Acts 12 Acts 12:1–19 King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter, who, upon the prayers of the church, is delivered by an angel. Acts 12:20–23 Herod, in his pride assuming the glory due to God, is smitten by an angel, and dieth miserably.

There were several Herods mentioned in Scripture, being all of the family of Herod the Great, (by whose name they were called), as Herod that killed the children in Bethlehem, called Hecolonita; another that beheaded St.

Who had especially the care of the church at Jerusalem: one eminent amongst the apostles, and one of the sons of thunder, (or Boanerges), for his zealous and earnest preaching, and therefore the more hated by Herod: so that which our Saviour had foretold him came now to pass, Matt.

All the posterity of Herod the Great, by his example, studied chiefly to please the Roman emperors, and to gratify the Jews, whether by right or wrong.

Four quaternions of soldiers: there were sixteen soldiers appointed to keep Peter; the Romans using four soldiers at a time to keep sentry, and the Jews dividing their nights into four watches, there were enough to relieve the other, and to set a new watch as often as was required for every night;…

Peter therefore was kept in prison, till a fit time to offer him up as a sacrifice unto the people: so basely do wicked men stoop for their ends. But prayer was made: the only help or hope poor Christians had, was from prayer (preces et lachrymae); there are no quaternions of soldiers can keep the…

Brought him forth, to be put to death. The same night: this is a night to be remembered, as that in which God delivered his Israel out of Egypt: when both were come to the utmost extremity, and at the pit’s brink, then so God does his marvellous work of deliverance, that it ought to be had in…

The angel of the Lord, whose office it is to minister for the heirs of salvation, Heb. 1:14, and who willingly fulfil this will of the Lord. Came upon him, as Luke 2:9, suddenly and unexpectedly.

Gird thyself; the custom being to wear long garments, they were not so fit to go about any business until they had girt their garments to them; hence Jeremiah is commanded to get a girdle about him, Jer. 13:1, when he was to be sent on God’s errand.

The greatnesss and suddenness of the deliverance was such, as it amazed him, it seemed incredible unto him: not that he questioned God’s power or godliness; but knowing that he was to suffer for Christ’s name’s sake, he might the rather not look for such a deliverance, and when it came, be as one…

The first and the second ward; guard or sentinels. The iron gate that leadeth unto the city; the outermost gate that led out of the prison into the city, not that the prison itself was out of the city.

When Peter was come to himself, out of that amazement which so many wonderful things had wrought in him, that he could compose himself to effect upon what he had heard and seen, he knew his deliverance was real and effectual.

Peter, being delivered, meditates upon the greatness of the danger that he had been in, and the goodness of God that had delivered him, and this whilst walking in the street, and going along: no place can exclude good thoughts and holy meditations.

The door of the gate; this was the outermost door to the porch, or court before the house. A damsel came to hearken; being in great fear of a suprisal, they ordered one to observe, and give an answer unto any that should come to the house; which was the more heedfully done, because it was at an…

She opened not the gate for gladness; as one from herself, not knowing what to do for gladness. Great and sudden passions have caused strange ecstasies, and death itself sometimes; the spirits in grief flowing too fast unto the heart to fortify it, and in joy leaving the heart as fast, to meet the…

Thou art mad; thou speakest thou knowest not what; thinking her, out of fear, to have been discomposed in her mind. It is his angel: some have thought, that by Peter’s angel no other was meant than some messenger from Peter, which they might expect from him in such a case as he was in; now though…

Peter continued knocking; Peter might be unwilling to have his entrance into the house deferred, 1. Out of fear of being taken again, and his life concerned upon it. 2. Out of an earnest desire to see the brethren, whom he might hope to meet with there. 3.

Beckoning; it was usual by the motion of the hand both to desire silence and to crave audience. How the Lord had brought him out; Peter gives God the glory, though an angel had been the means of his delivery. James; this James was the son of Alpheus, Matt.

The soldiers, who were bound with Peter in the same chains, could not but miss him as soon as they did awake, and with admiration find the chains still holding them, thought loosened from Peter. What strange imaginations they might have, is not to be expressed, though some guess at it.

He examined the keepers; that is, judicially; proceeding against them for the escape of St. Peter. Commanded that they should be put to death; they were sentenced to be led away, and it is most probably thought, unto the place of execution.

Tyre and Sidon; these were two coast towns in Phoenicia, famous, especially the former, for their great trading; and being rich, might be insolent, or possibly might tempt Herod to a war against them, whose conquest would pay the charge of it. The king’s chamberlain, or chief of his bed chamber.

Upon a set day; this was (says Josephius, cap. 19. lib. 7) the second day of the sports or games, which Herod had instituted in honour of the emperor Claudius; or, it may he, such a day as Herod had appointed to determine the diffrence between him and the Tyrians.

These impious flatterers destroy whom they exalt; for God will pull down his rivals.

An angel had delivered Peter, and here an angel destroys Herod: all that heavenly host fullfil God’s will for the deliverance of his church, and the destruction of his enemies.

Grew; the word of God is compared here to seed, as in our Saviour’s parable, Matt. 13:19. Multiplied; the number of believers multiplied through the word, which was sown, as seed is scattered abroad. So true it is, that persecutors, by their pulling down of the church, do but build it up.

From Jerusalem; they returned unto Antioch, from whence they were sent, Acts 11:26, Acts 11:30, to carry the benevolence of the church of Antioch to that of Judea. Their ministry; this was the ministry or service they were appointed to do. John; of whom before, Acts 12:12.