And they said unto
her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said
they, It is his angel. (Acts 12:15)
In the above verse form Acts, we have an
affirmation from the group, contra Rhodea, that the figure at the door was
Peter’s angel. This has led to some discussion as to what she meant. The
most likely explanation is that this reflects Rhoda’s belief in guardian angels:
By “his angel” is
meant Peter’s guardian angel. The expression preserves the ancient popular
belief in guardian angels, considered as the double of the person guarded. (Joseph
A. Fitzmyer, The Acts of the Apostles: A New Translation with Introduction
and Commentary [AB 31; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010], 489)
Belief in a guardian
angel underlies Acts 12:15 where Peter is mistaken for his angel. In a guardian
capacity, an angel releases the apostles (Acts 5:19–20) and Peter (Acts
12:6–11) from prison. (Duane F. Watson, “Angels: New Testament,” in David Noel
Freedman, ed., The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, Volume 1 [New York:
Doubleday, 1992], 254.)
For some relevant biblical and
extra-biblical texts that shed light on this verse, consider the following:
For he shall give his
angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (Psa 91:11)
Take heed that ye
despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their
angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matt 18:10)
Are they not all
ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of
salvation? (Heb 1:14)
Tobit said to her,
"Do not worry; our child will leave in good health and return to us in
good health. Your eyes will see him on the day when he returns to you in good
health. Say no more! Do not fear for them, my sister. For a good angel will
accompany him; his journey will be successful, and he will come back in good
health." (Tobit 5:21-22 NRSV)
And you should not
fear on account of Jacob because the protector of Jacob is greater and mightier
and more honored and praised than the protector of Esau. (Jubilees 35:17)
If then, when ye hear
them, ye keep them and walk in them, and do them with a pure heart, ye shall
receive from the Lord all things that He promised you; but if, when ye hear
them, ye do not repent, but still add to your sins, ye shall receive from the Lord
the opposite. All these the shepherd, the angel of repentance, commanded me so
to write. (Hermes, Vision 5:7 [Lightfoot Translation])
