Thursday, December 24, 2020

Acts 12:15 and Belief in Guardian Angels

  

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])