The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 12
Chapter XII · Vol. IV, pp. 276–277
1 King Herod persecuteth the Christians, killeth James, and imprisoneth Peter; whom an angel delivereth upon the prayers of the church. 20 In his pride, taking to himself the honour due to God, Herod is stricken by an angel, and dieth miserably. 24 After his death, the word of God prospereth.
1 Now about that time Herod1 the king stretched forth his hands2 to avex certain of the church.3
A.D. cir. 44.
1 Not the tetrarch, Lu.3.1-19; 13.31; 23.7. ch.13.1; but his nephew.
2 Or, began.
a Mat.10.17,18; 24.9. Jn.15.20,21; 16.2.
3 This was Herod Agrippa, son of Aristobulus, and grandson of Herod the Great, Mat.2.1.—C.
3 And cbecause he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take dPeter also. (eThen were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in gprison, and delivered him to four quaternions5 of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter6 to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but hprayer7 was made without ceasing8 of the church unto God for him.Cited in WLC 189
7 Or, instant and earnest prayer was made.
h Lu.18.1. 2 Co.1.11. 1 Th.5.17. Ep.6.18-20. 1 Th.3.2. Ja.5.10. He.13.3,18.
8 Without ceasing—that is, with faith, fervour, and perseverance.—C.
6 And when Herod would have ibrought him forth, the same jnight Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains:9 and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
i ver.2; ch.7.54,57.
j Ge.22.14. De.32.36. 1 Sa.23.26. Ro.5.1. Ps.34.5,6.
9 A Roman prisoner was, ordinarily, bound to a soldier with one chain: for greater security, Peter, as a remarkable prisoner, is bound with two. But this anxiety and malice of the tyrant but serves to render the power of God more conspicuous.—C.
7 And, behold, kthe angel of the Lord1 came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his lchains fell off from his hands.
k ch.5.19. 1 Ki.19.5,7. He.1.14. Ps.91.11,12; 34.7; 37.32,33.
1 The angel. Rather, 'an angel;' one of those 'ministering spirits sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation.'—C.
l ch.16.26.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; nand wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but othought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; pwhich opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
p ch.16.26. Ps.146.7.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, qthat the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath rdelivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 And when he had considered the thing, hes came to the house of Mary the mother of tJohn, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together upraying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken,2 named Rhoda.
2 Or, to ask who was there.
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, vThou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is xhis angel.3
16 But Peter continued knocking:4 and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
4 This is characteristic of eastern customs. When one knocks at a door in town or village, it is not at once opened. Some of those within ask, 'Who?' If the reply be satisfactory, or if the voice of the person knocking be known, the door is opened; but if not, the question is repeated until a satisfactory answer is obtained. During the dialogue the person without continues to knock at short intervals, saying, 'It is I—open.' Not unfrequently when a special friend thus knocks, whose voice is known, and his visit welcome, the glad news is conveyed to the master or mistress, ere the door is opened.—P.
17 But he, ybeckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them zhow the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James,5 and to the brethren. And ahe departed,6 and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to cCesarea,7 and there abode.
c ch.21.8; 23.23; 25.4.
7 Cæsarea, formerly called Strato's Tower, was built by Herod the Great, and called Cæsarea, in honour of Augustus. It stood on the coast of the Mediterranean, about sixty miles north-west of Jerusalem. Portions of its splendid ruins still remain, but it is totally uninhabited.—C.
20 And Herod was highly bdispleased8 with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain9 their friend, desired peace; because their country was dnourished by the king's country.1
b Pr.1.16; 4.16; 12.10. Ps.26.9,10; 76.10.
8 Or, bare an hostile mind, intending war.
9 Gr. that was over the king's bed-chamber.
d 1 Ki.5.9,11. Eze.27.17.
1 The differences of climate, soil, productions, tastes, and habits, are wonderfully employed by a merciful God to overrule the natural propensities of men for war, to promote domestic industry and foreign intercourse, and preserve the peace of nations; and still farther are they blest as the secondary means whereby the misery of the heathen is brought before the eyes and sympathies of Christians, and 'the unsearchable riches of Christ' freely sent forth for their relief.—C.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a eshout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.Cited in WLC 145
23 And gimmediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Notes
Reflections.—Whether should we here most admire the wickedness of men in promoting, or the wisdom of God in overruling, the persecutions of his church? Alas! what selfishness, pride, rashness, and cruelty, to murder one of the best, the most useful of men! And infernal the malice to take pleasure in it! But men-pleasers will lead themselves at last into the greatest guilt; and success in one sin will embolden them to commit another. The united and fervent prayers of the saints will prove in the end too hard for all that oppose them. If God bestow his Spirit of grace and supplication, to make intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered, deliverance is at hand. And in their extremity, though often not till then, he will rise up for their help. And if ordinary means cannot avail for their preservation, he will work miracles for them. Nay, even by ordinary means, he can hide them from their most inveterate foes. But proud persecutors quickly meet with the living God. The prudent submission of neighbours, and the servile flattery of friends, but lift them up, that their destruction may be the more terrible. God seasonably cuts them off in the midst of their pomp and grandeur, and makes their fall, as well as their fury, subservient to the propagation of the gospel.