Who are the angels mentioned in the Book of Acts?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
In the Book of Acts, angels appear as "ministering spirits" sent by God to intervene, deliver, and guide the Apostles and the early Church. While the text often refers to them generally as "an angel of the Lord," their roles are specific and vital to the narrative of the early Church.
Here are the instances where angels are mentioned in the Book of Acts:
1. The Two Men at the Ascension (Acts 1:10-11)
As Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, two men stood by the disciples in white apparel. They are understood to be angels who provided the promise of His return: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
2. The Deliverance of the Apostles (Acts 5:19-20)
When the Apostles were imprisoned by the High Priest and the Sadducees, an "angel of the Lord" opened the prison doors at night, brought them out, and commanded them to go to the Temple and speak "all the words of this life."
3. The Angel Who Spoke to St. Stephen (Acts 7:30, 35, 38, 53)
During St. Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin, he references the "Angel of the Lord" who appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Crucially, he also notes (Acts 7:53) that the Jews received the law "by the direction of angels." Some Fathers, such as St. Clement of Alexandria, highlight the role of angels in mediating the Old Covenant.
4. The Angel Sent to St. Philip (Acts 8:26)
An angel of the Lord spoke to St. Philip the Deacon, directing him to go south toward Gaza. This led to the encounter with and baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch, marking a pivotal moment in the expansion of the Gospel.
5. Angelic Visit to Cornelius (Acts 10:3-7, 22)
A "holy angel" appeared in a vision to the centurion Cornelius, telling him that his prayers and alms had come up for a memorial before God and instructing him to send for St. Peter.
6. The Deliverance of St. Peter (Acts 12:7-11)
While St. Peter was in prison under Herod Agrippa I, an angel appeared, a light shined in the prison, and the chains fell off Peter's hands. The angel led him past the guards and through the iron gate. St. Peter initially thought it was a vision but later confessed, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me."
7. The Angel of the Lord Smote Herod (Acts 12:23)
Because Herod did not give glory to God when the people hailed him as a god, an "angel of the Lord struck him," and he was eaten by worms and died.
8. The Vision of St. Paul on the Ship (Acts 27:23-24)
During the violent storm at sea, St. Paul stood before the crew and said, "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve," assuring him that no lives would be lost and that he must stand before Caesar.
Summary of Names
Unlike the Book of Tobit or the Gospel of St. Luke, the Book of Acts does not provide the specific names (such as Gabriel or Michael) for these angels. They are consistently identified as an angel or "an angel of the Lord."
In Coptic Orthodox theology, we recognize that these angels act as the "eyes of the Lord" and protectors of the faithful, a belief that is reinforced in our liturgical prayers and the Agpeya, where we ask for the protection of the holy angels.