Acts 12
Dort1 Herod persecuteth the Church, 2 killeth James, 3 casteth Peter into Prison, whom he causeth to be kept with strong watch. 5 The Church prayeth to God for him, 7 and he is by an Angel brought out of prison, 11 cometh to the house of John Marks mother, where he knocketh and is let in, 17 and relateth his deliverance to those that were assembled there. 18 Herod causeth the watchmen to be examined, and carryed away, and departeth to Cesarea, 20 makes peace with those of Tyre & Sidon, 21 and in his pride is smitten by an Angel, and eaten of worms, 25 Barnabus and Saul come again to Antioch.
1. And about the same time King Herod [Namely, Agrippa, a son of Aristobulus, who was a son of Herod the great, and this Herod Agrippa was Father of that Agrippa, of whom hereafter ch. 25. 26.more is spoken] laid hands on some of the Church, for to intreat them evil, [Gr.for to intreat evill, some of those of the Church.
2. And he killed James [Namely the son of Zebedee and the brother of John, as stands here in the Text, and Matth. 10: 2.one of the principall Apostles of Christ,whom Christ with Peter and John oftentimes took with him. The other James therefore of whom we read ver. 17. Acts 15:13.and Galatians 2:9.and who left behind him the epistle of James, who is also called Christs brother, Mark 6:3.and James the little, Mark 15:40.was another Apostle the son of Alpheus and of the sister of Mary, and the brother of Joses, as appears by comparing, Mat. 12. 55.and 27. 56. Galatians 1:19. See also Matthew 10:3. Mark 3:18.] the brother of John with the sword.
3. And when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to take Peter also, and they were the daies of unleavened (bread) [That is, the feast daies of the passeover, as may be seen also from the following verse.]
4. Whom also having laid hold on, he put in prison, and delivered (him) over to four (witches, each) of four souldiers [Gr.four fourlings of soul liers, i.e. sixteen souldiers, for each sentinel or watch with the Romanes consisted of four souldiers of one company, whereof there were four ordained for the keeping of the Apostle, to keep the watch by turns in the four night watches] to keep him, intending after the (feast) of the Passeover to bring him forth before the people.
5. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but a continual [Or an earnest, zealous, servent] prayer was made by the Church unto God for him.
6. Now when Herod was to bring him forth, [Namely, to cause him to be openly put to death or executed] Peter slept that same night between two souldiers, bound with two chaines, [namely, by the hands v.7.whereof one chain was fast on Peters right hand, and on the left hand of one souldier; and the other chain on Peters left hand, and to the right hand of the other souldier betwixt whom he slept: manner of doing usual with the Romanes in the strict imprisonments, as Paul also was so imprisoned at Rome, although bound only to one souldier and in greater freedome. See Acts 28:16.compared with Ephe. 6. 20. 2 Tim. 1.v. 16.and Seneca Epist. 5.] and the watch-men before the door kept the prison.
7. And behold an Angel of the Lord stood there, & a light, [Namely, of the shining countenance of the Angel, as Luke 2:9.and Matthew 28:3.] shined in the dwelling, [or, prison, goal. Some take this for the whole house of the prison, others for the inmost part only, where the prisoners lay shut in] and smitting Peters side he raised him up, saying, rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8. And the Angel said unto him, gird thee about, [Namely, to go forth the more radily; seeing the Jews were long cloathes, which in going, they bound fast with Girdles, and trussed up: of the shoe-soles see the annot.on Mark 6:9.] and bind on thy shoe-soles, and he did so. And he said unto him, cast thy cloak about (thee) and follw me.
9. And going forth he followed him, and knew not that it was true that was done by the Angel, but he thought that he saw a vision. [That was the last gate of the prison, through which being gone, they came into the streets of the City] which leadeth towards the City: which was opened to them of it self. And being gone out, they went forth one street, and straightway the Angel parted from him.
10. And Peter being come to himself, [that is, now understanding that it was no vision, but a real event and deliverance] said, now I know truly that the Lord hath sent forth his Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
11. And Peter being come to himself [That is, now understanding that it was no vision, but a real event and deliverance], said, Now I know truly that the Lord has sent forth his Angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12. And when he had considered (all) he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was sirnamed Mark, [This is the same, who afterward departed with the Apostle Paul and Barnabas, v. 25.and that wrote the Gospel as some think] where many were many were gathered together and praying.
13. And as Peter knocked at the door of the Porch: [Or of the fore-house] there came forth an hand-maid: [Gr. Paidiske, which signifies also a little maid or virgin, which is no servant] to listen. [namely, who it was that knocked by night, to give those that were in the house timely warning, if there had been any danger] by name Rhode.
14. And she knowing the voice of Peter, opened not the Porch for joy, but ran inwards and told that Peter stood before (at) the Porch.
15. And they said unto her, thou art mad. [Or thou art of the wits, not knowing what thou saist] But she abode by it strongly [or she confirmed it] that it was so. And they said, it is his Angel. [or it is his Messenger, as the word Angel is so taken sometimes. See Luke 7:24. But seeing by this word the Angels of Heaven are signified for the most part, therefore this is by many understood of an Angel which by God was joined to Peter for a keeper in this trouble, as Matthew 18:10.is also said of the meanest believer that their Angels always see the face of the Father in the Heavens. From whence it followeth that God indeed sends the Angels for the service and protection of the faithful, Psalms 34:8. & 91. 11. Hebrews 1:14.but notwithstanding it followes not from thence that every man should always have just one particular good and bad Angel for company, as some think.]
16. But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened they saw him, and were astonished. [Namely, at this unexpected presence of Peter, not being able to conceive how this came to pass.]
17. And when he had beckoned to them with the hand that they should hold their peace, he related to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison: and said, tell this to James, [Namely, the little, for the other was made away. See of him in the annot on v.2.] and to the brethren. And he being gone forth, travelled to another place. [namely, out of Jerusalem to propagate the Gospel; not willing unnecessarily to put himself into the same danger, out which the lord had delivered him, and that according to Christs admonition, Matthew 10:23.]
18. And when it was day there was no small trouble amongst the souldiers, what might be hapned to Peter.
19. And when Herod had sought him, and found (him) not, and had strictly examined [Gr. Anakrinas, which word signifieth judicially to examine any man, by corturing or otherwise] the watch-men, he commanded that they should be led away. [namely, either into prison, or to be punished with death, as this word also sometimes signifies] And he departed from Judea to Cesarea, and abode (there) [namely, a certain time, to set up some shews in honour of Claudius Caesar, to which a great multitude of the principall Jews came together. Joseph. Antiq.lib. 19.cap. 7. Of this Cesarea see the annot.on Acts 10:1.]
20. And Herod was minded to war against those of Tyre and Sidon, [Or was very wroth against those of Tyre and Sidon] but they came unanimously unto him, and having perswaded Blastus, who was the Kings Chamberlain, [Gr.who was over the Kings Bed-chamber] they desired peace, because their Land was nourished [for although Tyre and Sidon were powerfull Cities, notwithstanding because they were situate on the Sea, and they had little land, they could not provide themselves of sustenance. See of their condition, Isa. 23.] by the Kings (land.)
21. And on a set day [This was the second day of the shews, as Josephus testifies, Antiq.lib. 19.cap. 7.who there also relates the miserable death of this Herod Agrippa] Herod having on a royal robe, glistering with silver, whereon the sun shone, as Josephus in the place before mentioned sets down this History at large] and being set on the judgement-seat [or throne] amde a speech unto them.
22. And the people cryed unto (him) a voice of God and not of a man.
23. And immediately and Angel of the Lord smote him, therefore because he gave not God the honour, [That is, that he received such divine honour, without turning it from himself unto God, to whom only it belonged: as the Apostles did in such a case, Acts 10:26.and 14. 14.and the Angel, Revelation 19:10.and 22. 9.] and he was eaten of wormes, and gave up the Ghost.
24. And the word of God grew, [Namely, this Tyrant and persecutor of the Church being now by Gods judgement taken away] and multiplied.
25. Now Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem [Namely, unto Antioch] when they had accomplished [Gr.fulfilled] the Ministery, [namely, of beginning the relief or alms of the faithfull of Antioch unto the poor at Jerusalem, for which purpose they were sent, Acts 11.v. 30.] having also taken with them John, who was sirnamed Mark. [See of him before v. 12.]