Actschapter 12

A.James Killed, Peter Chained, the Church Prayingvv. 1-5

1 About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

B.Chains Fall Off, and Rhoda Leaves Him at the Gatevv. 6-19

6 On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” 12 And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. 13 He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!” 15 “You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place. 18 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.

C.Herod Takes the Glory and Is Struck Downvv. 20-25

20 Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. 22 And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to spread and multiply. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Herod Agrippa.

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Herod Agrippa. James beheaded; Peter imprisoned. The church's earnest prayer; the angel; Rhoda and the gate. 'The word of God grew and multiplied.' Herod smitten in his pride.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

History · Luke — Acts overview

A. 1–5 James Killed, Peter Chained, the Church Praying
B. 6–19 Chains Fall Off, and Rhoda Leaves Him at the Gate
C. 20–25 Herod Takes the Glory and Is Struck Down

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Acts 123 verses
- Acts 12:5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
- Acts 12:12And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
- Acts 12:16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
- Read Acts 12 →
Acts 193 verses
- Acts 19:20So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
- Acts 19:23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
- Acts 19:33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.
- Read Acts 19 →
Acts 162 verses
- Acts 16:26Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
- Acts 16:27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
- Read Acts 16 →
Acts 52 verses
- Acts 5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
- Acts 5:22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:
- Read Acts 5 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Hebrews 112 verses
- Hebrews 11:8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
- Hebrews 11:37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
- Read Hebrews 11 →
John 122 verses
- John 12:10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
- John 12:43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
- Read John 12 →
Acts 212 verses
- Acts 21:33The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
- Acts 21:40Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:
- Read Acts 21 →
Acts 132 verses
- Acts 13:5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
- Acts 13:16Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
- Read Acts 13 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.