What Does Acts 12:13 Mean in the King James?

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

Acts 12:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

At this gate, the first response to a knock is listening: the Greek word for “hearken” holds hearing and answering together before the door opens.

THE MEANING

A knock reaches the household through someone who comes to hear at the threshold; listening itself is the first response. Rhoda’s name, ⁨Ῥόδη⁩ (Rhodē, “rose”), names the servant girl who stands at this crossing. The arrival is heard while the gate remains closed.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that a closed gate means no response has begun: Rhoda has already come to hear.

THE ROOT

ὑπακοῦσαι

hypakousai

GROWS FROM

ἀκου-

akou-

The Greek verbal stem for hearing and listening, carried within ⁨ὑπακούω⁩ (hypakouō, “hearken”).

The verb ⁨ὑπακούω⁩ (hypakouō, “hearken”) is built on ⁨ἀκούω⁩ (akouō, “hear”) and carries the sense of hearing that responds. Rhoda comes to the gate to hear the knock, so this threshold scene begins with listening before opening.

ALSO GROWS

akouō: Hear, listen.

ἀκούω

This is the basic hearing within the verse’s word for hearkening: Peter’s knock is first received as sound.

hypakoē: Obedience; responsive hearing.

ὑπακοή

This related noun shows how hearing can carry a response within it, the same movement suggested by Rhoda coming to the gate.

THE PATTERN

A knock at a threshold becomes a call to hear and respond.

I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

Song of Solomon 5:2 · KJVThe beloved’s knock becomes a spoken request to open, joining the sound at the threshold to a response.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Luke 11:9 · KJVThe knock is paired directly with an opening, making the threshold a place where a request receives an answer.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20 · KJVThe knock calls for hearing and opening, and the opened door leads into shared presence.

THE THREAD

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

Acts 12:16 · KJV

The same Greek verb ⁨κρούω⁩ (krouō, “knock”) appears again. The next verse makes the pause in this one visible: Peter keeps knocking after Rhoda has heard him, until the gate is opened.

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