamar, a palm tree, etc., etc.

TSK: Act 12:13 - knocked // hearken

knocked : Act 12:16; Luk 13:25

hearken : or, ask who was there

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Act 12:13 - The door of the gate // A damsel came to hearken

The door of the gate this was the outermost door to the porch, or court before the house.

A damsel came to hearken being in great fear of a suprisal, they ordered one to observe, and give an answer unto any that should come to the house; which was the more heedfully done, because it was at an unseasonable time of the night; yet these holy men broke their rest, and exposed themselves to many fears and dangers, rather than not to assemble to serve God, when they could not serve him otherwise.

Gill: Act 12:13 - And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate // a damsel came to hearken // named Rhoda

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, &c. The lesser door in the great gate, or the door of the porch through which they entered into the house. So the Jews distinguish between פתח, "the door", and שער, "the gate"; see Jdg 18:16 where the Septuagint use the same words as here. Kimchi ^h says,

"xtp, "the door" is what is of the gate, without the folding doors; for all is called שער, "the gate", whether within or without, with the folding doors, and the outward threshold, as that is joined to the side posts and lintel.''

The door was kept shut, for fear of the Jews, lest they should be disturbed: here Peter stood and knocked:

a damsel came to hearken; hearing a knocking, she came out to the door, and listened, to try if she could know who it was, a friend or a foe, before she opened; or she came "to answer", as the Syriac version renders it, to know who was there, and what he or she wanted, and to give an answer. And the damsel was

named Rhoda, which signifies a rose in the Greek language: so the Jewish women often had their names, in the Hebrew tongue, from flowers and trees, as Susanna from a lily, or rose: and which, perhaps, was the Hebrew name of this damsel; and Esther was called Hadassah, from the myrtle tree.