Strong’s Greek 3612 depicts an enclosed living space—whether ordinary room, private chamber, or, in Acts 12:7, a prison cell. The term highlights habitation: a place designed to be occupied, not merely an empty structure.

Biblical Context: Acts 12:7

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly!’ And the chains fell off his wrists.” (Acts 12:7)

Luke’s narrative calls Peter’s holding place an οἴκημα, drawing attention to the fact that the apostle’s confinement occurred inside a room intended for occupation, not a public courtyard. This underscores three truths:

1. God’s rescuing power reaches the most confined quarters.
2. Divine light invades literal darkness.
3. Imprisonment cannot hinder the advance of the gospel (compare Acts 5:19; 2 Timothy 2:9).

Historical Background of First-Century Incarceration

Roman prisons were not primarily punitive but preventative—holding detainees until trial or execution. Cells were cramped, often subterranean, and secured by armed guards. The text mentions two soldiers at Peter’s side, two at the door (Acts 12:6), and iron gates (Acts 12:10), matching known Roman practice for high-profile prisoners. Identifying Peter’s chamber with οἴκημα shows Luke’s accuracy in depicting an interior guardroom rather than the outer prison yard.

Theological Significance

1. Deliverance: Peter’s miraculous release echoes Israel’s exodus from Egypt and anticipates ultimate liberation in Christ (Exodus 14:13; Luke 4:18).
2. Light: “A light shone in the cell” anticipates the Johannine theme: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
3. Dwelling: Scripture contrasts temporary earthly dwellings with the believer’s eternal habitation with God (2 Corinthians 5:1). The cramped οἴκημα stands opposite the “Father’s house” with “many rooms” (John 14:2), reinforcing eternal hope.

Ministry and Pastoral Implications

• Persecuted believers may take courage: God is present in every “room,” whether a missionary’s rented flat or a jail cell.
• Intercessory prayer is vital. The church was “earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5), and the breakthrough occurred within Peter’s οἴκημα.
• Physical settings do not dictate spiritual outcomes. Peter slept soundly—an emblem of trust—until God’s appointed moment of release.

Related Concepts and Cross References

Light in darkness – Psalm 18:28; Isaiah 9:2; 2 Corinthians 4:6

Divine jail deliverance – Psalm 107:14; Acts 5:19; Acts 16:26

God’s dwelling with humanity – Exodus 25:8; Ezekiel 37:27; Revelation 21:3

Believers’ security – Psalm 31:20; Colossians 3:3

Spiritual imprisonment and freedom – Isaiah 42:7; Romans 6:17-18; Galatians 5:1

Homiletical Reflections

A sermon titled “Light in the Cell” might trace the journey from confinement to commission (Acts 12:17), showing how God turns private chambers into staging grounds for public ministry. Small-group leaders can draw parallels between Peter’s jail chamber and any constricting circumstance believers face, emphasizing steadfast prayer and expectant faith.

Summary

The lone New Testament appearance of οἴκημα crystallizes a larger biblical pattern: God invades the spaces where His people dwell—no matter how restrictive—and transforms them into places of revelation and rescue.