Acts 12
12
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
1About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2He killed #Matt. 4:21; 20:23 James the brother of John #Heb. 11:37with the sword, 3and when he saw #[ch. 24:27; 25:9] that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during #ch. 20:6; Ex. 12:14, 15; 23:15the days of Unleavened Bread. 4And when he had seized him, he put him #See Luke 21:12 in prison, delivering him over to four #[John 19:23]squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest #2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:18prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Peter Is Rescued
6Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, #ch. 21:33bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7And behold, #See ch. 8:26 an angel of the Lord #Luke 2:9; 24:4 stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. #[1 Kgs. 19:7] He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And #ch. 16:26the chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and #Mark 6:9put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but #Ps. 126:1thought he was seeing a vision. 10When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. #ch. 5:19; 16:26It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11When Peter #[Luke 15:17] came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that #Ps. 34:7; 91:11; Dan. 3:28; 6:22 the Lord has sent his angel and #Ps. 33:18, 19; 2 Cor. 1:10rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of #ver. 25; ch. 13:5, 13; 15:37, 39; Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24; 1 Pet. 5:13 John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and #ver. 5were praying. 13And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, #John 18:16, 17a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14Recognizing Peter’s voice, #Luke 24:41; [Gen. 45:26]in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is #Matt. 18:10; See Heb. 1:14his angel!” 16But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17But #ch. 13:16; 19:33; 21:40 motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to #ch. 15:13; 21:18; [Gal. 1:19; 2:9, 12] James and to #See John 21:23the brothers.”#12:17 Or brothers and sisters Then he departed and went to another place.
18Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and #[ch. 16:27; 27:42]ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
The Death of Herod
20Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and #Matt. 28:14 (Gk.) having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain,#12:20 That is, trusted personal attendant they asked for peace, because #[1 Kgs. 5:9; Ezra 3:7; Ezek. 27:17]their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23Immediately #[2 Sam. 24:16; 2 Kgs. 19:35]; See ch. 8:26 an angel of the Lord struck him down, because #Ps. 115:1he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24But #See ch. 6:7the word of God increased and multiplied.
25 # ch. 11:29, 30 And Barnabas and Saul returned from#12:25 Some manuscripts to Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them #See ver. 12John, whose other name was Mark.
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Acts 12
12
Peter’s Arrest and Escape
1Now at that time #12:1 I.e. Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great. Since he was of Hasmonean descent he was partly Jewish.Herod [Agrippa I] the king [of the Jews] arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to harm them. 2And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword; 3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to have Peter arrested as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread [the Passover week]. 4When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution]. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church.
6The very night before Herod was to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries were in front of the door guarding the prison. 7Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared [beside him] and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter’s side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off his hands. 8The angel said to him, “Prepare yourself and strap on your sandals [to get ready for whatever may happen].” And he did so. Then the angel told him, “Put on your robe and follow me.” 9And Peter went out following the angel. He did not realize that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10When they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. Of its own accord it swung open for them; and they went out and went along one street, and at once the angel left him. 11When Peter came to his senses, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting [to do to me].” 12When he realized what had happened, he went to the house of #12:12 According to Col 4:10 this Mary was the aunt of Barnabas, so her son John Mark and Barnabas were cousins.Mary the mother of John, who was also called #12:12 John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark.Mark, where many [believers] were gathered together and were praying continually [and had been praying all night]. 13When he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she failed to open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gateway. 15They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel!” [Matt 18:10; Heb 1:14] 16But [meanwhile] Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were completely amazed. 17But motioning to them with his hand to be quiet and listen, he described how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to #12:17 James, the oldest of the Lord’s half brothers, was the leader of the Jerusalem church and wrote the Letter of James.James and the brothers and sisters.” Then he left and went to another place.
18Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he interrogated the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea [Maritima] and spent some time there.
Death of Herod
20Now Herod [Agrippa I] was #12:20 Nothing is known about the reason for Herod’s hatred. It may have had something to do with competition between Caesarea Maritima and the two northern cities, since all three were major sea ports.extremely angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and their delegates came to him in a united group, and after persuading Blastus, #12:20 I.e. a trusted, highly regarded chief officer.the king’s chamberlain [to support their cause], they asked for peace, because their country was fed by [imports of grain and other goods from] the king’s country. 21On an appointed day Herod dressed himself in his #12:21 The Jewish historian Josephus describes this as a glittering silver garment.royal robes, sat on his throne (tribunal, rostrum) and began delivering a speech to the people. 22The assembled people kept shouting, “It is the voice of a god and not of a man!” 23And at once an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory [and instead permitted himself to be worshiped], and #12:23 Herod’s painful death over a five day period in a.d. 44 is recorded by Josephus, the Jewish historian.he was eaten by worms and died [five days later].
24But the word of the Lord [the good news about salvation through Christ] continued to grow and spread [increasing in effectiveness].
25Barnabas and Saul came back #12:25 Two early mss read to Jerusalem.from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission, bringing with them John, who was also called Mark. [Acts 11:28-30]
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