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Acts 12:3

in Acts 12

And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread.

KJV

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

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This verse in Acts 12

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

Again the excessive scrupulousness of the Jews is revealed: they did not object to killing him, but they objected to doing it at such a time.

This site's exposition

King Herod reached out to harm

on Acts 12:1-3

This is Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, a client king favored by the Jewish leaders for keeping the law, who reached out to harm some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword, the first apostle's death in the book and the cup Jesus foretold in Mark 10:39. Then, seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod seized Peter at the Passover season.

This site's exposition

seeing that this pleased the Jews

Josephus, Antiquities 19.7.3, describes Agrippa as living mostly at Jerusalem and keeping the customs of his nation with care. Peter is seized at the same feast at which Jesus was arrested, named at Luke 22:1. Luke marks the season twice.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 26 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

And when he saw that it pleased the Jews. O excessive wickedness! On whose behalf was it, that he gratified them by doing murders thus without plan or reason? "And it was the day of unleavened bread." Again, the idle preciseness of the Jews: to kill indeed they forbade not, but at such a time they did such things!

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 26 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

And how was it he did not kill Peter immediately? It mentions the reason: "it was the day of unleavened bread:" and he wished rather to make a display with the killing of him. "And when he saw it pleased the Jews." For their own part, they now in consequence of Gamaliel's advice, abstained from bloodshedding: and besides, did not even invent accusations; but by means of others they compassed the same results. This counsel of Gamaliel's above all was their condemnation: for the preaching was shown to be no longer a thing of men. "He proceeded further to kill Peter also." In very deed was that fulfilled, "We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." "Seeing," it says, "it was a pleasing thing to the Jews." A pleasing thing, bloodshed, and unrighteous bloodshed, wickedness, impiety! He ministered to their senseless lusts: for, whereas he ought to have done the contrary, to check their rage, he made them more eager, as if he were an executioner, and not a physician to their diseased minds.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And because he saw it pleased the Jews,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

And because he saw that it pleased the Jews - This was the principle on which he acted. It was not from a sense of right; it was not to do justice, and to protect the innocent; it was not to discharge the appropriate duties of a magistrate and a king, but it was to promote his own popularity. It is probable that Agrippa would have acted in this way in any circumstances.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

He at this time ruled over all his father's dominions. PALEY has remarked the accuracy of the historian here. For thirty years before this there was no king at Jerusalem exercising supreme authority over Judea, nor was there ever afterwards, save during the three last years of Herod's life, within which the transactions occurred.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

because he saw it pleased the Jews--Popularity was the ruling passion of this Herod, not naturally so cruel as some of the family [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 19.7.3]. to take Peter also--whose loss, at this stage of the Church, would have been, so far as we can see, irreparable.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

He proceeded - to take Peter also - He supposed that these two were pillars on which the infant cause rested; and that, if these were removed, the building must necessarily come down. The days of unleavened bread - About the latter end of March or beginning of April; but whether in the third or fourth year of the Emperor Claudius, or earlier or later, cannot be determined.

The words behind it

17 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Exodus 23:15You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed.11 worksActs 24:27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.6 worksJohn 12:43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.6 worksLeviticus 23:6–14On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.5 worksActs 20:6And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.5 worksActs 25:9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Exodus 12:14–20And this day will be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, as a permanent statute for the generations to come.4 works1 Thessalonians 2:15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,4 works1 Corinthians 5:7–8Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.3 worksExodus 13:3–7So Moses told the people, “Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for the LORD brought you out of it by the strength of His hand. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.3 worksGalatians 1:10Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.3 works1 Thessalonians 2:4Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.2 worksJohn 19:11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”2 worksMatthew 26:17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”2 worksPsalms 76:10Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.2 worksJohn 21:18Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”2 worksExodus 12:15For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.2 worksExodus 34:18You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, you are to eat unleavened bread as I commanded you. For in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    John 12:43

    For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

    it leads to

    • John 5:44

      How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

    • Matthew 23:5–7

      All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

    • John 5:41

      I do not accept glory from men,

    • Luke 16:15

      So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

    • 2 Corinthians 10:18

      For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

  • Through

    Acts 24:27

    After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

    it leads to

    • Mark 15:15

      And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Acts 25:9

      But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

    • Acts 25:14

      Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 12 →
This page draws on 9 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); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 26; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 19.7.3; R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, Expositor's Greek Testament and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 12 →