25 And G1161 Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul G4569 returned G5290 from G1537 Jerusalem, G2419 when they had fulfilled G4137 their ministry, G1248 and G2532 took with them G4838 John, G2491 whose surname was G1941 Mark. G3138
Then G1161 the disciples, G3101 every G1538 man G846 according to G2531 his ability, G2141 G5100 determined G3724 to send G3992 relief G1248 unto G1519 the brethren G80 which dwelt G2730 in G1722 Judaea: G2449 Which G3739 also G2532 they did, G4160 and sent it G649 to G4314 the elders G4245 by G1223 the hands G5495 of Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul. G4569
Now G1161 there were G2258 in G2596 the church G1577 that was G5607 at G1722 Antioch G490 certain G5100 prophets G4396 and G2532 teachers; G1320 as G5037 Barnabas, G921 and G2532 Simeon G4826 that was called G2564 Niger, G3526 and G2532 Lucius G3066 of Cyrene, G2956 and G5037 Manaen, G3127 which had been brought up G4939 with Herod G2264 the tetrarch, G5076 and G2532 Saul. G4569 As G1161 they G846 ministered G3008 to the Lord, G2962 and G2532 fasted, G3522 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 said, G2036 G1211 Separate G873 me G3427 G5037 Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul G4569 for G1519 the work G2041 whereunto G3739 I have called G4341 them. G846 And G5119 when they had fasted G3522 and G2532 prayed, G4336 and G2532 laid G2007 their hands G5495 on G2007 them, G846 they sent them away. G630 So G3303 G3767 they, G3778 being sent forth G1599 by G5259 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 departed G2718 unto G1519 Seleucia; G4581 and from G1564 thence G5037 they sailed G636 to G1519 Cyprus. G2954 And G2532 when they were G1096 at G1722 Salamis, G4529 they preached G2605 the word G3056 of God G2316 in G1722 the synagogues G4864 of the Jews: G2453 and G1161 they had G2192 also G2532 John G2491 to their minister. G5257 And G1161 when they had gone through G1330 the isle G3520 unto G891 Paphos, G3974 they found G2147 a certain G5100 sorcerer, G3097 a false prophet, G5578 a Jew, G2453 whose G3739 name G3686 was Barjesus: G919 Which G3739 was G2258 with G4862 the deputy of the country, G446 Sergius G4588 Paulus, G3972 a prudent G4908 man; G435 who G3778 called G4341 for Barnabas G921 and G2532 Saul, G4569 and desired G1934 to hear G191 the word G3056 of God. G2316 But G1161 Elymas G1681 the sorcerer G3097 (for G1063 so G3779 is his G846 name G3686 by interpretation G3177 ) withstood G436 them, G846 seeking G2212 to turn away G1294 the deputy G446 from G575 the faith. G4102 Then G1161 Saul, G4569 (who G3588 also G2532 is called Paul,) G3972 filled with G4130 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 G2532 set his eyes G816 on G1519 him, G846 And said, G2036 O G5599 full G4134 of all G3956 subtilty G1388 and G2532 all G3956 mischief, G4468 thou child G5207 of the devil, G1228 thou enemy G2190 of all G3956 righteousness, G1343 wilt thou G3973 not G3756 cease G3973 to pervert G1294 the right G2117 ways G3598 of the Lord? G2962 And G2532 now, G3568 behold, G2400 the hand G5495 of the Lord G2962 is upon G1909 thee, G4571 and G2532 thou shalt be G2071 blind, G5185 not G3361 seeing G991 the sun G2246 for G891 a season. G2540 And G1161 immediately G3916 there fell G1968 on G1909 him G846 a mist G887 and G2532 a darkness; G4655 and G2532 he went about G4013 seeking G2212 some to lead him by the hand. G5497 Then G5119 the deputy, G446 when he saw G1492 what was done, G1096 believed, G4100 being astonished G1605 at G1909 the doctrine G1322 of the Lord. G2962 Now G1161 when Paul G3972 and his company G4012 loosed G321 from G575 Paphos, G3974 they came G2064 to G1519 Perga G4011 in Pamphylia: G3828 and G1161 John G2491 departing G672 from G575 them G846 returned G5290 to G1519 Jerusalem. G2414 But G1161 when they G846 departed G1330 from G575 Perga, G4011 they came G3854 to G1519 Antioch G490 in Pisidia, G4099 and G2532 went G1525 into G1519 the synagogue G4864 on the sabbath G4521 day, G2250 and sat down. G2523 And G1161 after G3326 the reading G320 of the law G3551 and G2532 the prophets G4396 the rulers of the synagogue G752 sent G649 unto G4314 them, G846 saying, G3004 Ye men G435 and brethren, G80 if G1487 ye have G2076 G1722 G5213 any word G3056 of exhortation G3874 for G4314 the people, G2992 say on. G3004 Then G1161 Paul G3972 stood up, G450 and G2532 beckoning G2678 with his hand G5495 said, G2036 Men G435 of Israel, G2475 and G2532 ye that fear G5399 God, G2316 give audience. G191 The God G2316 of this G5127 people G2992 of Israel G2474 chose G1586 our G2257 fathers, G3962 and G2532 exalted G5312 the people G2992 when G1722 they dwelt as strangers G3940 in G1722 the land G1093 of Egypt, G125 and G2532 with G3326 an high G5308 arm G1023 brought he G1806 them G846 out of G1537 it. G846 And G2532 about G5613 the time G5550 of forty years G5063 suffered he G5159 their G846 manners G5159 in G1722 the wilderness. G2048 And G2532 when he had destroyed G2507 seven G2033 nations G1484 in G1722 the land G1093 of Chanaan, G5477 he divided G2624 their G846 land G1093 to them G846 by lot. G2624 And G2532 after G3326 that G5023 he gave G1325 unto them judges G2923 about G5613 the space of four hundred G5071 and G2532 fifty G4004 years, G2094 until G2193 Samuel G4545 the prophet. G4396 And afterward G2547 they desired G154 a king: G935 and G2532 God G2316 gave G1325 unto them G846 Saul G4549 the son G5207 of Cis, G2797 a man G435 of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Benjamin, G958 by the space of forty G5062 years. G2094 And G2532 when he had removed G3179 him, G846 he raised up G1453 unto them G846 David G1138 to be G1519 their king; G935 to whom G3739 also G2532 he gave testimony, G3140 and said, G2036 I have found G2147 David G1138 the son of Jesse, G2421 a man G435 after G2596 mine own G3450 heart, G2588 which G3739 shall fulfil G4160 all G3956 my G3450 will. G2307 Of G575 this man's G5127 seed G4690 hath G1453 God G2316 according G2596 to his promise G1860 raised G1453 unto Israel G2474 a Saviour, G4990 Jesus: G2424 When John G2491 had first preached G4296 before G4253 his G846 coming G4383 G1529 the baptism G908 of repentance G3341 to all G3956 the people G2992 of Israel. G2474 And G1161 as G5613 John G2491 fulfilled G4137 his course, G1408 he said, G3004 Whom G5101 think ye G5282 that I G3165 am? G1511 I G1473 am G1510 not G3756 he. But, G235 behold, G2400 there cometh one G2064 after G3326 me, G1691 whose G3739 shoes G5266 of his feet G4228 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G514 to loose. G3089 Men G435 and brethren, G80 children G5207 of the stock G1085 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 whosoever among G1722 you G5213 feareth G5399 God, G2316 to you G5213 is G649 the word G3056 of this G5026 salvation G4991 sent. G649 For G1063 they that dwell G2730 at G1722 Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 their G846 rulers, G758 because they knew G50 him G5126 not, G50 nor yet G2532 the voices G5456 of the prophets G4396 which G3588 are read G314 G2596 every G3956 sabbath day, G4521 they have fulfilled G4137 them in condemning G2919 him. And G2532 though they found G2147 no G3367 cause G156 of death G2288 in him, yet desired they G154 Pilate G4091 that he G846 should be slain. G337 And G1161 when G5613 they had fulfilled G5055 all G537 that was written G1125 of G4012 him, G846 they took him down G2507 from G575 the tree, G3586 and laid G5087 him in G1519 a sepulchre. G3419 But G1161 God G2316 raised G1453 him G846 from G1537 the dead: G3498 And he G3739 was seen G3700 many G1909 G4119 days G2250 of them which came up with G4872 him G846 from G575 Galilee G1056 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 who G3748 are G1526 his G846 witnesses G3144 unto G4314 the people. G2992 And G2532 we G2249 declare G2097 unto you G5209 glad tidings, G2097 how that G3754 the promise G1860 which was made G1096 unto G4314 the fathers, G3962 God G2316 hath fulfilled G1603 the same G5026 unto us G2254 their G846 children, G5043 in that he hath raised up G450 Jesus G2424 again; G450 as G5613 it is G1125 also G2532 written G1125 in G1722 the second G1208 psalm, G5568 Thou G4771 art G1488 my G3450 Son, G5207 this day G4594 have I G1473 begotten G1080 thee. G4571 And G1161 as concerning that G3754 he raised G450 him G846 up G450 from G1537 the dead, G3498 now no more G3371 to G3195 return G5290 to G1519 corruption, G1312 he said G2046 on this wise, G3779 G3754 I will give G1325 you G5213 the sure G4103 mercies G3741 of David. G1138 Wherefore G1352 he saith G3004 also G2532 in G1722 another G2087 psalm, Thou shalt G1325 not G3756 suffer G1325 thine G4675 Holy One G3741 to see G1492 corruption. G1312 For G1063 G3303 David, G1138 after he had served G5256 his own G2398 generation G1074 by the will G1012 of God, G2316 fell on sleep, G2837 and G2532 was laid G4369 unto G4314 his G846 fathers, G3962 and G2532 saw G1492 corruption: G1312 But G1161 he, whom G3739 God G2316 raised again, G1453 saw G1492 no G3756 corruption. G1312 Be it G2077 known G1110 unto you G5213 therefore, G3767 men G435 and brethren, G80 that G3754 through G1223 this man G5127 is preached G2605 unto you G5213 the forgiveness G859 of sins: G266 And G2532 by G1722 him G5129 all G3956 that believe G4100 are justified G1344 from G575 all things, G3956 from which G3739 ye could G1410 not G3756 be justified G1344 by G1722 the law G3551 of Moses. G3475 Beware G991 therefore, G3767 lest that G3361 come G1904 upon G1909 you, G5209 which is spoken of G2046 in G1722 the prophets; G4396 Behold, G1492 ye despisers, G2707 and G2532 wonder, G2296 and G2532 perish: G853 for G3754 I G1473 work G2038 a work G2041 in G1722 your G5216 days, G2250 a work G2041 which G3739 ye shall G4100 in no wise G3364 believe, G4100 though G1437 a man G5100 declare it G1555 unto you. G5213 And G1161 when the Jews G2453 were gone G1826 out of G1537 the synagogue, G4864 the Gentiles G1484 besought G3870 that these G5023 words G4487 might be preached G2980 to them G846 G1519 the next G3342 sabbath. G4521 Now G1161 when the congregation G4864 was broken up, G3089 many G4183 of the Jews G2453 and G2532 religious G4576 proselytes G4339 followed G190 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas: G921 who, G3748 speaking G4354 to them, G846 persuaded G3982 them G846 to continue G1961 in the grace G5485 of God. G2316 And G1161 the next G2064 sabbath day G4521 came G4863 almost G4975 the whole G3956 city G4172 together G4863 to hear G191 the word G3056 of God. G2316 But G1161 when the Jews G2453 saw G1492 the multitudes, G3793 they were filled G4130 with envy, G2205 and G2532 spake against G483 those things which were spoken G3004 by G5259 Paul, G3972 contradicting G483 and G2532 blaspheming. G987 Then G1161 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas G921 waxed bold, G3955 and said, G2036 It was G2258 necessary G316 that the word G3056 of God G2316 should G2980 first G4412 have been spoken G2980 to you: G5213 but G1161 seeing G1894 ye put G683 it G846 from you, G683 and G2532 judge G2919 yourselves G1438 unworthy G3756 G514 of everlasting G166 life, G2222 lo, G2400 we turn G4762 to G1519 the Gentiles. G1484 For G1063 so G3779 hath G1781 the Lord G2962 commanded G1781 us, G2254 saying, I have set G5087 thee G4571 to be G1519 a light G5457 of the Gentiles, G1484 that thou G4571 shouldest be G1511 for G1519 salvation G4991 unto G2193 the ends G2078 of the earth. G1093 And G1161 when the Gentiles G1484 heard this, G191 they were glad, G5463 and G2532 glorified G1392 the word G3056 of the Lord: G2962 and G2532 as many as G3745 were G2258 ordained G5021 to G1519 eternal G166 life G2222 believed. G4100 And G1161 the word G3056 of the Lord G2962 was published G1308 throughout G1223 all G3650 the region. G5561 But G1161 the Jews G2453 stirred up G3951 the devout G4576 and G2532 honourable G2158 women, G1135 and G2532 the chief men G4413 of the city, G4172 and G2532 raised G1892 persecution G1375 against G1909 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas, G921 and G2532 expelled G1544 them G846 out of G575 their G846 coasts. G3725 But G1161 they shook off G1621 the dust G2868 of their G846 feet G4228 against G1909 them, G846 and came G2064 unto G1519 Iconium. G2430 And G1161 the disciples G3101 were filled with G4137 joy, G5479 and G2532 with the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 12
Commentary on Acts 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
Ac 12:1-19. Persecution of the Church by Herod Agrippa I—Martyrdom of James and Miraculous Deliverance of Peter.
1-3. Herod the king—grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus. 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. killed James … with the sword—beheaded him; a most ignominious mode of punishment, according to the Jews. Blessed martyr! Thou hast indeed "drunk of thy Lord's cup, and hast been baptized with his baptism." (See on Mr 10:38-40.) A grievous loss this would be to the Church; for though nothing is known of him beyond what we read in the Gospels, the place which he had as one of the three whom the Lord admitted to His closest intimacy would lead the Church to look up to him with a reverence and affection which even their enemies would come to hear of. They could spring only upon one more prized victim; and flushed with their first success, they prevail upon Herod to seize him also.
3. 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.
Then were the days of unleavened bread—seven in number, during which, after killing and eating the Passover, no leaven was allowed in Jewish houses (Ex 12:15, 19).
4. delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers—that is, to four parties of four each, corresponding to the four Roman watches; two watching in prison and two at the gates, and each party being on duty for the space of one watch.
intending after Easter—rather, "after the Passover"; that is, after the whole festival was over. (The word in our King James Version is an ecclesiastical term of later date, and ought not to have been employed here).
to bring him forth to the people—for execution; for during "the days of unleavened bread," or the currency of any religious festival, the Jews had a prejudice against trying or putting anyone to death.
5, 6. prayer was made without ceasing—rather, "instant," "earnest," "urgent" (Margin); as in Lu 22:44; Ac 26:7; and 1Pe 4:8 (see Greek).
of the church unto God for him—not in public assembly, for it was evidently not safe to meet thus; but in little groups in private houses, one of which was Mary's (Ac 12:12). And this was kept up during all the days of unleavened bread.
6. And when Herod would have brought him forth—"was going to bring him forth."
the same night—but a few hours before the intended execution. Thus long were the disciples kept waiting; their prayers apparently unavailing, and their faith, as would seem from the sequel, waxing feeble. Such, however, is the "law" of God's procedure (De 32:36 and see on Joh 21:3).
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains—Roman prisoners had a chain fastened at one end to the wrist of their fight hand, and at the other to the wrist of a soldier's left hand, leaving the right arm of the keeper free in case of any attempt to escape. For greater security the prisoner was sometimes, as here, chained to two soldiers, one on each side. (See Ac 21:23.) Ye think your prey secure, bloodthirsty priests and thou obsequious tyrant who, to "please the Jews," hast shut in this most eminent of the servants of Christ within double gates, guarded by double sentinels, while double keepers and double chains seem to defy all rescue! So thought the chief priests, who "made the sepulchre of the Lord sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch." But "He that sitteth in heaven shall laugh at you." Meanwhile, "Peter is sleeping!" In a few hours he expects a stingless death; "neither counts he his life dear unto him, so that he may finish his course with joy and the ministry which he has received of the Lord Jesus." In this frame of spirit he has dropped asleep, and lies the picture of peace.
7-11. the angel of the Lord—rather, "an angel."
came upon him—so in Lu 2:9, expressive of the unexpected nature of the visit.
smote Peter on the side … Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off … Gird thyself … And so he did … Cast thy garment—tunic, which he had thrown off for the night.
8. about thee … follow me—In such graphic minuteness of detail we have a charming mark of reality: while the rapidity and curtness of the orders, and the promptitude with which they were obeyed, betoken the despatch which, in the circumstances, was necessary.
9. wist not that it was true; but thought he saw a vision—So little did the apostle look for deliverance!
10. first and the second ward … the iron gate that leadeth unto the city—We can only conjecture the precise meaning of all this, not knowing the position of the prison.
passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him—when he had placed him beyond pursuit. Thus "He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their heads cannot perform their enterprise" (Job 5:12).
11. when Peter was come to himself—recovered from his bewilderment, and had time to look back upon all the steps that had followed each other in such rapid succession.
Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me, &c.—another evidence that Peter expected nothing but to seal his testimony with his blood on this occasion.
12-17. he came to the house of Mary, &c.—who "must have had a house of some pretensions to receive a large number; and, accordingly, we read that her brother Barnabas (Col 4:10) was a person of substance (Ac 4:37). She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution" [Webster and Wilkinson]. To such a house it was natural that Peter should come.
mother of John … Mark—so called to distinguish him from the apostle of that name, and to distinguish her from the other Marys.
where many were gathered together praying—doubtless for Peter's deliverance, and continuing, no doubt, on this the last of the days of unleavened bread, which was their last hope, all night in prayer to God.
13. came to hearken—not to open; for neither was it a time nor an hour of night for that, but to listen who was there.
14. opened not for gladness, but ran in and told, &c.—How exquisite is this touch of nature!
15. Thou art mad—one of those exclamations which one can hardly resist on hearing what seems far "too good to be true."
she constantly affirmed—"kept steadfastly affirming."
that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel—his disembodied spirit, his ghost; anything, in fact, rather than himself. Though this had been the burden of their fervent prayers during all the days of unleavened bread, they dispute themselves out of it as a thing incredible. Still, it is but the unbelief of the disciples who "believed not for joy and wondered" at the tidings of their Lord's resurrection. How often do we pray for what we can hardly credit the bestowment of, when it comes in answer to our prayers! This, however, argues not so much hard unbelief as that kind of it incident to the best in this land of shadows, which perceives not so clearly as it might how very near heaven and earth, the Lord and His praying people, are to each other.
16. Peter continued knocking—delay being dangerous.
17. But he, beckoning … with his hand to hold their peace—a lively touch this. In the hubbub of joyful and wondering interrogatories there might mingle reflections, thrown out by one against another, for holding out so long against the testimony of Rhoda; while the emotion of the apostle's own spirit would be too deep and solemn to take part in such demonstrations or utter a word till, with his hand, he had signified his wish for perfect silence.
Go show these things unto James and to the brethren—Whether James the son of Alpheus, one of the Twelve, usually known as "James the Less," and "James the Lord's brother" (Ga 1:19), were the same person; and if not, whether the James here referred to was the former or the latter, critics are singularly divided, and the whole question is one of the most difficult. To us, it appears that there are strong reasons for thinking that they were not the same person, and that the one here meant, and throughout the Acts, is the apostle James. (But on this more hereafter). James is singled out, because he had probably begun to take the oversight of the Church in Jerusalem, which we afterwards find him exercising (Ac 15:1-29).
And he departed, and went into another place—according to his Lord's express command (Mt 10:23). When told, on a former miraculous liberation from prison, to go and speak unto the people (Ac 5:20), he did it; but in this case to present himself in public would have been to tempt God by rushing upon certain destruction.
18, 19. as soon as it was day, &c.—His deliverance must have been during the fourth watch (three to six A.M.); else he must have been missed by the keepers at the change of the watch [Wies].
19. 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!
Ac 12:20-25. Herod's Miserable End—Growing Success of the Gospel—Barnabas and Saul Return to Antioch.
20. Herod was … displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon—for some reason unknown; but the effect on their commercial relations made the latter glad to sue for peace.
their country was nourished by the king's country—See 1Ki 5:11; Ezr 3:7; Eze 27:17. Perhaps the famine (Ac 11:28) made them the more urgent for reconciliation.
21. And upon a set day Herod … made an oration unto them—to the Tyrians and Sidonians especially.
22, 23. the people gave a shout, &c.—Josephus' account of his death is remarkably similar to this [Antiquities, 19.8.2]. Several cases of such deaths occur in history. Thus was this wretched man nearer his end than he of whom he had thought to make a public spectacle.
24. But the word grew, &c.—that is, Not only was the royal representative ignominiously swept from the stage, while his intended victim was spared to the Church, but the cause which he and his Jewish instigators sought to crush was only furthered and glorified. How full of encouragement and consolation is all this to the Christian Church in every age!
25. Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem—where, it thus appears, they had remained during all this persecution.
when they had fulfilled their ministry—or service; that mentioned on Ac 11:29, 30.
took with them John … Mark—(See on Ac 12:12), not to be confounded with the second Evangelist, as is often done. As his uncle was Barnabas, so his spiritual father was Peter (1Pe 5:13).