Bible Commentaries
Acts 12

Introduction

Overview

Acts 12:1, King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter; whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church; Acts 12:20, Herod in his pride taking to himself the honour due to God, is stricken by an angel, and dies miserably; Acts 12:24, After his death, the word of God prospers; Acts 12:25, Saul and Barnabas return to Antioch.

Verse 1

Cir, am 4048, ad 44

stretched forth his hands: or, began, Acts 4:30, Acts 9:31, Luke 22:53

to vex: Matthew 10:17, Matthew 10:18, Matthew 24:9, John 15:20, John 16:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:22 - lay 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing Job 15:25 - he stretcheth Psalms 2:2 - kings Psalms 55:20 - put Psalms 92:8 - art most Jeremiah 26:23 - who Matthew 2:15 - until Mark 3:17 - James Mark 13:9 - take Luke 11:49 - and some Luke 21:12 - before 1 Thessalonians 2:14 - even

Verse 2

James: Matthew 4:21, Matthew 4:22, Matthew 20:23, Mark 10:35, Mark 10:38

with: 1 Kings 19:1, 1 Kings 19:10, Jeremiah 26:23, Hebrews 11:37

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing Psalms 37:14 - wicked Daniel 11:33 - yet Matthew 10:2 - James Matthew 23:34 - ye Matthew 24:9 - shall they Mark 1:19 - James Mark 6:21 - when Mark 10:39 - Ye Luke 6:14 - James Luke 11:49 - and some Luke 21:16 - and some Acts 1:13 - Peter

Verse 3

he saw: Acts 24:27, Acts 25:9, John 12:43, Galatians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:4

he proceeded: Acts 2:14, Acts 4:13, Psalms 76:10, John 19:11, John 21:18

Then: Exodus 12:14-20, Exodus 13:3-7, Exodus 23:15, Leviticus 23:6-14, Matthew 26:17, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 5:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:15 - Seven Exodus 34:18 - General Numbers 28:16 - General Psalms 37:14 - wicked Daniel 11:33 - yet Acts 1:13 - Peter Acts 20:6 - the days 1 Thessalonians 2:15 - please Hebrews 11:37 - were slain

Verse 4

he put: Acts 4:3, Acts 5:18, Acts 8:3, Matthew 24:9, Luke 21:12, Luke 22:33, John 13:36-38, John 21:18

delivered: Acts 16:23, Acts 16:24, Matthew 27:64-66

intending: Acts 4:28, Esther 3:6, Esther 3:7, Esther 3:13, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 27:1, Lamentations 3:37, Matthew 26:5

Easter: Rather, the Passover, פן [Strong's G3588], נבףקב [Strong's G3957].

Reciprocal: Leviticus 23:6 - General Numbers 28:16 - General Joshua 2:3 - Bring 1 Kings 19:2 - to morrow Psalms 69:33 - his prisoners Jeremiah 37:15 - put Daniel 2:18 - they would Daniel 3:20 - to bind Daniel 6:17 - a stone Acts 12:10 - the first Acts 12:19 - he examined 2 Corinthians 6:5 - imprisonments Hebrews 11:36 - bonds

Verse 5

prayer was made without ceasing: or, instant and earnest prayer was made, Acts 12:12, Isaiah 62:6, Isaiah 62:7, Matthew 18:19, Luke 18:1, 1 Corinthians 12:26, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 6:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Hebrews 13:3, James 5:16

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:23 - God forbid Psalms 10:17 - cause Psalms 18:6 - distress Psalms 34:17 - cry Psalms 102:2 - in the day Psalms 127:2 - for so he Isaiah 65:24 - General Jeremiah 37:21 - Thus Daniel 3:20 - to bind Acts 5:18 - General Romans 1:9 - that Romans 12:12 - continuing 2 Corinthians 6:5 - imprisonments Colossians 1:9 - do

Verse 6

the same: Genesis 22:14, Deuteronomy 32:26, 1 Samuel 23:26, 1 Samuel 23:27, Psalms 3:5, Psalms 3:6, Psalms 4:8, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 26:4, Philippians 4:6, Philippians 4:7, Hebrews 13:6

bound: Acts 21:33, Acts 28:20, Jeremiah 40:4, Ephesians 6:20, *marg. 2 Timothy 1:16

and the: Acts 5:23, Matthew 28:4

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:6 - ye shall Joshua 2:3 - Bring Psalms 68:6 - he bringeth Psalms 102:20 - to loose Psalms 127:2 - for so he Proverbs 3:24 - and Jeremiah 40:1 - bound Matthew 27:2 - bound Acts 12:7 - And his Acts 12:19 - he examined Acts 26:29 - except

Verse 7

the angel: Acts 12:23, Acts 5:19, Acts 10:30, Acts 27:23, Acts 27:24, 1 Kings 19:5, 1 Kings 19:7, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 37:32, Psalms 37:33, Isaiah 37:30, Daniel 6:22, Hebrews 1:14

and a: Acts 9:3, 2 Samuel 22:29, Ezekiel 43:2, Micah 7:9, Habakkuk 3:4, Habakkuk 3:11, Revelation 18:1

Arise: Genesis 19:15, Genesis 19:16, Isaiah 60:1, Ephesians 5:14

And his: The two chains with which his hands were fastened to those of the two soldiers between whom he slept. This, it appears, was the Roman method of securing a prisoner, and seems to be what is intimated in Acts 12:6. Acts 12:6, Acts 2:24, Acts 16:26, Psalms 105:18-20, Psalms 107:14, Psalms 116:16, Psalms 142:6, Psalms 142:7, Psalms 146:7, Daniel 3:24, Daniel 3:25

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 1:3 - angel Ecclesiastes 5:8 - higher than they Isaiah 51:14 - captive Jeremiah 40:1 - bound Daniel 3:28 - hath sent Daniel 9:21 - touched Matthew 18:10 - their Acts 12:11 - that the

Verse 8

Reciprocal: Isaiah 51:14 - captive Mark 6:9 - sandals Acts 8:26 - The angel Acts 27:23 - there

Verse 9

he went: Acts 26:19, Genesis 6:22, John 2:5, Hebrews 11:8

wist not: That is, he knew not; wist being the past tense of the obsolete verb to wis, from the Saxon wissan, in German wissen and Dutch wysen to think, imagine, know. Acts 10:3, Acts 10:17, Acts 11:5, Genesis 45:26, Psalms 126:1, 2 Corinthians 12:1-3

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:29 - wist Luke 24:11 - idle

Verse 10

the first: Acts 12:4, Genesis 40:3, Genesis 42:17, Numbers 15:34, Isaiah 21:8

which: Acts 5:19, Acts 16:26, Isaiah 45:1, Isaiah 45:2, John 20:19, John 20:26, Revelation 3:7

Reciprocal: Matthew 17:8 - they saw

Verse 11

was come: He was in an ecstasy; and it was only when the angel left him, that he was fully convinced that all was real. Luke 15:17

I know: Genesis 15:13, Genesis 18:13, Genesis 26:9

that the: Acts 12:7, Acts 5:19, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalms 34:7, Daniel 3:25, Daniel 3:28, Daniel 6:22, Hebrews 1:14

and hath: 2 Samuel 22:1, Job 5:19, Psalms 33:18, Psalms 34:22, Psalms 41:2, Psalms 97:10, Psalms 109:31, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Peter 2:9

all: Acts 23:12-30, Acts 24:27, Acts 25:3-5, Acts 25:9, Job 31:31

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:4 - delivered Esther 9:1 - hoped Job 5:12 - their hands Psalms 37:14 - wicked Psalms 57:3 - send Psalms 119:95 - wicked Isaiah 63:9 - the angel Jeremiah 36:26 - but Matthew 2:13 - the angel Matthew 17:8 - they saw Acts 4:23 - they Acts 11:13 - he showed Revelation 22:6 - sent

Verse 12

he came: Acts 4:23, Acts 16:40

John: Acts 12:25, Acts 13:5, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:37-39, Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 1:24

where: Acts 12:5, Isaiah 65:24, Matthew 18:19, Matthew 18:20, 1 John 5:14, 1 John 5:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:45 - before 1 Peter 5:13 - Marcus

Verse 13

knocked: Acts 12:16, Luke 13:25

hearken: or, ask who was there

Reciprocal: Daniel 3:24 - astonied Acts 20:16 - had

Verse 14

she opened: Matthew 28:8, Luke 24:41

Reciprocal: Job 9:16 - would I Psalms 126:1 - we were like

Verse 15

Thou: Acts 26:24, Job 9:16, Mark 16:11, Mark 16:14, Luke 24:11

It is: Genesis 48:16, Matthew 18:10, Luke 24:37, Luke 24:38

Reciprocal: Proverbs 21:28 - the man Matthew 14:26 - they were Titus 3:8 - that thou

Verse 16

Reciprocal: Acts 12:13 - knocked

Verse 17

beckoning: Acts 13:16, Acts 19:33, Acts 21:40, Luke 1:22, John 13:24

declared: Psalms 66:16, Psalms 102:20, Psalms 102:21, Psalms 107:21, Psalms 107:22, Psalms 116:14, Psalms 116:15, Psalms 146:7

James: Acts 15:13, Acts 21:18, 1 Corinthians 15:7, Galatians 1:19, Galatians 2:9, Galatians 2:12, James 1:1

And he: Acts 16:40, Matthew 10:23, John 7:1, John 8:59, John 10:40, John 11:54

Reciprocal: Matthew 10:3 - James Acts 1:13 - James Acts 14:20 - came Acts 24:10 - had

Verse 18

there: Acts 5:22-25, Acts 16:27, Acts 19:23

Reciprocal: Luke 4:30 - General Acts 5:21 - sent Acts 16:23 - to keep

Verse 19

sought for him: 1 Samuel 23:14, Psalms 37:32, Psalms 37:33, Jeremiah 36:26, Matthew 2:13

he examined: Acts 12:4, Acts 12:6, Matthew 28:11-15

commanded: Daniel 2:11-13, Matthew 2:16, John 12:10, John 12:11

he went: Acts 21:8, Acts 25:13, 1 Kings 20:43, Esther 6:12

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 22:16 - Thou shalt 1 Kings 18:12 - he shall slay me 2 Kings 1:10 - consumed Daniel 3:22 - slew Matthew 28:14 - we Acts 5:21 - sent

Verse 20

was highly displeased: or, bare an hostile mind intending war

Tyre: Genesis 10:15, Genesis 10:19, Joshua 19:29, Isaiah 23:1-4, Matthew 11:21, Matthew 11:22

but: Proverbs 17:14, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 25:8, Ecclesiastes 10:4, Isaiah 27:4, Isaiah 27:5, Luke 14:31, Luke 14:32

the king's chamberlain: Gr. that was over the king's bed-chamber

because: 1 Kings 5:9-11, 2 Chronicles 2:10, 2 Chronicles 2:15, Ezra 3:7, Ezekiel 27:17, Hosea 2:8, Hosea 2:9, Amos 4:6-9, Haggai 1:8-11, Haggai 2:16, Haggai 2:17, Luke 16:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 40:2 - wroth 2 Kings 9:32 - eunuchs Esther 4:8 - to make supplication Psalms 49:18 - praise Proverbs 16:14 - but Acts 21:3 - Tyre Acts 27:3 - Sidon Galatians 1:10 - persuade Galatians 3:20 - a mediator is

Verse 21

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:10 - having put Job 15:21 - in prosperity Proverbs 18:12 - destruction Isaiah 5:14 - he that rejoiceth Malachi 3:15 - we call Acts 24:1 - orator Acts 25:23 - with

Verse 22

Acts 14:10-13, Psalms 12:2, Daniel 6:7, Jude 1:16, Revelation 13:4

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:5 - as gods Exodus 8:4 - General 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing Job 20:5 - the triumphing Job 32:21 - flattering Job 40:11 - behold Psalms 9:20 - may Psalms 37:36 - General Psalms 92:8 - art most Psalms 94:3 - the wicked Psalms 138:6 - but the proud Proverbs 27:14 - He that Proverbs 28:4 - that Proverbs 30:9 - I be full Isaiah 14:15 - thou Isaiah 31:3 - the Egyptians Isaiah 36:4 - Thus saith Jeremiah 9:23 - neither Ezekiel 28:2 - I am Ezekiel 28:9 - say Daniel 4:31 - the word Daniel 5:11 - light Daniel 11:12 - his heart Acts 14:11 - The gods Acts 14:15 - We also Acts 28:6 - said 1 Corinthians 4:7 - why 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - then

Verse 23

the angel: Exodus 12:12, Exodus 12:23, Exodus 12:29, 1 Samuel 25:38, 2 Samuel 24:17, 1 Chronicles 21:14-18, 2 Chronicles 32:21

because: Acts 10:25, Acts 10:26, Acts 14:14, Acts 14:15, Exodus 9:17, Exodus 10:3, Psalms 115:1, Isaiah 37:23, Ezekiel 28:2, Ezekiel 28:9, Daniel 4:30-37, Daniel 5:18-24, Luke 12:47, Luke 12:48, 2 Thessalonians 2:4

and he: 2 Chronicles 21:18, 2 Chronicles 21:19, Job 7:5, Job 19:26, Isaiah 14:11, Isaiah 51:8, Isaiah 66:24, Mark 9:44-48

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:5 - as gods Genesis 19:13 - Lord hath Genesis 25:8 - gave Exodus 2:23 - the king Exodus 8:4 - General Exodus 8:17 - lice in man Joshua 8:29 - the king 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing 2 Samuel 12:15 - struck the child 2 Samuel 24:16 - the angel 2 Kings 9:35 - but they found 2 Kings 19:35 - the angel 1 Chronicles 21:12 - the angel 2 Chronicles 13:20 - Lord 2 Chronicles 21:15 - by disease Job 12:21 - poureth Job 15:25 - he stretcheth Job 20:5 - the triumphing Job 32:21 - flattering Job 33:22 - his life Job 34:20 - a moment Job 40:11 - behold Psalms 7:9 - Oh Psalms 9:20 - may Psalms 35:5 - and Psalms 37:14 - wicked Psalms 37:36 - General Psalms 38:7 - my loins Psalms 40:14 - driven Psalms 94:3 - the wicked Psalms 107:40 - contempt Psalms 138:6 - but the proud Proverbs 12:8 - he Proverbs 22:12 - eyes Proverbs 24:16 - but Proverbs 27:14 - He that Proverbs 28:28 - they perish Proverbs 29:23 - man's Proverbs 30:9 - I be full Ecclesiastes 5:8 - higher than they Ecclesiastes 5:17 - much Ecclesiastes 7:17 - why Ecclesiastes 9:3 - after Isaiah 10:16 - the Lord of hosts Isaiah 14:15 - thou Isaiah 31:3 - the Egyptians Isaiah 36:4 - Thus saith Isaiah 37:36 - the angel Isaiah 51:13 - where is Jeremiah 9:23 - neither Daniel 4:31 - the word Daniel 8:25 - but Daniel 10:20 - to fight Daniel 11:12 - his heart Micah 6:13 - I make Zechariah 14:12 - Their flesh Matthew 2:15 - until Matthew 18:10 - their Acts 8:26 - The angel Acts 12:7 - the angel Acts 27:23 - there 1 Corinthians 4:7 - why 1 Corinthians 10:10 - destroyer 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - then Hebrews 1:14 - minister Revelation 16:2 - a noisome

Verse 24

Acts 5:39, Acts 6:7, Acts 11:21, Acts 19:20, Proverbs 28:28, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 54:14-17, Isaiah 55:10, Daniel 2:24, Daniel 2:44, Matthew 16:18, Colossians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Reciprocal: Exodus 2:23 - the king Psalms 40:14 - driven Proverbs 22:12 - eyes Matthew 2:15 - until Acts 9:31 - were multiplied Acts 13:49 - was Acts 16:5 - increased

Verse 25

Barnabas: Acts 11:29, Acts 11:30, Acts 13:1-3

ministry: or, charge

took: Acts 13:5, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:37

John: Acts 12:12, 1 Peter 5:13

Reciprocal: Acts 1:17 - this Acts 4:36 - Barnabas Acts 9:27 - Barnabas Galatians 2:1 - Barnabas 2 Timothy 4:11 - Mark Philemon 1:24 - Marcus