Bible Commentaries
Acts 12

Verse 1

This chapter is a parenthesis, describing events in A.D. 14.

about . Greek. kata.

time = season.

Herod . Herod Agrippa I. App-109 .

stretched forth his hands = put to his hands. Compare Luke 9:62 , same phrase.

vex = maltreat. Greek. kakoo. See note on Acts 7:6 .

certain . Greek. tis. App-123 .

of = of those from the church. App-186 .

Verse 2

killed . Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 .

James . App-141 .

John . App-141 . The last historical reference to John.

sword . Death by the sword was regarded by the Rabbis as particularly disgraceful.

Verse 3

because he saw = seeing. Greek. eidon. App-133 .

pleased = is pleasing to. See note on Acts 6:2 , and Mark 15:15 (note).

proceeded further = added. A Hebraism. Greek. prostithemi. Compare Luke 20:11 .

take . See note on Acts 1:16 .

unleavened bread . Literally the unleavened (things). Leaven in every form was to be put away. Exodus 12:16 , Exodus 12:19 .

Verse 4

apprehended = arrested. Greek. piazo. See note on John 11:57 .

in = into. Greek. eis.

prison = ward. Greek. pkulake.

quaternions . Greek. tetradion, a body of four. Only here. There were four soldiers to guard Peter for each of the four watches. The prisoner was chained to two and the other two kept watch. See Acts 12:6 .

intending . Greek. boulomai. App-102 .

after . Greek. meta. App-104 .

Easter . Greek. to pascha, the Passover. Easter is a heathen term, derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre, the same as Astarte, the Syrian Venus, called Ashtoreth in the O.T.

bring . . . forth = lead up, i.e. to the judgment seat. Compare Luke 22:66 .

people . Greek. laos.

Verse 5

therefore = then indeed.

prayer . Greek. proseuche. App-134 .

without ceasing = intense, Greek. ektenes. Occurs elsewhere only in 1 Peter 4:8 . The comparative only in Luke 22:44 , and the adverb in 1 Peter 1:22 . The texts here read the adverb, ektenos.

of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

for = in behalf of. Greek. huper. App-104 ., but texts read peri , concerning.

Verse 6

would have brought = was about to bring.

the same = that.

sleeping . Greek. koimaomai. App-171 .

keepers = guards. See Acts 5:23 .

kept = were keeping.

Verse 7

behold . Greek. idou. App-133 .

came upon = stood over.

light . Greek. phos. App-130 .

prison . Greek. oikema, dwelling. Only here. The Revised Version reads "cell". That was Peter's dwelling-place. The angel of the Lord there.

Peter on the side = Peter's side.

raised . . . up . Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

Arise up . Greek. anistemi. App-178 .

quickly = in (Greek. en) or with speed.

Verse 8

Gird thyself . Greek. perizonnumi. Occurs elsewhere, Luke 12:35 , Luke 12:37 ; Luke 17:8 . Ephesians 6:14 .Revelation 1:13 ; Revelation 15:6 . Texts read zonnumi, as in John 21:18 .

unto = to.

garment . Greek. himation, the outer garment.

Verse 9

him . The texts omit.

wist = knew. Greek. oida. App-132 .

true . Greek. alethes. App-175 .

by = through. Greek. dia.

thought = was thinking.

saw . Greek. blepo. App-133 .

vision . Greek. horama, as in Acts 7:31 .

Verse 10

When, &c . Now, having passed through.

ward = prison. Greek. phulake, as in verses: Acts 12:4 , Acts 12:5 , Acts 12:6 , Acts 4:17 .

unto = upon. Greek. epi.

opened = was opened.

of his own accord = automatically. Greek. automatos. Elsewhere only in Mark 4:28 .

street . Greek. rhume. See note on Acts 9:11 .

forthwith = immediately. Greek. eutheos.

Verse 11

when, &c . Peter, having come to be.

to himself = in (Greek. en) himself, i.e. in his right senses. Compare "out of his senses", or "beside himself".

know . Greek. oida, as in Acts 12:9 .

of a surety = truly. Greek. alethos. Compare App-175 .

hath sent = sent. Greek. exapostello. App-174 .

hath delivered = delivered. See note on Acts 7:10 .

expectation = eager looking. Greek. prosdokia. Elsewhere only in Luke 21:26 . Compare App-133 .

Verse 12

when, &c . = having considered or realized. Greek. suneidon. See note on Acts 5:2 .

Mary . App-100 .

John . See Acts 13:5 , Acts 13:13 ; Acts 15:37 , Acts 15:39 . Col 4:10 . 2 Timothy 4:11 .

gathered together . Greek. sunathroizo. Elsewhere only in Acts 19:25 .Luke 24:33 .

praying = and praying. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .

Verse 13

as Peter knocked = Peter, having knocked.

gate . Greek. pulon. Translated "porch" in Matthew 26:71 .

damsel . Greek. paidiske. Compare App-108 .

hearken = answer. Greek. hupakouo. Elsewhere translated "obey", or "be obedient".

named = by name.

Rhoda . Greek. Rhode, rose.

Verse 14

when she knew = having recognized. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .

for = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

told = reported. Greek. apangello. Compare App-121 .

Verse 15

Thou art mad . Greek. mainomai. Here, Acts 26:24 , Acts 26:25 . Joh 10:20 . 1 Corinthians 14:23 .

constantly affirmed = kept strongly asserting. Greek. diischurizomai. Compound of dia and ischurizomai. Compare App-172 . Elsewhere only in Luke 22:59 .

angel , i.e. guardian angel, according to Jewish belief. Compare Matthew 18:10 . Hebrews 1:14 .

Verse 16

continued . Greek. epimeno. See note on Acts 10:48 .

were astonished = were astounded. Greek. existemi. See Acts 2:7 ; Acts 8:9 ; Acts 9:21 ; Acts 10:45 .

Verse 17

beckoning . Literally shaking down. Greek. kataseio. Only in Acts, here, Acts 13:16 ; Acts 19:33 ; Acts 21:40 . The action suggested he was in haste and must not be interrupted.

hold their peace = be silent.

declared . Greek. diegeomai. See Acts 8:33 .

had . Omit.

shew . Same as "told" in Acts 12:14 .

James . The Lord's brother. See Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:19 , and App-182 .

another . Greek. heteros. App-124 .

Verse 18

as soon as, &c . = day having come.

stir = disturbance. Greek. tarachos. Here and Acts 19:23 .

among . Greek. en. App-104 .

what was, &c . Literally what then Peter had come to be.

Verse 19

sought for him = sought him up and down.

not . Greek. me. App-105 .

examined . Greek. anakrino. App-122 .

put to death = led away, i.e. to execution. Greek. apago. Same word as in Matthew 27:31 , &c.

Caesarea . See Acts 8:40 .

abode . Greek. diatribo, to rub away, or spend (time). Occures John 3:22 ; John 11:54 , and eight times in Acts.

Verse 20

Herod . Texts read "He".

was highly displeased . Greek. thumomacheo, to fight angrily. Only here.

them of Tyre, &c . = the Tyrians, &c.

came = were present, or presented themselves.

with one accord . Greek. homothumadon. See note on Acts 1:14 .

made . . . their friend = persuaded, or won over. Greek. peitho. App-150 .

the king's chamberlain = one who was over (Greek. epi. App-104 ) the bedchamber (Greek. koiton. Only here) of the king.

desired = were asking for. Greek. aiteo. App-134 .

because . Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 12:2 .

nourished . Compare 1Ki 5:9 , 1 Kings 5:11 .Ezekiel 27:17 .

king's = royal. Greek. basilikos. See note on John 4:46 .

Verse 21

set = appointed .

royal . Same as "king's", Acts 12:20 .

apparel . Josephus ( Antiquities XIX. viii. 2) says it was of silver tissue, and glittered resplendently in the sun.

his throne = the throne. Greek. bema. Always translated "judgment seat" except here and Acts 7:5 . Compare John 19:13 .

made an oration , i.e. a political oration. Greek. demegoreo. Only here.

Verse 22

people . Greek. demos. The usual word for the populace. Only here, Acts 17:5 ; Acts 19:30 , Acts 19:33 .

gave a shout . Greek. epiphoneo. Only here, Acts 22:24 , and Luke 23:21 .

man . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

Verse 23

immediately . Greek. parachrema. See note on Acts 3:7 .

because = the reason for (Greek. anti. App-104 . ) which.

eaten of worms . Greek. skolekobrotos. Only here. skolex, a worm, only in Mark 9:44-48 .

gave up the ghost = expired. Greek. ekpsucho. Only here and Acts 5:5 , Acts 5:10 .

Verse 24

word . Greek. logos. App-121 .

grew = increased.

multiplied . Greek. plethuno. See Matthew 24:12 .

Verse 25

ministry , i.e. of administering the contributions of Acts 11:30 . Greek. diakonia. App-190 .

took with them . Greek. sumparalambano. Only here, Acts 15:37 , Acts 15:38 , and Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:1 .