Acts 12: 1 - 25 - Study This Chapter
1Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant F54 prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 8Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." 9So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people." 12So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is his angel." 16Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren." And he departed and went to another place. 18Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
20Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country. 21So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" 23Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. 24But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25And Barnabas and Saul returned from F55Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
HomeCommentariesGeneva Study BibleActsChapter 12
The 1599 Geneva Study Bible
Chapter 12
12:1 Now 1 about that time a Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.
(1) God gives his Church peace only for a short time.
(a) This name Herod was common to all those that come from the stock of Herod Ascalonites, whose surname was Magnus: but he that is spoken of here was nephew to Herod the great, son to Aristobulus, and father to the Agrippa who is spoken of afterwards.
12:2 And he b killed James the brother of John with the sword.
(b) Violently, his cause not being heard at all.
12:32 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
(2) It is an old habit of tyrants to attain the favour of the wicked, with the blood of the godly.
12:43 And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
(3) The tyrants and wicked make a gallows for themselves even then when they do most according to their own will and fantasy.
12:54 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
(4) The prayers of the godly overturn the counsel of tyrants, obtain angels from God, break the prison, unloose the chains, put Satan to flight, and preserve the Church.
12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the c prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands.
(c) Literally, "habitation"; (Ed.).
12:125 And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
(5) Holy meetings in the nights of both men and women (when they cannot take place in the day time) are allowable by the example of the apostles.
12:136 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel d came to hearken, named Rhoda.
(6) We obtain more from God than we dare well hope for.
(d) Out of the place where they were assembled, but not out of the house.
12:177 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
(7) We may sometimes give place to the rage of the wicked, but yet only in such a way that our diligence which ought to be used in God’s business does not slacken in the least.
12:188 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
(8) Evil counsel in the end results in the hurt of those who devised it.
12:209 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s [country].
(9) A miserable and shameful example of what happens to the enemies of the Church.
12:2210 And the people gave a shout, [saying, It is] the voice of a god, and not of a man.
(10) The flattery of people makes fools glad.
12:2311 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he e gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
(11) God resists the proud.
(e) Josephus records that this king did not repress the flatterer’s tongues, and therefore at his death he complained and cried out about their empty praise.
12:2412 But the s word of God grew and multiplied.
(12) Tyrants build up the Church by destroying it.
(s) Those that heard the word of God.
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes
on the Whole Bible
The Book of Acts
Chapter 12
Verses:
12:1 / About that time - So wisely did God mix rest and persecution in due time and measure succeeding each other. Herod - Agrippa; the latter was his Roman, the former his Syrian name. He was the grandson of Herod the Great, nephew to Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist; brother to Herodias, and father to that Agrippa before whom St. Paul afterward made his defence. Caligula made him king of the tetrarchy of his uncle Philip, to which he afterward added the territories of Antipas. Claudius made him also king of Judea, and added thereto the dominions of Lysanias.
12:2 / James the brother of John - So one of the brothers went to God the first, the other the last of the apostles.
12:3 / Then were the days of unleavened bread - At which the Jews came together from all parts.
12:4 / Four quaternions - Sixteen men, who watched by turns day and night.
12:5 / Continual prayer was made for him - Yet when their prayer was answered, they could scarce believe it, Acts 12:15. But why had they not prayed for St. James also? Because he was put to death as soon as apprehended.
12:6 / Peter was sleeping - Easy and void of fear; between two soldiers - Sufficiently secured to human appearance.
12:7 / His chains - With which his right arm was bound to one of the soldiers, and his left arm to the other.
12:8 / Gird thyself - Probably he had put off his girdle, sandals, and upper garment, before he lay down to sleep.
12:10 / The first and second ward - At each of which doubtless was a guard of soldiers. The gate opened of its own accord - Without either Peter or the angel touching it. And they went on through one street - That Peter might know which way to go. And the angel departed from him - Being himself sufficient for what remained to be done.
12:11 / Now I know of a truth - That this is not a vision, Acts 12:9.
12:12 / And having considered - What was best to be done. Many were gathered together - At midnight.
12:13 / The gate - At some distance from the house; to hearken - If any knocked.
12:14 / And knowing Peter's voice - Bidding her open the door.
12:15 / They said, Thou art mad - As we say, Sure you are not in your senses to talk so. It is his angel - It was a common opinion among the Jews, that every man had his particular guardian angel, who frequently assumed both his shape and voice. But this is a point on which the Scriptures are silent.
12:17 / Beckoning to them - Many of whom being amazed, were talking together. And he said, Show these things to James - The brother or kinsman of our Lord, and author of the epistle which bears his name. He appears to have been a person of considerable weight and importance, probably the chief overseer of that province, and of the Church in Jerusalem in particular. He went into another place - Where he might be better concealed till the storm was over.
12:19 / Herod commanded them to be put to death - And thus the wicked suffered in the room of the righteous. And going down from Judea - With shame, for not having brought forth Peter, according to his promise.
12:20 / Having gained Blastus - To their side, they sued for, and obtained peace - Reconciliation with Herod. And so the Christians of those parts were, by the providence of God, delivered from scarcity. Their country was nourished - Was provided with, corn, by the king's country - Thus Hiram also, king of Tyre, desired of Solomon food or corn for his household, 5:9.
12:21 / And on a set day - Which was solemnized yearly, in honour of Claudius Cesar; Herod, arrayed in royal apparel - In a garment so wrought with silver, that the rays of the rising sun striking upon, and being reflected from it, dazzled the eyes of the beholders. The people shouted, It is the voice of a god - Such profane flattery they frequently paid to princes. But the commonness of a wicked custom rather increases than lessens the guilt of it.
12:23 / And immediately - God does not delay to vindicate his injured honour; an angel of the Lord smote him - Of this other historians say nothing: so wide a difference there is between Divine and human history! An angel of the Lord brought out Peter; an angel smote Herod. Men did not see the instruments in either case. These were only known to the people of God. Because he gave not glory to God - He willingly received it to himself, and by this sacrilege filled up the measure of his iniquities. So then vengeance tarried not. And he was eaten by worms, or vermin - How changed! And on the fifth day expired in exquisite torture. Such was the event! The persecutor perished, and the Gospel grew and multiplied.
12:25 / Saul returned - To Antioch; taking John, surnamed Mark - The son of Mary, (at whose house the disciples met, to pray for Peter,) who was sister to Barnabas.
HomeCommentariesRobertson's Word PicturesActs
Chapter 12Verse 1
Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament
About that time (kat ekeinon ton kairon). Same phrase in Romans 9:9. That is, the early part of A.D. 44 since that is the date of Herod's death. As already suggested, Barnabas and Saul came down from Antioch to Jerusalem after the persecution by Herod at the end of 44 or the beginning of 45. Herod the king (Hhrwidhß o basileuß). Accurate title at this particular time. Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, was King of Palestine A.D. 42 to 44; only for these three years was a Herod king over Palestine since the death of Herod the Great and never afterwards. Archelaus never actually became king though he had the popular title at first (Matthew 2:22). Put forth his hands (epebalen taß ceiraß). Second aorist active indicative of epiballw, old verb, to cast upon or against. The same idiom with taß ceiraß (the hands, common Greek idiom with article rather than possessive pronoun) in Matthew 4:3; Matthew 5:18. To afflict (kakwsai). First aorist active infinitive of kakow, old word to do harm or evil to (kakoß), already in Matthew 7:6,19. Outside of Acts in the N.T. only 1Peter 5:13. Infinitive of purpose. Probably the first who were afflicted were scourged or imprisoned, not put to death. It had been eight years or more since the persecution over the death of Stephen ceased with the conversion of Saul. But the disciples were not popular in Jerusalem with either Sadducees or Pharisees. The overtures to the Gentiles in Caesarea and Antioch may have stirred up the Pharisees afresh (cf. 1Peter 6:14). Herod Agrippa I was an Idumean through his grandfather Herod the Great and a grandson of Mariamne the Maccabean princess. He was a favourite of Caligula the Roman Emperor and was anxious to placate his Jewish subjects while retaining the favour of the Romans. So he built theatres and held games for the Romans and Greeks and slew the Christians to please the Jews. Josephus (Ant. XIX. 7, 3) calls him a pleasant vain man scrupulously observing Jewish rites. Here we have for the first time political power (after Pilate) used against the disciples.
HomeCommentariesRobertson's Word PicturesActs
Chapter 12Verse 23
Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament
Smote him (epataxen auton). Effective aorist active indicative of patassw, old verb, used already in verse Matthew 7 of gentle smiting of the angel of the Lord, here of a severe stroke of affliction. Like Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30) pride went before a fall. He was struck down in the very zenith of his glory. Because (anq wn). Anti with the genitive of the relative pronoun, "in return for which things." He accepted the impious flattery (Hackett) instead of giving God the glory. He was a nominal Jew. He was eaten of worms (genomenoß skwlhkobrwtoß). Ingressive aorist middle participle, "becoming worm-eaten." The compound verbal adjective (skwlhx, worm, brwtoß, eaten, from bibrwskw) is a late word (II Macc. 9:9) of the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, used also of a tree (Theophrastus), here only in the N.T. The word skwlhx was used of intestinal worms and Herodotus (IV. 205) describes Pheretima, Queen of Cyrene, as having swarms of worms which ate her flesh while still alive. Josephus (Ant. XIX. 8, 2) says that Herod Agrippa lingered for five days and says that the rotting of his flesh produced worms, an item in harmony with the narrative in Luke. Josephus gives further details, one a superstitious sight of an owl sitting on one of the ropes of the awning of the theatre while the people flattered him, an omen of his death to him. Luke puts it simply that God smote him. Gave up the ghost (exepsuxen). Effective aorist active of ekpsucw, to breathe out, late verb, medical term in Hippocrates, in the N.T. only in Acts 5:5,10; Acts 12:23. Herod was carried out of the theatre a dying man and lingered only five days.