Acts 12:19
in Acts 12After 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and tarried there.
KJV
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cesarea, and there abode.
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This verse in Acts 12
Commentary
13 notes on this verseDescending from Judea into Caesarea. Although it seems according to the situation of the places to refer to Caesarea Philippi, which like Tyre and Sidon is a city of Phoenicia, Josephus nevertheless teaches that this was done in Caesarea of Palestine, which was once called …
This site's exposition
no small commotion among the soldiers
on Acts 12:18-19
At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. Herod examined the guards and ordered that they be executed, since Roman custom held guards liable with their lives for a prisoner who escaped. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there, which moves him to the scene of his death in verses 20 to 23.
This site's exposition
ordered that they be executed
Herod's order applies the rule that stands behind the jailer at 16:27, ready to kill himself when he thought his prisoners had fled. It returns at 27:42, where soldiers plan to kill the prisoners on the ship. A guard answered for a prisoner with his life.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Some persons, it is likely, are at a loss how to explain it, that God should quietly look on while His champions are put to death, and now again the soldiers on account of Peter: and yet it was possible for Him after delivering Peter to rescue them also. But it was not yet the time of judgment, so as to render to each according to his deserts. And besides, it was not Peter that put them into his hands. For the thing that most annoyed him was the being mocked; just as in the case of his grandfather when he was deceived by the wise men, that was what made him feel cut to the heart - the being eluded and made ridiculous. "And having put them to the question," it says, "he ordered them to be led away to execution." And yet he had heard from them - for he had put them to the question - both that the chains had been left, and that he had taken his sandals, and that until that night he was with them.
For if the Angel had brought out the soldiers also, along with Peter, it would have been thought a case of flight. Then why, you may ask, was it not otherwise managed? Why, where is the harm? Now, if we see that they who have suffered unjustly, take no harm, we shall not raise these questions. For why do you not say the same of James? Why did not God rescue him? "There was no small stir among the soldiers." So clearly had they perceived nothing of what had happened. Lo, I take up the plea in their defence. The chains were there, and the keepers within, and the prison shut, nowhere a wall broken through, all told the same tale: the man had been carried off: why dost thou condemn them? Had they wished to let him off, they would have done it before, or would have gone out with him. "But he gave them money?" And how should he, who had not to give even to a poor man, have the means to give to these? And then neither had the chains been broken, nor were they loosed. He ought to have seen, that the thing was of God, and no work of man.
The Medieval Church2 voices
For God it was possible to deliver the guards along with Peter. But if the Angel had led out the soldiers together with Peter, the event would have been considered a flight. And what grieved Herod more was that he had been mocked, just as …
That the release of Peter should harm no one, Herod is not permitted to punish the guards.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Herod commanded them to be put to death - And thus the wicked suffered in the room of the righteous. And going down from Judea - With shame, for not having brought forth Peter, according to his promise.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Nebuchadnezzar had been a very bloody man, and a great persecutor; but the word that was in the king's mouth when the judgments of God fell upon him was a proud word: Is not this great Babylon that I have built? It is the glory of God to look on every one that is proud, and bring him low, Job xl.
And when Herod had sought for him and found him not,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
He examined the keepers - The soldiers who were entrusted with his custody. Probably only those who had the special care of him at that watch of the night. The word “examine” here means “to inquire diligently, to make investigation.” He subjected them to a rigid scrutiny to ascertain the manner of his escape; for it is evident that Herod did not mean to admit the possibility of a miraculous interposition. Should be put to death - For having failed to keep Peter. This punishment they had a right to expect for having suffered his escape.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
examined the keepers--who, either like the keepers of our Lord's sepulchre, had "shaken and become as dead men" (Mt 28:4), or had slept on their watch and been divinely kept from awaking. commanded that they should be put to death--Impotent vengeance! HEROD'S MISERABLE END--GROWING SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL--BARNABAS AND SAUL RETURN TO ANTIOCH.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Commanded that they should be put to death - He believed, or pretended to believe, that the escape of Peter was owing to the negligence of the keepers: jailers, watchmen, etc., ordinarily suffered the same kind of punishment which should have been inflicted on the prisoner whose escape they were supposed to have favored. He went down from Judea to Caesarea - How soon he went down, and how long he stayed there, we know not.
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἡρῴδης | herodes | Herod | G2264 → | 43 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐπιζητήσας | epizetesas | having sought after | G1934 → | 13 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| εὑρὼν | heuron | having found [him] | G2147 → | 175 times |
| ἀνακρίνας | anakrinas | having examined | G350 → | 16 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φύλακας | phulakas | guards | G5441 → | 3 times |
| ἐκέλευσεν | ekeleusen | he commanded [them] | G2753 → | 25 times |
| ἀπαχθῆναι, | apachthenai | to be led away [to death], | G520 → | |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κατελθὼν | katelthon | having gone down | G2718 → | 16 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαίας | ioudaias | Judea | G2449 → | 44 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Καισάρειαν | kaisareian | Caesarea | G2542 → | 17 times |
| διέτριβεν. | dietriben | he was staying [there]. | G1304 → | 9 times |
ἩρῴδηςHerod
herodesG2264 →43 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐπιζητήσαςhaving sought after
epizetesasG1934 →13 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
εὑρὼνhaving found [him]
heuronG2147 →175 times
ἀνακρίναςhaving examined
anakrinasG350 →16 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
φύλακαςguards
phulakasG5441 →3 times
ἐκέλευσενhe commanded [them]
ekeleusenG2753 →25 times
ἀπαχθῆναι,to be led away [to death],
apachthenaiG520 →
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κατελθὼνhaving gone down
katelthonG2718 →16 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἸουδαίαςJudea
ioudaiasG2449 →44 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ΚαισάρειανCaesarea
kaisareianG2542 →17 times
διέτριβεν.he was staying [there].
dietribenG1304 →9 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 12:6On 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.
it leads to
- Acts 21:33
The 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.
- Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
- 2 Timothy 1:16
May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
- Ephesians 6:20
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
- 1 Samuel 23:26–27
Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on…
- Acts 21:33
Through
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.
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 17:23
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he…
- Matthew 27:5
So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
- 1 Kings 16:18
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died
- 2 Samuel 17:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 27; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Rabanus Maurus, Commentary (church-history corpus); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.