Acts 12

— and went into another place.] Out of Herod’s dominions, to avoid the tyrant’s fury; probably to Antioch, (Gal. ii. 11,) to visit that first Gentile Church, whose bounty he had so recently shared, chap. xi. 29. Dr. Hales.

Chap. XIII. ver. 1. — certain prophets and teachers;] Either belonging to the church at Antioch, or occasionally exercising their ministry there, as Barnabas and Saul. They were probably some of those who were scattered by the persecution mentioned at chap. viii. 1, and came down to Antioch, chap. xi. 19; for Niger is by Epiphanius declared to have been one of the seventy disciples, and Lucius being, as the text states, of Cyrene, was probably one of those who came down to Antioch, chap. xi. 20. Dr. Whitby.

— had been brought up with Herod] Meaning Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, Luke iii. 1; Matt. xiv. 1. Rich persons, and especially princes, had not only preceptors and attendants, but particular companions in their education, assigned to them. Abp. Newcome.

Acts 12:2

2. As they ministered &c.] While they were engaged in a course of devotion and fasting. Bp. Mann.

— the Holy Ghost said,] Either by a vision to some of the Prophets, or by a voice addressed to them, or by internal suggestions. Abp. Newcome.

— for the work] The work of publishing the Gospel to the Gentiles. St. Paul, as appears from chap. ix. 15, had already received notice that he was to be sent to the Gentiles. Bp. Pearce.

Acts 12:3

3. — laid their hands on them, &c.] Thus it appears that the election of these two supernumerary Apostles was equally valid with the election of Matthias, chap. i., and was even distinguished above it by the more immediate appointment of the Holy Spirit Himself, signifying His pleasure by express declaration, and not by lot. Dr. Hales.

Hence we should observe, how necessary it is that they, who are admitted to the sacred ministry of the Gospel, should be externally as well as internally called and publicly ordained to it by the Church. Both Saul and Barnabas were Prophets divinely inspired; and yet it was necessary that they should be outwardly called and ordained, before they were sent forth to preach the Gospel. And this is a full and undeniable argument for the necessity of persons being solemnly and publicly ordained by the imposition of hands, before they undertake to minister in the Church, to whatever gifts or inward calling they may pretend. For none could ever

Acts 12:8

8. — Cast thy garment about thee.] Meaning the cloak, or loose upper garment which they wore when they went out, but not when they remained within doors. Bp. Mann.

Acts 12:12

12. — the house of Mary] Probably the same who is called the sister of Barnabas at Col. iv. 10. Bp. Pearce.

— of John, whose surname was Mark;] Meaning, as is commonly thought, St. Mark the Evangelist. See the introduction to the Gospel of St. Mark.

— where many were gathered together praying.] Hence it appears, that, in those times of peril and persecution, they held their sacred assemblies in the night; for St. Peter came to them, and found them thus praying before daylight, ver. 18. Dr. Whitby.

Acts 12:15

15. — It is his angel.] Meaning, it is an angel in his shape; for it was familiarly received amongst the Jews, that angels sometimes assumed the shape of this or that person. Dr. Lightfoot.

Acts 12:17

17. — shew these things unto James, and &c.] That they might bless God for this extraordinary granting of their prayers, and that they might be confirmed by it in the faith, and in their expectation of Divine assistance and protection, in their endeavours to promote the interests of the Gospel. Dr. Whitby. This James was

Acts 12:19

19. — he went down — to Cesarea,] Josephus relates, that Herod went to Cesarea for the purpose of celebrating a solemnity in honour of Claudius Cesar. Dr. Whitby.

The expression “from Judea to Cesarea” implies that Cesarea was not in the country of Judea. Accordingly, both Strabo and Josephus place Cesarea in Phenicia. Biscoe.

Acts 12:20

20. — their country was nourished by the king’s country.] That the Tyrians, &c. chiefly derived their supply of provisions from the Jews, appears from 1 Kings v. 9, 11; Ezra iii. 7; and especially from Ezek. xxvii. 17, where it is said of Tyre, “Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.” Bp. Pearce.

Acts 12:21

21. And upon a set day &c.] The fidelity and accu- Anno DOMINI 44. Herod’s miserable end. Barnabas and Saul are sent forth. Anno DOMINI 44. his throne, and made an oration unto them.

Acts 12:22

22. And the people gave a shout, saying, &c.] How vain and impious was the applause of this servile multitude, when they were so ready to bestow on a mortal man the title of a divinity: and how wretched the infatuation of his mind, when he could receive that title without horreur, and even with complacency! Thus too often do pomp and power, wealth and grandeur, take away the understanding of their possessors; but never is a mortal nearer to destruction than when he forgets that he is mortal. Dr. Doddridge.

Acts 12:23

23. — and he was eaten of worms, &c.] Thus is the Almighty Sovereign of the universe known by the judgement which He executes on the haughty kings of the earth, Ps. ix. 16. Well might the Gospel flourish (ver. 24.) on the occasion of such an event. Dr. Doddridge.

Josephus, the Jewish historian, confirms the account here given of the death of Herod, by the following narrative: “In the third year of Herod’s being king of all Judea, he exhibited shows to the people in honour of the emperor; and he appeared in the theatre (at Cesarea) dressed in a robe made all of silver tissue, of admirable workmanship. As the sun was then rising, the rays of it coming upon his robe made it shine so bright, that the people cried out, Forgive us if we have hitherto reverenced you only as a man; but from this time we shall acknowledge you to be something superior to what is mortal. The king did not reprove them, nor reject this blasphemous flattery: and, before he went out of the theatre, he was seized with pains in his bowels, so as to cry out, I whom ye called a god am now going to die. From thence he was carried to his palace immediately; and in the space of five days he died of those pains, which he first felt in the theatre, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, after he had reigned four years over Iturea and Abilene, and three more over Judea.” Bp. Pearce.

Acts 12:24

24. But the word of God grew] See notes at chap. xix. 20.

Acts 12:25

25. — when they had fulfilled their ministry,] When

mas the Sorcerer. 14 Paul preacheth at Antioch, that Jesus is Christ. 42 The Gentiles believe: 45 but the Jews gainsay and blaspheme: 46 whereupon they turn to the Gentiles. 48 As many as were ordained to life believed.

Anno DOMINI 45.

NOW there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, || which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Or, Herod’s foster brother.